How to Get Red Clay Stains Off the Side of Your House

If you live in an area where red clay is prevalent, you might have noticed that it has a tendency to stain the surfaces it comes into contact with. Red clay is the dominant soil type in the southern United States but can also be found as far north as Pennsylvania and even western states. Red clay stains occur after heavy rains when water carries the clay deep into the pores of the concrete, brick or stucco. Home foundation walls are often susceptible to this via splash build-up, but even the simple act of walking on a concrete driveway with muddy shoes will do its damage.

Red Clay contains iron oxide aka rust and is highly insoluble. Powerwashing alone does not take the red dirt stains out. Why are red clay stains so hard to clean from the the side of your home? Possibly because what gives the reddish color. It is an iron oxide or better known as rust, which is highly insoluble in water. In fact, iron oxides are often used as inexpensive earth tone pigments in coatings, paints and colored concrete.

These stains can be particularly stubborn when they are on the side of your house. However, with a little bit of elbow grease and some careful cleaning, you can get your house looking as good as new. In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to get red clay stains off the side of your house.

Steps to Remove Red Clay Stains from Your Home

The first step you need to do in removing red clay stains from the side of your house is to gather the necessary supplies. You will need a pressure washer or a hose with a high-pressure nozzle, a scrub brush with stiff bristles, a bucket, dish soap or a specialized cleaning solution, and rubber gloves. Before you start cleaning, you'll want to take some time to prepare the area. This means moving any furniture, planters, or other items that may be in the way. You'll also want to cover any plants or landscaping features that are near the area you'll be cleaning. This will help protect them from any cleaning solutions or debris that may be kicked up during the cleaning process. If any cleaning solution does get on any plants or delicate surfaces, rinse with water throughly.

The next step you need to do in cleaning red clay stains off the side of your house is to rinse the area with a pressure washer or a hose with a high-pressure nozzle. This will help to remove any loose dirt or debris from the surface of your house. If you decide that pressure washing is the way you want to go, be sure to use the appropriate nozzle for the job. A nozzle with too much pressure can damage the surface of your house, while a nozzle with too little pressure won't be effective at removing the stains. The best pressure washing tip would be a 40 degree or 25 degree tips.

Once you've rinsed the area, it's time to apply the cleaning solution. You can use a specialized cleaning solution designed for red clay stains, or you can use a mixture of dish soap and water. If you're using a specialized cleaning solution, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Alot of these solutions will need a dwell time to start working and you might need to keep the surface wet to keep from drying.You can apply your specialized cleaning solution in a pump sprayer.

If you're using dish soap, mix it with water in a bucket until you have a soapy solution. Then you can start appling your mix to the area that has the red clay stain. With the cleaning solution applied, it's time to start scrubbing. Use a scrub brush with stiff bristles to scrub the area in a circular motion. Be sure to apply firm pressure, but don't use so much pressure that you damage the surface of your house. If you're having trouble removing the stains, you can try using a power scrubber or pressure washing with a rotating nozzle. These tools can help to loosen the stains and make them easier to remove.

Once you've finished scrubbing, rinse the area again by pressure washing or a hose with a high-pressure nozzle. This will help to remove any remaining cleaning solution or debris from the surface of your house. If the stains are particularly stubborn, you may need to repeat the cleaning process several times. Be patient and persistent, and keep working until the stains are gone.

How to Prevent Stains From Returning

Once you've successfully removed the red clay stains from the side of your house, it's important to take preventative measures to keep them from coming back. You can add a sealant to the surface of your house, which will help to prevent future stains from setting in and make them easier to remove if they do occur. If you don't already have gutters, consider installing them. Gutters can help to divert water away from the side of your house, which can help to prevent red clay stains from forming. Finally, remove any sources of red clay in the area around your house. This can include planting grass or shrubs, adding mulch to your flower beds, or installing a retaining wall to keep the red clay from washing onto your property.