QHow can one remove 20-year-old Sears Weatherbeater latex paint spatter from exterior brick, and Dutch Boy ceiling latex paint spatter from interior bricks?
On the outside of your house, the pictures you sent show the paint smeared only on surfaces where the fireplace juts out slightly from the wall. It looks as though there is also a line of caulk with an uneven edge. Because of that and the fact that people probably won’t be inspecting this surface close up, the easiest solution might be to paint over the bricks. The bricks vary in color, so buy several sample-size containers and custom-mix a little paint for each brick.
Take care to paint a straight line along the caulk. Doing that freehand with a small brush will probably work better than depending on tape because paint is likely to seep under the edge of the tape because the surface is so rough. (Or you can apply tape and first paint over the brick-side edge with the color on the house, so that’s what seeps under the edge. Then top with the colors you want for the bricks.)
If you don't want to use paint as a remedy, try using paint stripper to soften the old paint. The Brick Industry Association, a trade group, publishes a technical paper on cleaning bricks that recommends removing the softened paint with a scraper or wire brush. An older version of this technical paper, still followed by some in the brick industry, also suggested using trisodium phosphate (TSP) instead of paint stripper. If you try that, use a nonmetallic scraper and a nonmetallic scrub pad, such as 3M Heavy Duty Stripping Pads, about $4 for a package of two. Wear goggles and rubber gloves designed for use for stripping paint.
The technical brief notes that sometimes very old paint does not soften when exposed to solvents and can be removed only by sandblasting or scrubbing. Given the small area you have, it wouldn’t make sense to hire someone with sandblasting equipment to clean your bricks. You’d need to scrub.
On the interior, the pictures you sent show just a couple of big drips. Scrape off as much as you can with a paint scraper, or cut off the paint with a razor blade. To get off the rest, use paint remover. If you're treating just a few spots, the least-expensive option is a 4.5-ounce container of Goof Off Pro Strength Remover, about $3 at home centers and hardware stores.
I have a rental with a Corian sink in a bathroom where the tenant must have dyed her hair. I used bleach and water and got it lighter, and I believe the tenant used a scrubby and Softsoap. But there is still light-color brown on the white sink. Any suggestions?
Dupont, the manufacturer of Corian, says the material stands up to common household and commercial cleaners. It lists powdered abrasive cleansers (including Comet, which contains chlorine bleach), ammonia, strong detergents, oxalic acid solutions (rust and mineral removers are in this category), dilute hydrochloric acid solutions and dilute trisodium phosphate (TSP) solutions.
To remove stubborn stains — and Dupont includes hair dye as among the things that might cause these — it recommends using an abrasive cleaner and a Scotch-Brite pad. The company recommends a green pad if the surface is matte and a white pad if it is gloss. Corian sinks have a matte/satin finish. So, given that bleach did lighten the stain, get a green Scotch-Brite pad, sprinkle on a cleanser that contains bleach, such as Comet, and rub.
If you make such slow progress that it seems as if you might need to rub for hours, you can safely use fine sandpaper. Experiment on a small area until you figure out what combination of abrasives works best. To restore matte surfaces, Dupont recommends hand-sanding with 220-grit sandpaper, followed by a brisk, hard buffing with the green Scotch-Brite pad. For semi-gloss surfaces, it lists 220-grit, followed by 320 grit and then 400 grit. Start with the recommendation for matte. Assess the finish. If the area you treated isn’t as shiny as the surrounding surface, switch to 320 grit. Assess that, and go on to 400 grit if the area still needs a bit more shine.
If sanding the sink sounds too scary, consider getting professional help. Ask for recommendations at any store that sells Corian. Or use the "find a retailer" service on the Dupont website, duponttools.force.com.
Your Turn
One simple solution that might help the homeowner from Leesburg on the stained pavers ("How to remove rust stains on concrete pavers," Dec. 3) is to just flip the pavers over. Not sure if the underside has as much stain, but it costs nothing to try.
Fairfax County
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