Get tips on how to remove mold and mildew buildup from exterior bricks. Learn how cutting back shade trees can keep mold and mildew from growing on brick, as the sun will keep the brick dry.
LESLIE: Now we’ve got Margie on the line who’s dealing with sort of an aging brick façade, I guess. What’s going on? Tell us about it.
MARGIE: Oh, we’ve got some I guess it’s mildew and mold buildup because it’s an older home and it just seems like it hasn’t been taken care of. Like I said, we just purchased this home for a vacation home and we’d like to get it cleaned up. And we’re afraid if we use Clorox, it might be too harsh on it and soften the brick more.
LESLIE: Now the brick itself is soft or just the coating on the brick that you feel is kind of mushy?
MARGIE: I guess it could be the coating. It’s sort of an antique white brick.
TOM: And we’re talking about brick on the outside of your house; not brick over a fireplace or something.
MARGIE: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
TOM: OK. And so why do you say it’s dirty? Does it look green or does it look black?
MARGIE: Yes, it has a mold buildup and, like I said, there are a lot of trees around there so – you know.
TOM: OK. Margie you’re looking for a siding wash. There are a couple of products out there. Jomax has a product – J-o-m-a-x – and Clorox has a version of house wash. What you do is you mix them up – they’re usually in concentrates; you apply it to the brick, let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes and then you scrub it off with a brush. You can use it on a broom – like a long-handled brush or the end of a broom – and then you rinse it off. You’re not too aggressive with it. I’d try that in a small area and see if that cleans it up.
The other thing that you can do is cut back on your trees and let a little more light on that side.
LESLIE: (overlapping voices) Yeah, reduce the amount of shade.
TOM: If you reduce the amount of shade, the sunlight will do a good, natural job of keeping that area clean.
MARGIE: OK, well I thank you very much.
TOM: You’re welcome, Margie. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.