White salty staining around pointing in sandstone

[Kristina]

Hi,
I have recently pointed a section of my sandstone patio with dry mortar mix (the one that's a little bit damp and can be squeezed into a clump) and it mostly looks ok. I have some patches where it is a bit flaky and sandy but I think it wasn't mixed properly.
After about 2-3 days I have noticed white areas around my flags, like salt marks in some areas, but others are unaffected. Is that just a natural process with cement setting and will it pass? or have I done something wrong? It does wash off the surface but re-appears a few hours later. How can I avoid it on the rest of the patio?
Many thanks
Kristina

[Carberry]

Sounds like efflorescence.
http://www.pavingexpert.com/eff01.htm

No need to post same question twice and hijack other peoples threads either.

[Kristina]

Thanks for the link! Very helpful!
But there really isn't any need to be so rude just because a first-time user posted a message on the wrong page, which I immediately noticed - hence starting a new thread. Thought it was pretty obvious what had happened, but not to everyone clearly.
I do appologise for any distress this caused you!
Thanks again for the link!

[lutonlagerlout]

hot soapy water will clear it short term,but no one has a sure fire way of stopping it from happening
eventually it clears completely (may take severall years)
regards LLL