How to Clean Mortar off Brick Paver Floors

Brick paver walkways add considerable aesthetic value to city sidewalks and garden paths. With careful planning and installation, the walkways can last a lifetime. When constructing a walkway, mortar used to fill joints between bricks often smears on brick surfaces. If not immediately wiped away, the mortar solidifies, marring the walkway’s texture and appearance. Clean off the mortar with muriatic acid, a product sold in paint and hardware stores.

Chisel
Hammer
Work gloves
Protective goggles
Garden hose
Bucket
Paintbrush
Stiff-bristle brush

Instructions

- 1
  Dampen the affected brick surface with water from a garden hose. Use the hammer and chisel to gently chip away as much mortar as possible without scratching the bricks, leaving a thin layer of mortar that muriatic acid can easily dissolve.
- 2
  Put on a pair of work gloves and protective goggles to protect your hands and eyes when handling muriatic acid.
- 3
  Pour 10 cups of water into a bucket, then pour 1 cup of muriatic acid into the water.
- 4
  Thoroughly dampen the target area of the brick flooring again with the garden hose.
- 5
  Apply the acid solution to the smeared mortar you want to clean off, using the paintbrush. Wait five to 10 minutes for the solution to stop fizzing before you proceed.
- 6
  Scrub the treated area with a stiff-bristle brush and rinse away residue with the hose.

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