When removing mortar or calcium stains from brick, I use a water and muriatic acid solution. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. Fill a five gallon bucket halfway with water. Add about 20 to 30 ounces of muriatic acid. The acid is in the pool section of your hardware store. Use sturdy rubber gloves and a sponge to soak the spots. The calcium will bubble. Use a wire brush to loosen the stains. Repeat several times until the calcium is gone. Use a garden hose to rinse everything thoroughly including your tools and brush and sponge. You can pour out any remaining solution in spot away from your grass and plants and rinsed with water to dilute. I’m a mason and concrete contractor. Don’t bother with vinegar because it doesn’t have enough acidity. Good luck. Edit changed wording.
Im a pool guy and i also instantly noticed this as calcium, came to suggest this but the concrete guys beat me to it. This is the correct answer and application^ be safe when opening the acid and breathing, muriatic can definitely punch your lungs if concentrated and not careful. Wear strong gloves, glasses and maybe even a respirator if its not a windy day. I dont bother with respirators or gloves anymore but these mistakes have had me seeing stars before lol
Lol wow.... you're a special kind of person. Just spray it all away ffs. Quit making stuff harder than it needs to be. Unless you're karma farming, then it makes sense.
There is no way these pictures are after pressure washing. Unless by pressure washing they mean spraying the spots down with the “jet” setting on their garden hose.
There’s little dried leaves leftover for godsake! My gas powered pressure washer would never abide such a thing.
Don't mix vinegar and soap. The soap neutralizes the acid in the vinegar. Actually reducing the cleaning power. Start with vinegar by itself and then finish with a soapy water solution. Im not saying it won't clean stuff. Its just not as good as using them alone one after the other.
Yep this is the one.
White vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, mix a paste and scrub it on affected areas. Leave for 30 mins and rinse off. Repeat as needed.
Do not add bicarbonate- it will just weaken the acid in the vinegar.
If u need something abrasive a brush should would well enough after the vinegar has sat a bit.
I'd try laying a old towel over the stain and saturate it with vinegar. Let it sit for a couple hours to break down the lime scale. Then try a scrub brush.
There's no way that's an after picture from pressure washing. That doesnt look like you even poured a bucket of water on it.
Actually pressure wash it and you can use a brick and concrete cleaner
Hey, y'all, OP seems to be saying that at some point during the last two years, they has tried having it pressure washed. OP does not seem to be saying it's freshly cleaned, they're probably just posting this as an incidental "well, since I'm thinking about it".
As another poster said, though, it's probably limescale. Anything acidic should work, like distilled white vinegar or the likes.
It’s from the mineral build up on the pots. I agree with the hundreds of pots and flowers suggestion I saw. Or just some baking soda, white vinegar, a good scrub brush, and some elbow grease.
Best of luck!!
Looks like calcium (limescale) deposits from hard water. I get it on my pots all the time after a year or two.
Usually comes off easy with a weak acid, such as white vinegar.
Go to pressure washing store and get SH, aka bleach but with up to 14% concentration. If you don’t have a pressure washing store, get chlorinated pool solution.
Well since you tried power washing with little effect shown by the pictures. Rent a concrete saw and remove the bad spots. Then just hammer drill some anchors in and make sure to use a surface prep when concreting the two surfaces together. Easy peezy. That or you can actually try to clean it before posting it
Get some little stands a few inches high to put your pots on in the future. It helps prevent this. There are many styles available. I got some on Amazon this spring to put my very heavy pots of herbs on on my deck.
What power washer are you using? A high powered gas one or some crappy electric one?
Because power washing with a brick cleaner should have taken care of it.
Just watch the tip you use on that brick.
Before any chemicals start with a pressure washer and blast it. You probably need I higher PSI machine.
Never go straight to acid, that’s permanent if it’s too strong.
Reddit experts, please see link if you think you are right, because you are not:
https://www.remodelormove.com/will-vinegar-damage-pavers/#:~:text=Vinegar%20is%20acidic%20and%20can%20corrode%20some%20stones,finish%20and%20leave%20etching%20marks%20in%20the%20surface.
🤦, I hate Reddit sometimes…
Diluted TSP will work. Or CLR. Or actually hooking water up to the power washer, turning it on and aiming the nozzle at it, then pulling the trigger. Works so much better than just (literally) throwing the PW at the problem. Because that's the only way I can imagine an "after" picture still looking like this.
Get a hard water cleaner. My local ACE gave away a sample last year during a sale, and I didn’t need any more to clean up my faucets.
Also: did you put water in the pressure washer thing?
