Cleaning Stone Fireplace With Muriatic Acid

Protect nearby plants and vegetation by covering them with a plastic tarp.

Cleaning stone fireplace with muriatic acid.

Muriatic acid is sold in a standardized concentration of 31 45 acid and 68 55 inert ingredients primarily water. Never use muriatic acid on stone or masonry. It s important to pour the masonry cleaner into the water instead of the other way around to prevent any burns from the acid. Use caution when working with acid.

Wear a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles. It s best to clean the stone as soon as possible after the mortar or other cement based material has sufficiently cured. Immediately lightly agitate the area. Begin at the top of the stone fireplace.

If the mortar is too soft the acid will eat into that too. Let the brick absorb the cleaner for 3 5 minutes then use the water brush to scrub any residue off the brick. Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 10 parts cool water and 1 part. It the chemical of choice for some types of masonry cleaning.

This is the concentration you are going to find in your local hardware store. How to clean stones with muriatic acid step 1. Using a pump up sprayer spray a small area no larger than 3 x 3. Mix one pint of muriatic acid with a gallon of water in.

Acid will etch most stone brick masonry surfaces. Tips for cleaning stone with muriatic acid. Use a plastic bucket to mix it in and always add the water to the bucket first and then slowly pour in the muriatic acid afterward. Prepare a diluted solution of your acid based cleaner.

Avoid uneven or prolonged contact because etching uneven cleaning or streaking can result. How to brighten and lighten a stone fireplace step 1. Rinse well with clean water. Brush the surface dirt and debris off.

Dip a second brush into the masonry cleaner mixture then gently apply the brush to the brick. You will be diluting this cleaning product with water before cleaning any masonry surfaces. Acid is able to penetrate and clean stone and cement. Let the solution dwell for five minutes.

Cement becomes more difficult to remove over time.