How to clean exterior stone

Question

I live in Tulsa and my house has a stone exterior that had become darken in some areas.  Does anyone know how to clean this stone?  Sorry, I don't know the name of the stone I moved from illinois and I never saw stone like this. Thanks for your help!!

Pam Lewandowski · Answer

It's beautiful.  I'd use a pressure washer.  I would think they could be rented at Home Depot or Lowe's.   We're here in Tx and we used it to wash  bricks and concrete.  Best of luck!!!  :)

William · Answer

Don't use too much pressure so you don't affect the mortar. You can also apply a sealer after cleaning.

Norma · Answer

I agree -- rent a power washer (some Home Depots rent them) but don't use the hardest tip.  Practice in a unnoticeable corner.  You can get cleaner to use but truthfully I've never noticed a difference when its used vs. water.   I have 2 garden walls and a stone patio that my son built years and years ago and every year he power washes them and they look like new.  It'll be a little tedious tho because to do it right, you have to do each stone individually and that'll also protect the mortar.  Good luck!

Md24576932 · Answer

I put bleach in a spray bottle and sprayed the blick.Then I scrubbed the brick with a stiff brush.Rinse off with water .That's all u got to do

Marsha McMichael Stutts · Answer

When we had our stone patio built, I asked the stone mason what to clean the stone with.  His answer, 'White vinegar and water, mixed half and half.'  You can use large sponge (Lowes has them in the paint section). You can also use a stiff bristled brush with the vinegar/water mixture.  Be careful if you decide to use a pressure washer. It will remove the mortar from between the stones. Use the lowest PSI tip with the pressure washer. Good luck!

Jbc9527367 · Answer

On my fireplace brick,  I used oven cleaner.  I covered the area that I did not want to spray (newspaper), sprayed and let it set for a while.  Then using a brush,  cleaned it, then wiped with a cloth.

FRED RIGGS · Answer

On the outside of the house. I use my pressure washer.  Never use the pin point setting, fan spray only.  You can take a garden sprayer, put soap, a half cup of bleach, but be careful with it.  Spray it generously, scrub brush after 15 minutes or so to loosen heavy stains, then pressure wash.  Stay away from windows, you can break them.  Stand about 4 feet away.  Do one section at a time and take your time.  Stubborn stains may take more scrubbing.  When  you are done and satisfied, rinse with your hose liberally and check results when dry.  If some mortar comes out, get some mortar mix and regrout.  It was not in good shape anyway.  I had to do that in 20 or so spaces.  Dampen the joint first then grout and don't do it on a hot day when the water would evaporate quickly.  It needs to cure sort of like concrete.  Patience is the best cleaner.  Take your time. You can even use TSP from the hardware store to scrub with.  USE GLOVES, no matter what you scrub with. Wear protective eyeware and very old clothes.

Ag Castor · Answer

This is just mildew. Spraying with half ordinary bleach and half water will take care of it and avoid power-spraying water under the stone veneer. As a bonus, ordinary bleach, sodium hypochlorite 5%,  breaks down into NaCl, table salt, and H2O, water, nontoxic to your environment.

Moe · Answer

Spray wall with bleach, it takes little scrubbing.

Peter Kovak · Answer

For such a large surface it's only power washer. You can even do it with a sand blower, only that is more expensive and messy for the garden, but the result is astonishing. For the whole exterior of the house...well, forget about manually doing it, you know, with a little sponge, bleach, brush, water spray and whatever. Even with power washer it takes a couple of hours, so think twice before doing it only once! And enjoy!

Smu1485110 · Answer

I used white vinegar and a scrub brush on my interior fireplace and it removed the black soot and lightened the stone where it had darkened from age.

Barbara C · Answer

Soot is not mold. takes a much stronger mix to get rid of mold spores.Strong bleach is best.

Diane Ward · Answer

as the wife  of a stone mason, i suggest calling a profesional. they use muric acid and have the right equiptment and know how.

Jen · Answer

Power washer at low ought to do it!

Sharon · Answer

It's called fieldstone and power washer will do the job. You also can add DAWN dish soap if your washer comes with that attachment.

Terri Farina · Answer

In Rome they are cleaning the great arena with water and tooth brushes.  They expect to be at it for 10 years. I would start with an assortment of brushes (soft to stiff) and a bucket of water with Dawn dish soap. Start with the softer brushes and work up to the stiffer brushes to find the best one. Finish with a power washer starting at the softest spray level.

Bernadette Staal · Answer

Usually I would suggest just using a water blaster but that could blow out the compound holding the stones in place which would possibly cause issues with leaks or similar.  I would get a professional into spray the rocks with a soft wash / chemical solution.

1268409614 · Answer

You can buy a presser washer that does an okay job or rent an industrial pressure washer that will do a great job just be careful when using it.

Helen Rhodes Bodenheimer · Answer

simple way is to spray the rock with bleach  and let it set for a few minutes then wash away with the hose

Diane White · Answer

First, be sure it truly is rock and not a composite.

Janet Mayer · Answer

I have sandstone on my exterior. We tried power washing. Didn't do a thing to clean it. I talked to a professional who said he didn't know how to clean it and that it was carbon (from all the car emissions after 68 years). I am at a loss. Tried Dawn and scrubbed. Nothing. If anyone knows who to call, I'd love to have it cleaned.

Fiddledd224 · Answer

Power wash with Awesome Orange mixed into cleaning solution

Sarah Lowery · Answer

Hi Janet, I will help you. I own a pressure washing business and can help you. Please give me a call so we can talk, if I don't answer it's because I'm working so please leave a message so I can call you back.

Sarah L. Owner

859.948.3543

Power Trip Pressure Washing

My website is

www.powertrippressurewashing.com

Sarah L. Owner

859.948.3543

Power Trip Pressure Washing

My website is

www.powertrippressurewashing.com

Stephanie Jones · Answer

I have new Mountain Stone that has black all over it and has to be cleaned. Dawn isn’t working. The stuff my Masionery went and got din’t work either. Any suggestions?

Thank you

Stephanie

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