Immediately lightly agitate the area.
Cleaning stone fireplace with muriatic acid.
Begin at the top of the stone fireplace.
Let the solution dwell for five minutes.
However make sure the mortar between the stones has cured before you clean the stones.
Using a pump up sprayer spray a small area no larger than 3 x 3.
Acid is able to penetrate and clean stone and cement.
How to brighten and lighten a stone fireplace step 1.
Mix one pint of muriatic acid with a gallon of water in.
Prepare a diluted solution of your acid based cleaner.
Dip a second brush into the masonry cleaner mixture then gently apply the brush to the brick.
This is the concentration you are going to find in your local hardware store.
Rinse well with clean water.
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.
Acid will etch most stone brick masonry surfaces.
Always pour acid into water never water into acid.
Avoid uneven or prolonged contact because etching uneven cleaning or streaking can result.
Wear a pair of rubber gloves and safety goggles.
Tips for cleaning stone with muriatic acid.
Cement becomes more difficult to remove over time.
How to clean stones with muriatic acid step 1.
Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 10 parts cool water and 1 part.
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.
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.
Never use muriatic acid on stone or masonry.
Let the brick absorb the cleaner for 3 5 minutes then use the water brush to scrub any residue off the brick.
You will be diluting this cleaning product with water before cleaning any masonry surfaces.
If the mortar is too soft the acid will eat into that too.
Protect nearby plants and vegetation by covering them with a plastic tarp.
It the chemical of choice for some types of masonry cleaning.