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Muriatic Acid for Cleaning
Masonry
Overview: DIY homeowners should
avoid using muriatic acid when possible.
Use chemicals or mechanical cleaning
alternatives that are much safer. However if you
must use muriatic acid for cleaning masonry you
should always heed to all the safety
recommendations on the product label.
Muriatic acid is a highly reactive liquid acid and
is one of the most dangerous chemicals you can buy
for home use. It is an industrial strength solution
of hydrogen chloride gas dissolved in water, also
known as hydrochloric acid.
With the
exception of some plastics muriatic acid can damage
most anything it touches including clothing, metal,
and your body. It emits a suffocating odor that can
quickly burn the lining of the nose, throat, and
even the lungs.
Home uses include heavy duty masonry cleaning,
preparation of masonry for painting or sealing,
removal of mineral deposits, and pH reduction in
swimming pools.
Its reactive power makes it the chemical of
choice for most masonry cleaning.
Muriatic acid is sold in a standardized
concentration of 30% acid and 70% water.
This is the concentration available in most
local hardware stores. Stronger concentrations are
available in specialty stores. Most muriatic acid,
if not all, is sold now in plastic containers with
safety seals to prevent leakage.
Muriatic acid masonry cleans or prepares concrete
for painting by etching it when it reacts to acids.
When the residue of the reaction is rinsed
off (calcium carbonate) the surface is left very
clean and free of all contaminates and stains.
There are safer chemical alternatives to muriatic
acid for cleaning masonry products. Muriatic acid
is not the preferred choice for masonry cleaning
but the last resort.
Do not use this dangerous chemical unless
you have no other alternative.
The most popular concrete cleaner on the market
contains phosphoric acid.
This acid
will, under most circumstances, do just as good a
job as muriatic acid and is a lot safer.
Phosphoric acid cleaners also contain
chemicals which emulsify oils to help the acid work
more effectively and increase its cleaning
properties.
Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is another very good
heavy duty cleaner and can be used to clean masonry
surfaces that are going to be left uncoated.
TSP does not etch or neutralize the surface
alkalinity, so surface testing for pH should be
done before coating TSP cleaned masonry.
Due to environmental concerns of phosphate
pollution TSP is prohibited for used in some areas.
Do not mix
the TSP and muriatic acid or violent chemical
reaction may occur and the release of noxious gas.
Masonry can be cleaned without chemicals. A safe
alternative is mechanical cleaning methods such as
sandblasting, abrasive wheels and special power
tools for cleaning mortar lines in brick and
concrete block. They are preferable to muriatic
acid.
These tools can be rented at many rental centers or
hardware stores.
If you must use muriatic acid for cleaning masonry
use it with proper preparation and caution. When
cleaning with muriatic acid always use it with
extreme caution and adequate safety equipment. If
it contacts the eyes it can cause irreversible
damage and permanent blindness. Contact with the
skin can cause severe burns.
Always add
the acid to the water! Never add water to acid
or it may violently react causing inquiry.
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