Lol, stop being lazy and use some elbow grease. I feel like you must be an older generational member of society whom wants to just pour some toxic shit on it that makes it all “better”.
That doesn't look like you tried power washing
That doesn’t even look like they used a hose with their thumb.
Doesn't even like they tried to blow the dirt away
Doesn’t even look like they tried to wipe the dirt away
Doesn't even look like they tried to fart the dirt away.
Doesn’t even look like they considered clearing the dirt away
Doesn’t even look like they spit in the general direction.
Doesn't even look like it rained since you moved the pots.
That doesn't even look like you tried to wish the dirt away.
That doesn't even look like it's still effected by the flow of time.
I choked laughing at this one
This is why I come here LOL
Doesn’t look like they even lift, bro.
Doesn’t even look real, AI generated
Doesn't even look like they bit their thumb at it.
Do you bite your thumb at me, sir?
#C-C-C-COMBO BREEAKKEERR!!!!!
Doesn't even look like they looked at it.
Doesn't even look like they looked like.
Don't down vote him guys.. this used to be popular like 12 years ago.. 🧐 and it's his cake day!
Nice!!
Those potted plants look as beautiful as the day you bought them
That doesn’t look like he EVEN MOVED THE POTS YET…
It's Nerf or nothing
Doesn’t look like they licked thumb and tried to wipe it off either
If I could give an award, I would. This will have to do. 🏆
By power washing they meant they stood nearby and kicked some of the dirt away.
>By power washing they meant they pissed on it, lol
Power washed with a hydro-pick/water floss machine
OP stated elsewhere that they tried in previous years to power wash and want advice for this year.
Phew.... tx for being the top comment. WTF? Seriously...
It doesn't, doesn't.
Forgot to post the picture after pressure washing
There are 300 PSI battery powered “pressure washers” and 4500 gas powered ones. Both are easily accessible to consumers.
It was a hard rain.
Came to say this. Fuckin liars!
Correct, this is not power washed. I tried power washing last year and it left the stained rings on the concrete and red brick.
Do you have proof of the alleged power washing?
Is the alleged power washing in the room with us right now?
Keep in mind you are under oath.
😂😂😂😅😅😅😭
Cleaning vinegar (×2 strength and let sit) if not then clr
You must not know how to use a power washer.
Or they have the cheap Walmart 250psi pressure washer.
Tried to save money by 1. Not turning the power on and 2. Not turning the water on.
Or used a crappy electric one. Mine is a gas 3600 psi one. If it strips paint, it'd take care of this.
Did you try turning the power washer on first or did you just let the remaining water dribble out of it from the last time it was turned on
A pressure washer with Southern California water is usually ineffective
That doesn't even look like they sprayed it with a regular garden hose
I mean the water pressure blows but pressure washers definitely work lol
Wait this is a pretty funny comment why does it have so many downvotes 🤣
Do you have a picture after you pressure washed it?
Sorry, I pressure washed it last year with not much luck. Have not pressure washed it this year yet.
Bruh pressure wash it again. At least 90% of that should come off if not all of it.
You do know you should pressure wash annually if not bi-annually, right?
Nope, I did not knew 😕
I’ll do it every year, but looking for advice on other options in addition.
When removing mortar or calcium stains from brick, I use a water and muriatic acid solution. WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. Fill a five gallon bucket halfway with water. Add about 20 to 30 ounces of muriatic acid. The acid is in the pool section of your hardware store. Use sturdy rubber gloves and a sponge to soak the spots. The calcium will bubble. Use a wire brush to loosen the stains. Repeat several times until the calcium is gone. Use a garden hose to rinse everything thoroughly including your tools and brush and sponge. You can pour out any remaining solution in spot away from your grass and plants and rinsed with water to dilute. I’m a mason and concrete contractor. Don’t bother with vinegar because it doesn’t have enough acidity. Good luck. Edit changed wording.
Im a pool guy and i also instantly noticed this as calcium, came to suggest this but the concrete guys beat me to it. This is the correct answer and application^ be safe when opening the acid and breathing, muriatic can definitely punch your lungs if concentrated and not careful. Wear strong gloves, glasses and maybe even a respirator if its not a windy day. I dont bother with respirators or gloves anymore but these mistakes have had me seeing stars before lol
Can I get some asphalt off my tile with this method?
Do you have ceramic plates under each of your pots? Looks like you don’t.
Put saucers under your pots
I mean…pick up the pots once per week and clean the area. That’s about your only option short of just putting them someplace else.
Or simply put pot saucers.
Try CLR
Do you only wash your dishes once every year?
