How to use brick acid (Bostik mortar and brick cleaner)

[@richard21995]

Great video, thanks for showing how its done

[@FixitwithFowler]

Thanks for your comment 👍

[@ausfan100]

You don't really need to buy a special brick cleaner. Just go to your local hardware store and pick up a 5L container of Hydochloric acid. You can water it down to 1 part acid, 4 parts water. (I've actually used the acid full strength to dissolve difficult to remove spots on occasions). When mixing, make sure you add the acid to water, not the other way around in case acid splashes upwards when the water hits it. Also, whenever you're cleaning a brick wall, avoid being heavy handed with overloading the brush with the liquid as you paint it onto a brick - Acid coming into contact with the mortar between the bricks will readily attack the mortar around a brick and weaken it. Ensure you hose down the wall thoroughly after the cleaning.

[@gfficomable]

Very helpful and very clear, thank you.

[@FixitwithFowler]

Thanks for your comment!

[@mrscandherfamily892]

This is so helpful thank you

[@FixitwithFowler]

Thanks for your comment, glad you found the video helpful!

[@suefowler8005]

Brilliant advice steve

[@FixitwithFowler]

Thanks for your comment 👍

[@AJ-ds5gf]

great vid, very thorough!

[@FixitwithFowler]

I'm glad you liked the video. Thanks for your comment 👍

[@ChiffChaffJen]

Thank you for doing this video. I have just started taking some render off an old brick wall which appears to have been constructed using lime mortar. It's an old house 1800's. I want to clean the bricks and re-point with lime mortar. Would I be okay using brick acid to clean up the old bricks or would you suggest a different method? Many thanks if you can advise please 😊

[@FixitwithFowler]

I think it will be ideal to clean the bricks, thanks for taking the time to drop me a comment!

[@ChiffChaffJen]

Thank you! ​@@FixitwithFowler

[@Lonely_Goat]

Thanks. Going to try it as the plumber left a right mess when he did the brickwork for the new boiler vent outside.

[@FixitwithFowler]

Hi Nate, Thanks for your comment. It's easy to apply but just make sure you rinse the bricks prior to use and after use.

[@Lonely_Goat]

@@FixitwithFowler yeah that's a good tip. You think the wife's washing up gloves will work?

[@FixitwithFowler]

Its a personal choice, however the gloves i used were only £3.99 from amazon! There is a link in the video description for everything i used.

[@michaelleudde-neurath]

Was very interesting but how do you do this with an internal brick wall..thanks

[@FixitwithFowler]

Not sure really as you need to wash the acid off

[@Alnero80]

Lemon juice

[@metube9541]

Nice video, do you know if it contains Hydrochloric acid. I’ve tried some other brands that are a bit “green” and don’t work very well.

[@FixitwithFowler]

Hi, yes this does contain hydrochloric acid. I was impressed with it on mortar and according to the instructions you can also use it to clean tools! Hope that helps

[@metube9541]

@@FixitwithFowler perfect, I also use it to clean stubborn brake dust off alloy wheels. The alloy wheel cleaners have mostly done away with acid and are now a bit pansy.

[@FixitwithFowler]

I had the same experience with paint stripper, apparently some of the chemicals are now banned from the eu.

[@nincaru3807]

The bricks look perfectly cleaned already. Would have been nice to have taped off half the wall and used product on one side only so that when done we could see the difference. Or if you only selected a few bricks to clean if tape idea wouldn’t work. Just a thought!

[@FixitwithFowler]

Hi Nin Caru, Thanks for your comment.

[@colinharwood5183]

can you this product to clean floor tiles many thanks

[@FixitwithFowler]

Hi Colin, i wouldn't recommend it. Im sure you can get a specific cleaner for tiles. Thanks for your question

[@stevenm8970]

I sandblasted my victorian bricks. They look great, but have now realised my mistake. I should have used acid wash instead. The bricks are now more porous than they would have been before.

[@FixitwithFowler]

It's the first time I've used this brick acid and it does clean the mortar off quite well. Thanks for your comment 👍

[@saintetienne755]

water sealant might help seal your bricks

[@robertwadas]

It would take me a year to clean each brick by hand.

[@BindlestiffGames]

I came here for this exact comment. There is no way anyone has the time to do this on any sizeable area.

[@mukeshpatel-gj4sd]

I used the one from screwfix and the cement is still on their !

[@FixitwithFowler]

Hi, there are mixed reviews of different brands of brick acid. I got this one from amazon www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Q44D3P2/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_apa_gl_i_BNWJ9S31KF5BM3DVRP39?linkCode=ml2&tag=fixitwithfowl-21 I think it depends on how much staining there is on the bricks to how successful the product is.

[@thebanditsix]

Those bricks didn't need cleaning.

[@FixitwithFowler]

+thebanditsix maybe im a bit of a perfectionist. Unfortunately when i cleaned the other bricks all you could see was my head 🙃

[@garytango]

👍

[@darrengoodwin9819]

Boss" How many bricks you clean today fred. Im packing up boss. 2 whole bricks cleaned today boss. Boss" wow fantastic. Boss" so how long to you wash this house . Fred" 6 months, Boss" let me get my gun Fred " gun!" Why" Boss" Speed things up! Fred" arhhh kool

[@FixitwithFowler]

Brilliant comment 🤣