How To Clean Bricks With Vinegar

• Can vinegar clean bricks?
• Can you clean mortar off bricks with vinegar?
• How does vinegar damage bricks?
• The benefits of professional brick cleaning
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Can you clean brick with baking soda and vinegar?
  • What cleans dirty brick?
  • Does WD-40 clean bricks?
• Book your brick cleaning service today

Vinegar, particularly distilled white vinegar and apple cider vinegar, is a common cleaning agent in households. Its acidic properties make it effective for cutting through stubborn grime on various surfaces. 

However, it is not recommended that you try cleaning bricks with vinegar. Instead, you should bring in professional brick cleaners to restore your brickwork to pristine condition. 

At ICE Cleaning, we offer our brick cleaning services nationwide. Our fully trained technicians have access to the latest industry-leading equipment, like the TORIK Cleaning System, which can blast off all the paint, dirt, and biological growth without damaging your brickwork.

Read on to find out how vinegar can damage bricks and why professional cleaning is the best alternative. 

Can vinegar clean bricks?

As vinegar is acidic, it can dissolve dirt and cut through stains. However, it cannot get rid of tough stains like heavy grease and oil stains, rust markings, or mineral deposits. 

Using it to clean bricks may also be a laborious process. You will need to dilute it with water, spray it across the entire affected area, and then scrub it to get rid of stains. This may not be that effective so the process might need to be repeated many times. 

You will need to make sure you rinse the brickwork thoroughly afterwards so there is no residue that could damage the bricks left behind, too.

You might use the incorrect cleaning method, as well, such as applying red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Distilled white vinegar is for cleaning bricks, whereas the other kinds can discolour the brick. 

Another issue is being able to clean all of the bricks, particularly if some are out of reach and require you to work at height. You could fall and get injured, or fail to treat all the brickwork. 

The biggest problem, however, is that vinegar can damage your brickwork and make the situation worse. 

Can you clean mortar off bricks with vinegar?

Vinegar is not a strong enough acid to effectively remove mortar from bricks. Instead, you will require muriatic acid or another cleaning method. You can find out more about brick acid, as it is also known, in this blog. 

How does vinegar damage bricks?

As an acid, vinegar can gradually erode the surface of the brick and make it vulnerable to weathering and staining. It can damage the bricks slowly, exposing deep layers of the brick to the elements, before leading to more serious problems. 

Painted bricks are particularly vulnerable to vinegar. The acidic properties of vinegar react adversely with alkaline components found in many paints, resulting in paint being stripped off and discoloration.Continuous use can lead to long-term damage. 

It can also affect the mortar joints which are integral for maintaining the structural integrity of the brick wall. The acetic acid present within vinegar interacts negatively with cement-based materials, causing them to weaken gradually, potentially leading to instability within the property. 

The benefits of professional brick cleaning

It is recommended you always bring in professionals for brick cleaning to ensure a thorough, effective, and damage-free clean. 

Firstly, cleaners will already have the specialist products and equipment required for brick cleaning, and are trained to use them safely. Muriatic acid, for instance, can eliminate stubborn stains from bricks, but its potency makes it potentially hazardous if mishandled. Cleaners will have the protective gear and experience to use such substances without causing harm either to themselves or the brick .

Cleaning exterior walls often involves working at height, as well. Our technicians are accredited by IPAF so they can work at height and clean all of the brickwork. They will also know which brick cleaning tools and technique are best for your brickwork to ensure an optimal clean.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you clean brick with baking soda and vinegar?

No - despite its popularity as a DIY cleaning solution, using baking soda and vinegar can harm your bricks due to their acidic nature.

What cleans dirty brick?

The safest method is using a soft brush with warm soapy water. For stubborn stains, consider hiring professional cleaners, like ICE Cleaning's technicians.

Does WD-40 clean bricks?

No - WD-40 is not suitable for cleaning bricks. It's primarily used as a lubricant or rust remover rather than a cleaning agent.

Book your brick cleaning service today

Our technicians only use eco-friendly, non-abrasive brick cleaning solutions to protect your brickwork and the environment. They have many years of brick cleaning experience, and are available 24/7, 365 days a year, including bank holidays.

Give our friendly a team a call on 0208 066 0360 or send an email to enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to find out more about our brick cleaning services and book your free site survey.