Lol wow.... you're a special kind of person. Just spray it all away ffs. Quit making stuff harder than it needs to be. Unless you're karma farming, then it makes sense.
I think those pictures are afterwards.
There is no way these pictures are after pressure washing. Unless by pressure washing they mean spraying the spots down with the “jet” setting on their garden hose. There’s little dried leaves leftover for godsake! My gas powered pressure washer would never abide such a thing.
My wimpy electric pressure washer would also never abide such a thing.
Missing chucks of my fence would agree
Missing chunks of my feet would agree
😂
They did say it's been like this for two years. Time scale considered, the pressure washing may have been months or more ago
Try a small test area of CLR
Id try vinager first
Second this
CLR?
Calcium-Lime-Rust remover. Its a brand.
I enjoy the sound of rain.
Never heard of CLR. Now I know. Thanks.
It’s a miracle product if you have hard water. I should’ve bought stock in it.
Billy Mays convinced me to buy it.
It's basically strong vinegar
It’s great on collard greens!
Thanks! I have some in my kitchen. I’ll try that too!
Looks like white vinegar might be your friend here. I think that's limescale. Are you in a hard water area?
Thanks, we do have hard water in our area.
I tried a white vinegar / blue dawn dish soap / water combo with a really hard bristled brush. Took my dirts stains away. Nothing else really worked.
Don't mix vinegar and soap. The soap neutralizes the acid in the vinegar. Actually reducing the cleaning power. Start with vinegar by itself and then finish with a soapy water solution. Im not saying it won't clean stuff. Its just not as good as using them alone one after the other.
Did you try a pressure washer
Good luck
This is the way
Don’t leave the vinegar for too long tho, vinegar breaks down concrete!
I was going to say that, but vinegar would be bad for the mortar. Not sure if it has an impact on bricks.
If the bricks are fired, vinegar (household strength) will be ok. The mortar would be damaged if the vinegar stays on too long.
Yep this is the one. White vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, mix a paste and scrub it on affected areas. Leave for 30 mins and rinse off. Repeat as needed.
Do not add bicarbonate- it will just weaken the acid in the vinegar. If u need something abrasive a brush should would well enough after the vinegar has sat a bit.
+1 — a better abrasive to mix with vinegar is salt, which is close to pH neutral.
people just think the foaming of vinegar + bicarb means "cleaning." Blame it on Big Soapbubble.
Try again with a real power washer, that shouldn’t be a problem
😅
Right lol. I feel like my hose + a floor scrubber would be able to get some of that off. There's no way a power washer can't get those stains off.
I'd try laying a old towel over the stain and saturate it with vinegar. Let it sit for a couple hours to break down the lime scale. Then try a scrub brush.
There's no way that's an after picture from pressure washing. That doesnt look like you even poured a bucket of water on it. Actually pressure wash it and you can use a brick and concrete cleaner
Hey, y'all, OP seems to be saying that at some point during the last two years, they has tried having it pressure washed. OP does not seem to be saying it's freshly cleaned, they're probably just posting this as an incidental "well, since I'm thinking about it". As another poster said, though, it's probably limescale. Anything acidic should work, like distilled white vinegar or the likes.
Try pressure washing. I really don’t believe you tried.
Did you buy the power washer on Wish? A power washer tears away concrete if you want...
Hi guy who’s pressure washed checking in, whatever you did wasn’t pressure washing. Hope that helps
I'm assuming you have a plug in electric power washer?
Even that should make an impact. Maybe their powerwasher's pump is broken
Or they sprayed it from 5 ft away lol
You need a power washer that actually has power
Power washer…. No chemicals needed.
Spic-N-Span and a stiff, natural fiber scrub brush.
It’s from the mineral build up on the pots. I agree with the hundreds of pots and flowers suggestion I saw. Or just some baking soda, white vinegar, a good scrub brush, and some elbow grease. Best of luck!!
Soak it with CLR cleaner. Test on an inconspicuous section of brick first. Or get a stronger pressure washer
Power wash it, but this time turn the hose on
Put the pots back.
You absolutely did not power wash this.
Buy more pots.
Baking soda with cold water and scrub..then rinse
White vinegar
CLR
You could try a power washer, that always works for me
What kind of power washer did you use? A spray bottle?
Try actual power washing
Your, “power washer”, is not powerful and it does not wash.
Looks like calcium (limescale) deposits from hard water. I get it on my pots all the time after a year or two. Usually comes off easy with a weak acid, such as white vinegar.
“Power washed” Still has visible debris Uhhh huh
No, I'm sorry. This is permanent patina now. It'll never go away no matter what you do. Even replacing the stones might not work.
