We're renovating, and I'd like to improve the brickwork. You can see in this image how areas of the bricks have been spoiled over 30 years with various adjoining structures, leaving mortar and glue in a haphazard manner around the house. Of course I can scrape away the mortar, but it generally leaves residue. Are there any good tricks or solutions for getting the bricks back to an 'as new' condition?
thanks,
Geoff