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.
Cleaning stone fireplace with muriatic acid.
Use caution when working with acid.
Avoid uneven or prolonged contact because etching uneven cleaning or streaking can result.
Never use muriatic acid on stone or masonry.
Protect nearby plants and vegetation by covering them with a plastic tarp.
Brush the surface dirt and debris off.
Mix one pint of muriatic acid with a gallon of water in.
Begin at the top of the stone fireplace.
Cement becomes more difficult to remove over time.
Immediately lightly agitate the area.
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.
Always pour acid into water never water into acid.
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.
How to brighten and lighten a stone fireplace step 1.
It s best to clean the stone as soon as possible after the mortar or other cement based material has sufficiently cured.
Muriatic acid is sold in a standardized concentration of 31 45 acid and 68 55 inert ingredients primarily water.
Wear a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles.
Using a pump up sprayer spray a small area no larger than 3 x 3.
Tips for cleaning stone with muriatic acid.
If the mortar is too soft the acid will eat into that too.
However make sure the mortar between the stones has cured before you clean the stones.
Rinse well with clean water.
It s important to pour the masonry cleaner into the water instead of the other way around to prevent any burns from the acid.
Acid is able to penetrate and clean stone and cement.
How to clean stones with muriatic acid step 1.
Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 10 parts cool water and 1 part.
This is the concentration you are going to find in your local hardware store.
Let the solution dwell for five minutes.