Cleaning Stone Fireplace With Muriatic Acid

It s best to clean the stone as soon as possible after the mortar or other cement based material has sufficiently cured.

Cleaning stone fireplace with muriatic acid.

Mix one pint of muriatic acid with a gallon of water in. Never use muriatic acid on stone or masonry. Protect nearby plants and vegetation by covering them with a plastic tarp. Acid is able to penetrate and clean stone and cement.

Prepare a diluted solution of your acid based cleaner. Muriatic acid is sold in a standardized concentration of 31 45 acid and 68 55 inert ingredients primarily water. Cement becomes more difficult to remove over time. Immediately lightly agitate the area.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 10 parts cool water and 1 part. How to brighten and lighten a stone fireplace step 1. Rinse well with clean water. Begin at the top of the stone fireplace.

Acid will etch most stone brick masonry surfaces. Let the brick absorb the cleaner for 3 5 minutes then use the water brush to scrub any residue off the brick. It the chemical of choice for some types of masonry cleaning. If the mortar is too soft the acid will eat into that too.

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 solution dwell for five minutes. It s important to pour the masonry cleaner into the water instead of the other way around to prevent any burns from the acid. Using a pump up sprayer spray a small area no larger than 3 x 3.

This is the concentration you are going to find in your local hardware store. Dip a second brush into the masonry cleaner mixture then gently apply the brush to the brick. Always pour acid into water never water into acid. Wear a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles.

You will be diluting this cleaning product with water before cleaning any masonry surfaces. Avoid uneven or prolonged contact because etching uneven cleaning or streaking can result. How to clean stones with muriatic acid step 1. Brush the surface dirt and debris off.

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.