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