How do you clean the white oxidation from bricks?

Question

I finished a brick patio job that had been started by someone else and although not my field of expertise I had no problem laying the brick down in a herringbone pattern with brick running straight along the border of the walkways and patio. I put a pre grouting sealer on the brick before laying it and started noticing a white film develop on the top. I had sealed all the brick before I grouted then as I was part way into the grouting the white film started appearing and realized it was under the sealer I assume from water or moisture from the brick. I stopped grouting and was able to pressure wash the sealer off and I used brick cleaner, sealer striper, muratic acid, and although I got the sealer off the white film just kept getting worse, almost like it was bleached or something. I've scrubbed, brushed, pressure washed used everything I know of to get it off and soon as it dries then there it is I can't get rid of it. Does anyone know what I can do? I finished grouting it. Thanks

Answer 1

i was told , the first thing you have to do is quit pressure washing it...efflourescense is from the moisture coming through the brick...when you pressure wash it you are driving more water into the brick and when it comes out it brings more salts with it...all you can do is keep scrubbing it off with a stiff brush...it will eventually stop...