How to Get Brick Dust Out of Carpet [A Foolproof 4-Step Guide]

If you work on home improvements around the house, you’ll probably wind up working with brick at some point or another. And, while your projects might turn out great, you’ll likely find that brick dust has gotten onto your clothes – and into your carpets!

You can get brick dust out of your carpets by working it out with a stiff-bristle brush, and then going over it with a vac.

But that won’t always help. So check out the full guide below!

How to Get Red Brick Dust Out of Carpet

Getting brick cleaner out of your carpet is fairly straightforward. Let’s check out the steps you’ll need to take to remove brick dust from your carpet. 

Step #1: Vacuum

The first step to getting rid of brick dust on your carpet is to vacuum the area. Get as powerful vacuum as possible! If you have a shop vac, this is even better as it will suck up dust that’s wedged deep into the carpet.

Go over the carpet with the vacuum cleaner to make sure that you’re getting up all the dust. 

Step #2: Dry Brush

After you’ve got as much brick dust as you can out of the carpet, dry brush the area. This should get any specks of dust out of the carpet and loosen them up. 

You can use a rag if you don’t have a brush on hand. Just make sure that the rag isn’t wet, as this will cause the dust to clump and make it harder to clean. 

Once you’re done dry brushing, run the vacuum cleaner over the area again to get up any leftover dust. 

Step #3: Use a Carpet Stain Remover

Alas, in most cases just scrubbing and vacuuming won’t cut it. So you’ll need to resort to the good old carpet stain remover. Foam is even better, as there’s no water!

(Water mixed with brick dust equals sticky red mud. Good luck removing THAT!)

Rub in some of the cleaner. Allow it to soak into the carpet and pick up any remaining dust that might be on the area. 

If the stain is particularly stubborn, you can consider getting a spot cleaner such as Rug Doctor or Bissell SpotClean.

Step #4 (Optional): Steam Clean

Once you’re sure there’s no dust on the carpet, it’s time for you to steam clean the area. This will get rid of any unpleasant, industrial smell and will also leave your carpets sparkling clean. 

After you’ve finished steam cleaning, allow the area to dry. Once it’s dried, you’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful and fresh carpet!

Things to Look for in a Carpet Cleaner for Brick Dust

Now that you know how to get brick dust out of your carpet, let’s talk about what you need to look for when you hunt down a brick dust cleaner.

But let’s get one thing out of the way. There’s no such thing as a dedicated brick dust cleaner. What you’re looking for is a carpet stain remover that’s efficient enough to get rid of the red brick dye.

If it fails, you’ll have to redye or get rid of the carpet!

Deep Cleaner

Look for cleaners that promise to get into every fiber of your carpet. Think cleaners that are powerful enough to get rid of stubborn, set-in stains like old cat pee. (There’s an old saying among cleaners: if it can deal with cat pee, it can deal with anything!)

Non-Toxic

Carpet cleaners, especially cleaners for tough materials like brick dust, often come packed with harsh chemicals that can damage your carpets. Try looking for a non-toxic and natural cleaner that will get the brick dust out without incurring collateral damage. 

Scent

Even though you’re going to steam clean your carpet after you use a cleaner, you still want to find one that smells nice. This helps get rid of the industrial scent left behind by brick dust and building material residue. 

Versatility

Brick dust doesn’t just ruin carpets. It also ruins hardwood floors and other types of flooring. Look for a cleaner that you can use on a variety of different floors so that you can kill two birds with one stone. 

Speed

No one wants to spend days on end cleaning their carpets. Seek out a cleaning agent that’s fast-acting so that you can get your carpets clean in no time. 

Compatibility

The brick cleaner you choose needs to be compatible with your type of fabric. Check the cleaner to make sure that it doesn’t contain bleach or other chemicals that can ruin your rugs and carpets.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Brick Dust?

Brick dust is powdered pieces of brick that flake off when working on brick projects. It can be either fine or in large chunks and can get into your clothes, hair, carpet, and furniture.

Is Brick Dust Hard to Get Out of Carpets?

The good news is that when done right, brick dust isn’t hard to get out of carpets. Plus, the sooner you start cleaning, the easier it is to get this dust out of your carpeting. 

How Do I Prevent Brick Dust from Getting in My Carpets?

If you’re going to be working on a home improvement project you can easily prevent brick dust from getting into your carpets. Just lay down a drop cloth or tarpaulin that stretches from wall to wall to catch any dust.