How to Remove Haze From Brick

A brick installation, whether it is a winding walkway or a small fire pit, adds a rustic look to any yard. The rich color of terra cotta brick can last for hundreds of years if the structure is kept clean and free of a white haze known as efflorescence. When brickwork is wet, salts in the masonry cement leech out onto the surface of the brick. Once the water evaporates, the white salt is left on the brickwork.

Safety goggles
Thick rubber gloves
Garden hose
Nozzle attachment
Concrete cleaner
Paint pan
Paint roller
Steel-bristled brushes
Concrete sealant

Instructions

- 1
  Wet the hazy area of the brick with a garden hose. Attach a nozzle to the hose for stronger water pressure, which may help remove much of the efflorescence.
- 2
  Open the can of concrete cleaner and dilute it to light or medium strength. Dilution and mixing instructions vary, so refer to the instructions on your container of cleaner.
- 3
  Pour the concrete cleaner into a paint pan.
- 4
  Coat the paint roller with concrete cleaner and roll it onto the hazy area of the brick.
- 5
  Scrub the haze vigorously with a steel-bristled brush, cleaning the brick surface and the mortar thoroughly. Apply more concrete cleaner to areas of thick efflorescence.
- 6
  Rinse the brick clean with a garden hose. Allow the brick to dry fully.
- 7
  Apply a concrete sealant to the brick to prevent the formation of efflorescence.

How to Caulk Holes in Cedar Siding

How to Mud & Tape Greenwall

Wall Repairs