Cleaning stone and brick mortar in garden

twopenny

I've inherited a brick and block paved platform and ramp outside my front door. Turns out it's a wonderful place to see the hills and big skies as you lean on the 'fence'

But the coping stones which should be blonde are grey and grubby looking. More than patina, they just look neglected. Not sure what they are made of. They're rough with dents all over. Where pots have stood, probably by removing air and sunlight, they've cleaned themselves. I've used a wire brush to clean them in summer but it's hard work. Is there anything I can use to clean them more easily please? Vinegar, bleach?

The mortar in the bricks is old and turned dark grey looking dirty. Some has gone soft and needs replacing but I'd like to clean it up so same quesiton, different material. can I use something easier than a wire brush which won't do the mortar any good for sure.

As I'm redoing and cleaning the exisitng paving,lawn and planting it's  looking old and neglected. The whole is about 20yrs since construction.

 

Apodemus

Looks like a handy place for visitors to tie up their horse when they come to your door! 

As for the coping stones, I would think that a pressure washer might do the trick, without resorting to anything chemical.

If you don't have access to a power washer (you might be able to hire one), you could try a test patch with bleach and see how it goes.  I'd put it on at a reasonably strong dilution, leave it for an hour, then wash it off with copious amounts of water.  If you want to get fancy, you could mix the bleach with wallpaper paste, to make a gel that stays on the stones longer.  Usual precautions...handle the bleach with care, wear decent rubber gloves, wear eye protection, try to avoid prolonged exposure to the fumes, try to keep the local dogs, cats & birds off it.  If the bleach shows promise, but still not clean enough, then up the concentration and/or exposure time.  

Next up the chemical ladder would be brick acid or caustic soda, but only go there if the bleach isn't doing the trick.

jacklaurence

Some brick acid clearer will clear that off quickly. You can purchase it from Amazon, or from most DIY stores. 

twopenny

Thanks both.

Apodemus in this neck of the woods you may be closer than you think with the horse hitching. One of those things I was going to rip out till I found what a good spot it was for leaning and the post coffee mug sized. It also stops people falling nearly 3ft down the other side to a steep slope. Tasteful iron work I had in mind around £1000.

I'd never thought of mixing it with wallpaper paste. That's a great idea for the mortar so it doesn't drip all over the bricks. Might save me having to scrape it out and redo Could be a useful idea for some other things too.

Jack thanks for the heads up on that.

I'll try the bleach first. I just wasn't sure of the composition of these things and whether bleach or acid would result in some horrible mess. I was told not to use it on concrete - though I have with no problems. These garden bits aren't expensive to replace should something bad happen. Don't want them sparkling, just more in tune with the hard work I've done.

stuart45

If you use brick acid soak the wall down first, so it will work on the surface and not soak into the masonry. It attacks OPC products, that's why it's used in the trade to clean mortar stains off walls. Also can damage limestone.

twopenny

Thanks Stuart for reminding me. Also useful to know about the mortar staining.

I have no idea what these things are made of and the builders merchants way to busy to answer such questions.