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Acid cleaners can be used to remove tarnish, alkaline discoloration and corrosion from metals; remove hard water deposits from many surfaces; will neutralize alkalis; may have bleaching effects.
- Caution: Acids can injure eyes, skin, and fabrics; stronger acids are highly toxic and can eat through metal. Acids can etch surfaces and porcelain enamel.
Mild Acid Cleaners include Lemon Juice (or Citric Acid) and Vinegar (or Acetic Acid). They help dissolve hard water deposits from shower doors, mild rust stains and soap film and remove tarnish from brass and copper. Acids tend to bleach some stains.
Mild Acid Cleaners - Cream of Tartar (or Tartaric Acid) For example if you simmer a solution (1 tablespoons of cream of Tartar in a quart of water and discolorization of aluminum pans, caused by alkalai such as tomato sauce, will tend to dissapppear.
Strong Acid Cleaners - Oxalic Acid. Used in commercial rust removers to remove iron rust; a weak solution will remove rust stains from tubs and sinks.
- Caution: These acids are highly toxic; follow label instructions exactly. Do not get on skin or in eyes, or on other materials
Strong Acid Cleaners - dilute hydrochloric acid, dilute sulfuric acid, muriatic acid and sodium bisulfate. These acids are used in some toilet bowl cleaners and etching compounds. They remove hard water and iron deposits and organic matter.
- Caution: Never mix with any other cleaner! Very toxic! Follow label instructions exactly. Do not get on skin, in eyes, or on other materials.
| The Basic Cleaning Families | ||
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