How to Clean an Exposed Brick Wall in Your Apartment
20.08.2026
To clean an interior exposed brick wall, dry-brush it first with a stiff-bristle brush to pull off loose dust and grit, then wipe with a cloth dampened in warm water and a little dish soap. Work top to bottom in small sections. Brick is porous, so keep it barely damp and dry it afterward to avoid trapped moisture behind the wall.
What you'll need
- A stiff-bristle brush (nylon or natural, not wire) and a soft brush or old paintbrush for the mortar lines
- Vacuum with a brush attachment
- Two buckets: one for wash water, one for rinse
- Mild dish soap
- White vinegar (for stubborn spots only)
- A few microfiber cloths and a sponge
- Drop cloth or old towels for the floor
- Rubber gloves and a dust mask (helpful in a small apartment with little airflow)
- A step stool for the top courses
Step by step
- Lay a drop cloth or towels along the base of the wall to catch falling grit—brick dust travels fast in a small room.
- Vacuum the whole wall with the brush attachment, or dry-brush from the top down. Get into the recessed mortar joints where dust collects.
- Mix a few drops of dish soap into a bucket of warm water. Fill the second bucket with clean water for rinsing.
- Dampen a sponge or cloth in the soapy water and wring it out well. Wipe a small section, roughly two feet square, scrubbing lightly with the stiff brush where there's buildup.
- Rinse that section with a cloth dampened in clean water to lift the soap, then blot dry with a microfiber cloth before moving on.
- For grease near a kitchen or soot near an old radiator, dab a 1:1 white vinegar and water mix on the spot, let it sit a minute, then scrub and rinse. Test a hidden corner first.
- When you're done, open a window if yours opens, or run a fan, and let the wall air out for a few hours so moisture doesn't linger in the brick.
What NOT to do
Don't use a wire brush—it scratches the brick face and leaves metal flecks that rust into orange streaks. Skip the pressure washer and don't soak the wall; saturated brick holds water against the interior, which can loosen mortar and lead to staining or mildew in a poorly ventilated apartment. Avoid bleach and acid-based masonry cleaners indoors, especially with a non-opening window—the fumes have nowhere to go, and acid can etch and discolor mortar. If your brick is painted or sealed, don't scrub hard; you'll pull up paint. And never let dirty runoff sit on a hardwood or finished floor below—wipe drips as you go.
When to call a pro
DIY handles routine dust, cooking grease, and the occasional scuff. But if you're facing crumbling mortar, efflorescence (that white powdery bloom that keeps coming back), deep smoke damage, or a wall so large that keeping it evenly damp is a two-person job, it's worth bringing in help—both to protect the brick and to avoid moving water into a wall you can't see behind. It's also a smart move before a move-out inspection when a landlord is watching for damage. If you'd rather not spend a Saturday on a step stool in a cloud of brick dust, book apartment cleaning with CleanWhale and we'll handle the wall along with the rest of the place.
FAQ
Can I use vinegar on interior brick?
Diluted white vinegar works for spot-treating grease or soot, but use it sparingly and rinse afterward—left on too long or used at full strength, the acid can dull and erode the mortar joints. Always test a hidden section first.
How often should I clean an exposed brick wall?
A quick vacuum or dry-brush every few weeks keeps dust down, which matters more in a tight apartment where brick sheds grit into the air. A full wash once or twice a year is usually enough unless the wall is near a stove or a steam radiator that throws off soot.
How do I get rid of the white powder on my brick?
That's efflorescence—mineral salts pushed to the surface by moisture. Dry-brush it off first, then wipe with water. If it returns, the real issue is moisture reaching the brick, and that's worth having a professional assess rather than scrubbing repeatedly.
Will cleaning make my brick look brighter or sealed?
Cleaning removes dust and grime but won't restore color or add sheen. If you want a richer look, a breathable masonry sealer can help, but check with your landlord first—many leases don't allow you to alter the wall's finish.
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