Exposed brick walls can give a warm and comfortable feel to your home. However, maintaining its beauty is more difficult than you might realize. This is because the rough texture of the bricks and the fragile composition of the cement means that cleaning must be done carefully. Abrasive cleaning methods can damage the bricks and cement mixture used, especially if the bricks are old.

Using harsh cleaning chemicals can discolor the brick, making the wall look worse than when it was built. The best cleaning method is to use a mixture of equal parts dishwashing detergent and table salt. Stir all the ingredients in a clean bowl until they form a paste consistency.

Before applying the paste to the brick surface, clean the wall using a feather duster or vacuum cleaner to remove dust and cobwebs. Old rags with lint or paper tend to leave more dust and dirt on the bricks. Therefore, avoid using it. Using your hands or a damp cloth, rub the cleaning paste onto the bricks, including in those corner areas.

Scrub the bricks using a stiff-bristled brush then remove any remaining paste with a soft cloth and warm water. Repeat until the exposed brick wall looks clean.

Wait until the wall dries then check the results. If the walls are clean, the work is done. However, if there are still dirt spots on the bricks, use a paste mixed with dishwashing detergent and table salt and let it sit for about 10 minutes before scrubbing it. After that, rinse the walls with warm water and the exposed brick walls in your house will look like new.

–sh

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