Cleaning green stuff off bricks

onthehill

A gutter has been leaking and at one point on the lower wall of the house the bricks have got a green tinge.

Gutter is being sorted.

How do I get the green off as easily as possible?

A pressure washer would be fast of course but I understand that this is a bad idea - might change the colour of the bricks relative to the others and also damage mortar.

So short of getting a toothbrush out, what do I do?

vansboy

Scrubbing brush and bleach, if you don't want to use pressure washer.

But a path and patio cleaner, or brick cleaner solution from B&Q or Wilkos, will be easier, although will have some strong chemicals in it (hydrochloric acid sometimes) so gloves and lots care when doing it.

VB

wallbash

A pressure washer would be fast of course but I understand that this is a bad idea - might change the colour of the bricks relative to the others and also damage mortar.

Not a bad idea, you just have to take a little care, stand a little way away and approach slowly.
I would say using any ! bleach/ chemical would be far riskier.

savemoney

This works using a sprayer

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Patio-Litres-Liquid-Concentrate-Killer/dp/B001VEJCLM

Its children/pet safe once applied and doesn't bleach.

use in on block paving, epdm roofs to kills moss/green algae

kerri_gt

I read on another thread that laundry liquid is effective, and apparently the brighteners in Surf create a glow in the dark effect for a bit....no I am not kidding!

moneysaver

I second Patio Magic. Used it a few weeks ago, no green stuff left on bricks or fence. Brilliant stuff & no scrubbing..

pavlovs_dog

This thread is perfectly timed! Thanks to all for the suggestions

nobulljusttruth

Jeyes Fluid in water

or Soda Crystals in water.

Spray on with a garden spray or detergent sprayer. Leaf for a few days, hose off, repeat.

onthehill

Thanks for all the suggestions folks.

The Patio Magic looks good.

In the end I just used a diluted solution of lemon household cleaner and gave the few bricks a gentle scrub.

Seemed to work OK - after all it's only surface stuff.

Hintza

onthehill wrote: »

The Patio Magic looks good.

Hell of a lot more expensive than some diluted bleach!

misty6

Hi I know this is a relatively old thread but just wanted to post about something that worked at my house.

I had a man round to clean the leaves out of the gutters and where there was a lot of green on the brickwork below, he used sandpaper to give it a light sand to get it off.