Brick cleaning after repointing

[emptybucketman]

I'm in the process of repointing some external brickwork and was wondering how long should I wait before cleaning the smears off the bricks?

Also is there a product/solution better than diluted hydrochloric acid on the market for cleaning bricks?

[munruben]

New homes, when brickwork is completed are usually water blasted clean. Don't know how that would go down if you are in a water restricted area at the moment.

[Planned LScape]

I would wait a week to be safe, if acid washed too soon it will eat too much of the mortar out of the pointing you have just done. Gives it a chance to not just dry but fully cure.