Halloween is over, but some tricksters have left the brick façade of our bungalow pelted with eggs. How does one get dried yolk off masonry? —Cathy Murphy, Chicago, Illinois

If the egg glop is fresh, a good scrubbing with a stiff fiber brush and mild household soap or detergent will do the job. But you’re probably facing a dried mess and a tenacious stain. First, re-soften the eggs by applying a plaster of wet paper. (Watch out for ink, which might run.) Then scrape away as much material as possible, and follow up with the same scrubbing described above. If the stain persists, try scrubbing with vinegar followed by a multi-surface kitchen cleanser. —the editors