Muriatic Acid On Concrete Driveway

Always wear a carbon activated mask.

Muriatic acid on concrete driveway.

Concrete paths and driveways are both sleek and sturdy but not indestructible. Wet your driveway with water then start at the highest part of the driveway and sprinkle acid over the full driveway surface. Using acid is dangerous. If you re just removing mineral deposits efflorescence use a much weaker mix 10 1 or 16 1 for muriatic acid.

The center for disease control recommends that you use a respirator specifically designed for hydrochloric acid a chemical resistant suit gloves face shield and goggles. Muriatic acid should never be used indoors and has to be thoroughly neutralized before disposal. Muriatic acid creates and acidic vapor that can suffocate you quickly. Washing brick concrete or stone with muriatic acid can neutralize alkalinity allowing paint finishes to last for years.

Despite its effectiveness muriatic acid should be used on concrete stains only if you ve tried gentler alternatives to no avail. Safer alternatives include trisodium phosphate which still poses risks but is not as strong as muriatic acid and sandblasting which is a manual rather than chemical process. Mix 3 to 4 parts water with 1 part acid or follow label instructions for a 10 concentration 15 for hard smooth concrete. Brush or spray on a 1 10 diluted mix of acid in water onto the surface.

These solutions are for etching the concrete. Muriatic acid is a strong acid cleaner used on masonry surfaces to clean stains. If the acid comes in contact with skin wash it away with large amounts of water. Before you remove stains from your driveway make sure to thoroughly protect yourself.

Applying the acid to only the stained parts of your driveway will unevenly discolor the concrete. Muriatic acid is highly corrosive and must be used with caution. It is excellent for cleaning away rust stains and efflorescence but must be used with extreme caution. Dilute the muriatic acid and pour it into a plastic watering can.