ᐅ Removing Efflorescence from Paving Bricks – How Can I Get Rid of It?

Hello dear forum,

I have a huge problem.
In winter, I spread salt on my ABC paving bricks, and now there are residues everywhere. The bricks turn completely white when they are dry.
I have already tried removing it with a pressure washer, Mellerud nitrate remover, and scrubbing.
Even when I turn the bricks over, the residue comes back to the surface.

Is there any way to get this off?

Please help me... I would really prefer not to replace all the bricks.

Best regards

Are you sure it’s salt? Some (dark) engineered stones develop efflorescence over time. However, this usually fades again after several months or years.

Yes... I am... it is only in the areas where salt was also spread

Clay bricks can effloresce, and it’s the same with brick paving.
With brick walls, efflorescence is even considered normal because the salt bound in the mortar is transported outward through moisture.
Over time, the rain washes it away.
In my case (brick wall), after almost half a year, there was a strong efflorescence on the shutters, turning them completely white.
After a few days or weeks, the rain washed it away again.

You have now spread salt (isn’t that even prohibited in Germany? If so: karma^^), instead of the salt coming from the mortar.
As nils mentioned, it should reduce over time.
You can try brushing and rinsing to lessen it as well.
With a pressure washer, I imagine the salt might just be pushed deeper into the brick.

Chemical treatments probably won’t help or might even make it worse due to their salt content.
I suspect you can only remove the salt if it dissolves in water and is washed away.
If the water only evaporates, the salt remains behind again.

So, I can only think of watering gently and relying on the rain.