6 Best Uses for Muriatic Acid

Muriatic acid is a powerful substance that can be used for different purposes. In fact, it is the same acid that works in the stomach during digestion except that in this case, it is in a dangerous concentration. With this substance, safety is a major concern as it emits fumes that can burn the lungs. It can also burn your skin; so, while working with this chemical, make sure you put on safety equipment such as masks, gloves and thick clothing. It is also advisable to use the acid in a well ventilated room. Keeping these in mind, here are 6 different uses for the acid.

1. Industrial Uses

This chemical is involved in many industrial processes such as the production of paper, detergent, plastics, etc. It is also used in the manufacturing of food additives, gelatin, and other types of food products. Although this might not be as useful to a homeowner as to a business entity, it is worthwhile for persons to know it as well.

2. Cleaning Metals

While not a recommended solution for the cleaning of metals, it is the best one for treating tough stains on metal. However, it should be an option of last resort when other safer alternatives fail. Muriatic acid can clean brass, copper, iron, and other metals, but you have to dilute it by adding 9 parts of water to 1 part of the chemical. Since the acid is an extremely powerful cleaning agent, you should not use it directly on metal.

3. Cleaning Brickwork

A ten percent solution of muriatic acid is a good cleaning agent when it comes to bricks. Typically, they become stained due to mold growth, formation of mineral deposits, and contamination. It is important to prepare the solution properly as the acid cannot be directly applied to the brickwork.

 4. Cleaning Pools

 Pools can be cleaned with the help of detergents and scrubs, but some of the staining is not easy to remove. You can treat dark stains that adhere to the grout in between the tiles with muriatic acid. When using the product for pool cleaning, make sure you do not apply it directly. First create a ten percent solution by mixing one part of the chemical with nine parts of water. Alternatively, follow the manufacturer’s recommended mixing procedure.

 5. Neutralizing Alkalinity in Masonry

Alkalinity in masonry causes problems when applying paint or sealers. It prevents the coating material from adhering to the surface, therefore requiring neutralizing procedures. To neutralize, you have to apply muriatic acid solution to the entire surface before applying the coat. This step will help the coating material bond with the surface.

 6. General Cleaning Purposes

This chemical can easily strip off stains on bathroom and kitchen tiles as well as on grout and drainage pipes. When the toilet bowl gets too dirty, regular cleaning products such as detergent cannot easily get rid of stains. Don’t forget to use muriatic acid as a last resort step. Finally, the chemical comes handy for cleaning clogged drainage pipes.