Cleaning Stone Fireplace With Muriatic Acid

Prepare a diluted solution of your acid based cleaner.

Cleaning stone fireplace with muriatic acid.

Dip a second brush into the masonry cleaner mixture then gently apply the brush to the brick. Rinse well with clean water. Never use muriatic acid on stone or masonry. 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. Muriatic acid is sold in a standardized concentration of 31 45 acid and 68 55 inert ingredients primarily water. Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 10 parts cool water and 1 part. Cement becomes more difficult to remove over time.

Mix one pint of muriatic acid with a gallon of water in. Always pour acid into water never water into acid. Avoid uneven or prolonged contact because etching uneven cleaning or streaking can result. How to brighten and lighten a stone fireplace step 1.

Brush the surface dirt and debris off. Use caution when working with acid. It the chemical of choice for some types of masonry cleaning. Acid will etch most stone brick masonry surfaces.

How to clean stones with muriatic acid step 1. Tips for cleaning stone with muriatic acid. However make sure the mortar between the stones has cured before you clean the stones. Begin at the top of the stone fireplace.

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. Acid is able to penetrate and clean stone and cement. Protect nearby plants and vegetation by covering them with a plastic tarp. Dunk a clean soft sponge in the remaining tsp solution then apply it to the entire fireplace surround making sure to wet both the stone and the grout.

Let the brick absorb the cleaner for 3 5 minutes then use the water brush to scrub any residue off the brick. Wear a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles. You will be diluting this cleaning product with water before cleaning any masonry surfaces. It s important to pour the masonry cleaner into the water instead of the other way around to prevent any burns from the acid.

This is the concentration you are going to find in your local hardware store.