7 Steps to Removing Smoke or Soot Damage from Brick

With the following 7 steps, you can clean smoke damage on interior and exterior brick surfaces in no time.

Step 1 – Provide adequate ventilation by opening windows and doors. This step is important for interior brick cleaning.

Step 2 – Protect yourself by wearing gloves, mask/respirator, as well as long sleeve shirts and pants. Protect and cover undamaged surfaces, such as tables, chairs, and other fabric surfaces to prevent the distribution of soot.

Step 3 – Use a brush or vacuum cleaner to remove all loose layers of soot.

Step 4 – Use a chemical/ dry cleaning sponge to remove further soot by moving in wiping rather than scrubbing motions.

Step 5 – Prepare a soap solution, containing six tablespoons dish soap per gallon of water. Apply solution on rag or sponge and wash brick with a broad wiping motion. The dirty rag should be rinsed and rung out often in the soap solution.

Step 6 – Rinse the cleaned brick thoroughly with water or if you prefer use a power washer on exterior surfaces. If stains remain, use a scrubbing paste (1/2 cup baking soda and two tablespoons dish soap) and a stiff brush. Don’t forget to rinse the brick completely after using the scrubbing paste.

Step 7 – Dry cleaned brick naturally and increase ventilation by using fans and opening windows when inside.