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