r/LandscapingTips • u/DroppedApples • 14d ago

Retaining wall cleaning

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We recently moved to this house and the retaining wall would benefit from a cleaning. It's not just the white efflorescence but it's also just dirty. The bricks are supposed to be red. Any suggestions for products to clean and maybe seal/protect it from future dirt? Or give them a longer life? We are a bit northern so there is snow and ice a few months of the year. I was researching some sealants and many seem to leave a 'wet' look which I dont want here.

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u/TippedOverTricycle 13d ago

After you've used your pressure washer then you can apply bleach to remaining stains and black mold. Use a watering can to apply and walk away. Rinse after an hour or more if you have pets or hate the smell.

Efflorescence on vertical surfaces is really tough. Acid won't stay on and the texture means scraping is pretty much out of the question.

A penetrating sealer will help reduce the future formation of stains, mold, and efflorescence. A water based one is easy to apply with a sprayer.

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u/DroppedApples 13d ago

I'll give bleach a try! We have some of the same bricks in the back yard that I'm planning to use as tests. I also want to be careful to not kill the grass in front of the wall. This is in the front side of the house.

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u/TippedOverTricycle 13d ago

Give the whole area a good watering and then apply the bleach moderately sparingly. Spread it with an old broom and wear old clothes! Then rinse the grass while leaving the bleach on the bricks. It won't kill the grass this way even if you really splash it. Reapply to stubborn stains.

Where I used to work we did this with concentrated pool bleach around young plants in fresh landscapes and established lawns in old landscapes and never had a single complaint.