Carpets & Flooring
CRI Articles
IEHA Articles
The Clean Trust Articles
Features
Floors, walls and fireplaces made of brick are lovely to look at - until they're stained by grease or grunge. Here's a simple, 4-step cleaning solution.
1. Mix 2 tablespoons dishwashing liquid, a dash of table salt and enough water to make a good solution.
Spray it on, or rub the solution into the dirty, greasy surface using a cloth or rag. Let stand for several minutes.
2. Scrub the areas with a moistened stiff-bristle brush.
Rinse with warm water.
3. If that doesn't work, try this stronger method:
Using a stiff-bristle brush, scrub the surface with a solution of a half-cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) mixed in 1 gallon hot water in a plastic bucket.
TSP is caustic and potentially dangerous, so follow the product's directions carefully and keep it away from children. Be sure to wear rubber or latex gloves, safety goggles and protective clothing.
4. After scrubbing, rinse the area with warm water.
Repeat if needed, adding up to another half-cup TSP to the solution, then rinse again with warm water.
Additional tips:
- Always try the weaker solution first.
- Brick and stone are easier to clean when pre-sealed with a tung oil finish.
The Housekeeping Channel (HC), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HousekeepingChannel.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on cleaning and housekeeping.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HC provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HC: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
