Seeing mold on a brick retaining wall, pavers, or your lovely chimney can be an instant turn-off.
Not only does green or black mold make your brick look aged and damaged, but it also slowly eats away at the surface.
Not to mention, inhaling mold particles on a regular basis may trigger asthma attacks or a whole lot of other respiratory problems.
Not cool, right?
Furthermore, mold can sometimes be frustrating to get rid of, especially if the brick is too delicate to be scrubbed at with any force.
Luckily, I know some nifty tricks you can try.
In this article, I’ll give you some tips on how to remove mold from brick.
I’ll also discuss what causes mold growth on brick applications and answer some questions you might have.
So, are you ready to dive in?
Why Does Mold Grow on Brick?
One of the first things you should be aware of is that brick structures are almost mold-proof.
This is because brickwork doesn’t trap moisture or have organic material.
Yet, here’s why you can sometimes discover mold on brick wall surfaces:
Brick is only a suitable environment for mold when two ingredients, moisture and nutrients, are present on its surface.
So, you’ll likely face a mildew problem if your pavers or retaining walls are continuously surrounded by water and mud or soil.
There are endless scenarios that might cause water to reach your brick wall, walkway or chimney:
- Leaks in your HVAC system
- Excess moisture in the crawl space under the house
- Faulty gas appliances that may increase humidity inside your place
- Having your bathroom close to a brick wall or chimney
- Leaks in walls or windows
- Leaks in your plumbing system
- Excessive run-off from sprinkling systems (which can also cause efflorescence to form on your brick)
Of course, you must identify the source of your mildew problem by hiring a professional to inspect your brick wall.
This way, when you work to clean mold off your brick, you’ll be certain that the problem won’t resurface.
6 Surefire Steps to Remove Mildew From Brick Once and for All
When I knew that getting rid of green mold on brick house walls wasn’t as hard as I’d thought, I was relieved!
Hopefully, after taking a look at the following steps, you’ll come to the same conclusion and approach your task with confidence.
Step 1: Grab Some Cleaning Supplies
I’ve discovered that you can either go the natural or the chemical way to remove mold or mildew effectively from brick.
Based on your preference, you’ll need to prepare a few or all of these items:
- Undiluted vinegar
- A spray bottle
- A stiff-bristled brush
- Safety goggles
- Rubber gloves
- A protective mask
- A mold and mildew remover
For deep-rooted mold infestations, you’ll likely want to shop for the mold remover.
This multi-purpose cleaner can kill fungus, bacteria, and viruses on brick.
Plus, it’s an odorless solution, which makes it a good option for people who don’t like using chemicals for their overpowering smell.
If you’re ready to buy yours, get your mold remover right here.
Step 2: Protect Your Skin and Lungs
The next thing you should do is put on your goggles, gloves, and face mask.
This goes even if you’re not using harsh chemicals.
It’s important not to skip this step because cleaning mold can expose your respiratory system and skin to mold particles.
You definitely wouldn’t want any contact with those during this process!
Step 3: Identify the Type of Mold on Your Brick Wall
To know the right way to clean mold, you must first know if it’s really mold or mildew.
Thankfully, it’s quite simple to tell them apart.
Mildew is a surface fungus. It usually appears in gray or white patches, and it’s not as hard to remove as mold.
But what does mold on brick look like?
On the contrary, mold describes a larger infestation of fungus on a brick structure.
Some people confuse it with algae or even moss when they want to clean mossy bricks but they aren’t the same.
Typically, mold could be green or black, and it’s riskier to inhale.
Step 4: Use Vinegar to Remove Mildew
Whether the affected area is part of a retaining wall, interior wall, chimney, or pavers, the following removal instructions apply to each scenario.
Now, you may ask:
“Will vinegar kill mold on brick?”
Well, vinegar is an awesome solution for getting rid of mildew.
And while it can also help to clean soot off brick surfaces, it won’t always work well on mold.
This is because mildew is easier to clean.
To use the power of vinegar, just pour some of it inside a spray bottle and apply it to the infected area.
Make sure not to dilute your vinegar for fast results.
After letting it seep into the brick for five minutes, scrub at the surface with a stiff brush.
Next, wash the vinegar away with hot water.
When you’re done, it’s a good idea to put a fan in front of the wet area to let it dry completely.
Also, make sure you don’t do your cleaning on a humid or rainy day.
You wouldn’t want to give the mildew another shot at survival, would you?
Step 5: Apply a Mold Remover for Bigger Infestations
Whether you’ve got green or black mold on brick, you’ll want to use a more powerful cleaning agent.
A mold remover should be up for the challenge!
Here’s the right way to use it safely:
Check again that your skin, nose, and mouth are covered.
Then, use the brush to scrape off the mold growth until you’re left with a thin layer on the brick.
Once you get to this point, spray the infected area to saturate the brick with the chemical solution and let it sit for one to three minutes.
After that, wipe the surface with a mop, sponge, or clean cloth as you see fit.
If you choose to apply a mold killer on brick, the area must be dry for at least one day after use to ensure the mold doesn’t grow back.
Step 6: Prevent Future Mold or Mildew Growth on Brick
Now that your mold issue is hopefully solved, you should take some precautions to make sure it doesn’t visit your brick again.
Here are a few things to consider doing:
- Inspect the area surrounding your brick wall, retaining wall, pavers, or chimney for any source of water
- Make sure your house has proper ventilation to eliminate excessive moisture
- Treat your brick walls or chimney with vinegar every once in a while
- Get a professional to fix your mold problems if they persist
FAQs
Will sealing my brick wall or pavers prevent mold growth?
Using brick sealer on your brick structure can be a great way to prevent water from getting to its surface.
As a result, this can reduce the chances of mold growth.
Here’s a video explaining how to seal your brick pavers:
In addition, this is another video on the right way to apply a sealer to a brick wall:
Which sealer should I get to keep mold from growing on brick?
Fortunately, the market is full of brick sealing solutions that you can get at affordable prices.
One of my favorites is the all-purpose Masonry Defender sealer.
Besides brick, it can do a fantastic job of waterproofing concrete, sandstone, and granite.
Click here to purchase the Masonry Defender sealer.
Wrap Up
So now you know how to remove mold from any type of brick surface.
This knowledge is especially important if you notice green or black mold on your chimney, feature wall, or brick-paved driveway.
Hopefully, after reading my article, you know you can remove mold from brick with vinegar or a mold and mildew remover.
Good luck with your cleaning!