Mortar residue on brick steps

[Jannie]

I had a handyman come to regrout the brick steps to our town house. Instead of using the proper product he used readymix mortar and managed to get a mortar film all over the bricks. What is the best way to clean this without using some strong acid cleaner that is the obvious solution?

[pushkins]

In most home improvement stores in the concrete section you will find a product that cleans brickwork.
Generally it is a mild hydrochloric acid solution, but you should always use gloves regardless.

[mrcaptainbob]

Cement on steps...

A power washer may also take that film off. It certainly works for mortar, and since it's just a film, it may work on the cement, too.