Used CLR to clean rust stains on brick but it left a white haze.
+10
CLR and LimeAway worked only marginally well to clean off the rust, but then added to the problem by causing a white haze where I had been scrubbing. So now I have the remaining rust stains AND the white haze. I think the rust stain will eventually scrub off if I keep repeating the CLR application, but does anyone know how to remove the resulting white haze? As my house is red brick I'm starting to think I should have just left the rust alone.
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Try using a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. CLR is highly acidic so it's possible it etched the brick and leached out salts. Do not use straight vinegar as it also is slightly acidic. Another option is to use Oxalic acid.
Hi Kimberly: The white haze is efflorescence, which is a deposit of salt. Hereare some sites that should help you get rid of it:
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/removing-white-scale-red-brick-33954.html
https://www.hunker.com/13415341/how-to-remove-white-leaching-from-bricks
https://www.nitterhousemasonry.com/tips-advice/what-is-efflorescence/
Good luck
Hi Kimberly.
You could try using artist paints to blend a colour to match bricks. Best wishes.
A pressure washer should remove it.
Some of those products can react with what you're putting them on and cause a bleaching of the brick. You can maybe try something like this - https://www.contractortalk.com/f48/red-brick-has-developed-white-coating-7033/
pressure or power wash should help with this. If you don’t have one you can purchase a high pressure attachment for your hose. It’s a fairly inexpensive wand that increases your pressure greatly.
we have a brick front and fireplace so we pressure wash it and use a mild bleach solution then rinse well
here is more info for you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEGLg8kT-Oo
I would use a watered down cleaner degreaser with a pressure washer.
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/bathroom/green-toilet-bowl-cleaner-17250743
https://www.hometalk.com/diy/clean/bathroom/toilet-cleaning-bombs-30029319?expand_all_questions=1#!
https://www.facebook.com/Hometalk/videos/1174134892920831/
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Hi Kimberley, Use oxalic acid on stubborn rust stains. Always follow the directions on the product's label, letting the chemicals penetrate the rusty brick for the longest recommended time. Scrub off the rust with a stiff scrub brush and thoroughly rinse the bricks by spraying them with water from a garden hose, this will likely remove the cloudiness from the brick for you as well, hope this helps you out
Hi! Hope this helps:
https://www.constructionspecifier.com/why-red-brick-turns-white-understanding-efflorescence/
Would you ever consider painting the entire exterior? It would give your home a fresh look and you wouldn't even have to bother with these minor rust stains!