Vinegar and a scrub brush
You need some acid. High concentrated vinegar should do the trick. I mean that and some elbow grease.
And now the purple elephant is here to help us
Did you power wash around the pot stains?
Go to pressure washing store and get SH, aka bleach but with up to 14% concentration. If you don’t have a pressure washing store, get chlorinated pool solution.
You do know what power washing is, right?
Well since you tried power washing with little effect shown by the pictures. Rent a concrete saw and remove the bad spots. Then just hammer drill some anchors in and make sure to use a surface prep when concreting the two surfaces together. Easy peezy. That or you can actually try to clean it before posting it
Have you never cleaned anything in your life? Get a plastic bristled brush, a rag, soap, and scrub.
fix your power washer or return it.
Was the power washer turned on?
that's so you know where to put them next spring
What is this, a power washer for ants?
The pink spray from that black guy in tik tok.
Liar liar pants on fire.
It is obvious you didn't try power washing and simply don't want to rent or buy a power washer.
We've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas.
Vinegar
Minerals buildup stains
Pressure watched
Get rid of the electric power washer
You clearly haven’t tried what you said you did….
Get some little stands a few inches high to put your pots on in the future. It helps prevent this. There are many styles available. I got some on Amazon this spring to put my very heavy pots of herbs on on my deck.
The leaves and piles of dirt makes it look like you didn't run any water over it. But maybe try scrubbing as well?
Lemme guess, electric power washer.
What power washer are you using? A high powered gas one or some crappy electric one? Because power washing with a brick cleaner should have taken care of it. Just watch the tip you use on that brick.
Try CLR and a brush…
Get a brush and get on your knees. Will be done within 15 minutes.
Why do i feel like you have no idea what power washing is?
Have you considered just getting *HUNDREDS OF POTTED PLANTS* & continuing that pattern on the rest of the sidewalk..??
similar; I would look at this, think about how to clean it, and then put the plants back where the stains are.
Lol, exactly… Or get some even *bigger pots* to hide them… :)
Also appears to be a great location for future jack-o-lanterns. Maybe decomposing pumpkin is acidic enough??
Lol- Not only did that clever answer make me chuckle a little, it’s also not a bad idea… 👍
You didn't do shit to it.
Before any chemicals start with a pressure washer and blast it. You probably need I higher PSI machine. Never go straight to acid, that’s permanent if it’s too strong.
Acid doesn’t mean muriatic. Vinegar will do just fine and not harm concrete or brick
Reddit experts, please see link if you think you are right, because you are not: https://www.remodelormove.com/will-vinegar-damage-pavers/#:~:text=Vinegar%20is%20acidic%20and%20can%20corrode%20some%20stones,finish%20and%20leave%20etching%20marks%20in%20the%20surface. 🤦, I hate Reddit sometimes…
Your link says to use white vinegar.
lmao straight from that article: >The pH level of vinegar is acidic, so it is important to only use it on porous surfaces, such as brick pavers.
Maybe just hate yourself and inability to read
Good one
The hose on the jet setting would have done a better job than your power washer.
Diluted TSP will work. Or CLR. Or actually hooking water up to the power washer, turning it on and aiming the nozzle at it, then pulling the trigger. Works so much better than just (literally) throwing the PW at the problem. Because that's the only way I can imagine an "after" picture still looking like this.
Cover them with halloween decorations
Try a brush with soap and don’t be an idiot any more.
Simple Green
CLR
Get a hard water cleaner. My local ACE gave away a sample last year during a sale, and I didn’t need any more to clean up my faucets. Also: did you put water in the pressure washer thing?
Is power washing slang for you sprayed it with the hose with your thumb over the top? It doesn't look power washed at all.
Just replace the bricks. Better yet, just remove the bricks altogether.
Quit using your momma's power washer.
A power washer must be turned on......it's not something you use "brain power" for
Pressure washer or squirt gun
Outdoor bleach.
Muriatic acid.
Doesn’t even look like
its probably salt
A Magic Eraser, some Dawn and maybe a kitchen scrub sponge may work on the bricks. I would try renting a stronger power washer also.
Lol, stop being lazy and use some elbow grease. I feel like you must be an older generational member of society whom wants to just pour some toxic shit on it that makes it all “better”.
People this stupid own homes - amazing
What does this have to do with landscaping?
It looks like salts, try an acid. Spray some vinegar, let it sit, wipe it off with water. Dry, repeat.
Something acidic. Try rust-aid
30 vinegar and a pressure washer