Exterior stucco walls are usually made of cement gypsum, which makes the material both weatherproof and very porous. This porosity causes the absorption of some substances and the appearance of spots. The most common stains on exterior grout are dirt and mold. Both can be effectively removed using the correct tools and procedures. Use this grout cleaning guide.
Steps
Step 1. Attach the spray nozzle to the garden hose
Determine what is the best distance from the wall to work.
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You should be as far away from the stucco wall as possible but still have sufficient pressure. If you are too close you could spray yourself with cleaning products or damage the grout due to too much pressure.
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Step 2. Soak the wall from bottom to top
Apply the water with an even stream.
Step 3. Prepare the cleaning solution
You will need:
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7.6 liters of warm to hot water
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30 ml of dish soap
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118ml of borax, all in a large bucket.
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Step 4. Transfer the mixture to a pump sprayer
Pump sprayers can be purchased from household or garden supply stores. There are various sizes. For this purpose you will need one with a 4 - 8 liter tank
Step 5. Spray the wall with the mixture, moving from the bottom up
Focus on the areas where the most stubborn stains are.
Step 6. Apply the pressurized water again, starting from the top and going towards the lower part of the wall
Work from top to bottom when washing the wall - as long as the wall has been previously impregnated - to use gravity to move dirt from the top to the base of the wall. You will see the dirt moving along the wall to the bottom. With the pump, follow the dirt line, being careful to guide it down
Step 7. Check that you have not forgotten any stains
Wet the wall again if you haven't cleaned any areas.
Step 8. Let the wall dry
Advice
- To clean stucco on interior walls or ceilings, use a cleaner and a brush to gently remove stains. Make sure you pat the area dry with a towel when you're done.
- If the stains have not gone away with this procedure, get a soft bristle brush and scrub the area with the mixture of dish soap and borax. For spots that are very high up, use a ladder.
Warnings
- Do not spray an area for too long. The jet of water can erode the wall.
- Do not use a pressure cleaner instead of the garden hose and nozzle. The water would have too much pressure and would end up damaging the grout.
- Do not attempt to paint on dirty stucco. The stucco can be painted, but the process involves deep cleaning the wall first. The paint does not stick if the putty is dirty.
- Do not spray water from top to bottom if the grout is not already impregnated with water. Wetting the upper part of the wall first will cause the absorption of dirt in the lower part.
