Soft Washing Brick Homes in Petal & Hattiesburg
Updated: 3 days ago
Brick is everywhere in Petal, Hattiesburg, and the rest of the Pine Belt. It never needs paint, so it is easy to think of it as maintenance-free. But South Mississippi humidity, shade from pines and oaks, and red clay soil all leave marks on brick, and they tend to show up in the same places on almost every house.
Pine Belt Wash Co. cleans brick homes with a low-pressure soft wash, the same gentle method we use on siding, trim, roofs, porches, and fences. Here is what builds up on brick around here, why blasting it is a bad idea, and what a proper cleaning looks like. See our services for everything we clean.
What Builds Up on Brick in the Pine Belt
Green algae and mildew on shaded walls
Brick is porous and holds moisture after rain and heavy dew. On the north side of the house, under trees, and behind shrubs, that moisture rarely dries out, so green algae and gray or dark mildew settle into the texture of the brick and the mortar joints.
Red clay splash along the bottom rows
When rain hits bare dirt or flower beds next to the house, it throws red clay up onto the lowest rows of brick and the foundation. Over time it turns into an orange band that a garden hose will not budge.
Pollen, dirt, and cobwebs under the eaves
Spring pollen leaves a yellow film, dust settles on window sills, and cobwebs collect in the corners of soffits and porches. None of it hurts the brick, but together it makes the whole house look dull.
Why Brick Should Not Get Blasted
Brick looks tough, but a pressure washer held close can etch the face of the brick, wear down mortar joints, and drive water deep into the wall and around windows and doors. Once mortar starts to wear, that is a repair job, not a cleaning job.
A soft wash relies on a cleaning solution and time instead of force. The solution breaks down algae and mildew, and a low-pressure rinse carries it away. More on why DIY high pressure goes wrong on a house in House Soft Wash vs DIY Pressure Washing in Hattiesburg.
How We Soft Wash a Brick Home
Walk the house and note the shaded walls, plants, beds, light fixtures, and outlets
Apply the cleaning solution at low pressure to the brick, trim, and soffits
Give it time to work on the algae, mildew, and dirt
Rinse at low pressure, working from the top of the wall down
Painted brick gets the same low-pressure approach, since high pressure can lift paint. Trim, soffits, and any vinyl on the gables are cleaned in the same visit so the whole house matches.
Brick Plus the Rest of the Outside
A clean brick wall stands out even more when the surfaces around it match. Many homeowners pair a brick soft wash with:
Driveway and walkway pressure washing to clear red clay and pine debris from the concrete
Gutter cleaning, so overflowing gutters stop running dirty water down the brick
A roof soft wash if black streaks are showing on the shingles
Porch and fence soft washing for the shaded spots that grow green film
Read more in Driveway & Parking Lot Pressure Washing After Red Clay & Pine Debris and Why Gutter Cleaning Matters in the Pine Belt. Questions in the meantime? Call (601) 307-1864 or send us photos of your walls through pinebeltwashco.com.
What We Do Not Do
We clean. We do not repoint mortar, repair or replace brick, paint, or seal. If a wall has loose mortar or cracked brick, that is a job for a mason, and it is worth handling before any washing.
Brick Home Washing FAQ
How often should a brick house be washed?
It depends on shade and trees more than the calendar. Walls in full sun stay clean longer. Check the north side and the walls behind shrubs; when they start turning green or dark, it is time.
Can you get red clay off the bottom of my brick?
Red clay splash on the lower rows is one of the most common things we clean off brick. Older, deep-set staining can be stubborn, so we will tell you what to expect once we see it.
Will a soft wash hurt my mortar or windows?
Soft washing uses low pressure, so there is no blasting at mortar joints, window seals, or door frames. That is the reason we use it on brick.
Is painted brick washed the same way?
Yes. Painted brick gets a low-pressure soft wash. We do not repaint, so if paint is already peeling, that is a job for a painter.
Get Your Brick Home Cleaned in Petal or Hattiesburg
Pine Belt Wash Co. serves Petal, Hattiesburg, and the surrounding Pine Belt communities. Tell us which walls are bothering you, send a few photos if you have them, and we will get back to you with a quote and a time that fits.
You can also reach us at (601) 307-1864.
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