I don't want to use no stick'n muriatic acid.

[The Backlash Cometh]

I just want to do some touch-up clean up on some mortared flagstone. There is a light film of cement that dried on the stone and I want to clean it up a bit, but I don't want to use muriatic acid because it sounds more hazardous than I want to get into.

[RayOfHope]

1. Really, its not bad.

I can't remember the percentage exactly and I'm too lazy to go downstairs and check, but it's more of an acid solution as opposed to a bottle of straight acid.

My husband didn't even want it in the house because of our kids (he was convinced they would find it and drink the entire bottle), but once he looked at the label, it was all good.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. I've read enough to get an idea of the precautions necessary.

I think a 10% solution is all I need. But I don't even want to attempt it unless I can find a brush with a long handle.

How does that work, anyway? I imagine I can't use a wire brush because it corrodes metal, but what if I do come across something that requires rough brushing?

[RayOfHope]

3. Okay, I'm looking at the bottle.

It's a 31.45% solution. To brighten or etch concrete or masonry, you use 1/2 pint to a gallon of water. If you are just brightening, you rinse it right away. To scrub, it specifies a plastic brush. I used a metal bristle brush on the dry masonry before I applied the muriatic acid with a plastic bristled brush.

I have a deck brush with a longish handle. It's not the broom kind, the handle is about 18 inches long.

[Warpy]

4. Muriatic acid is the same stuff that's in your stomach

It's a fairly weak solution when you buy it off the shelf, or should be. Precautions to take are eye protection, gloves, and an apron and to have a container of water nearby as an extra safety precaution should you splash some on bare skin. You'll want to flush the area with water.

Back in Boston, I used to have to use a strong sulfuric acid solution to clean out the 150 year old drains. Now THAT was nasty. I just used the precautions above and was fine.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. hen diluted to working strength, its pretty benign stuff.

It *is* and acid and it *can* cause mild burning, but overall, its pretty safe. Not as safe as vinegar, but not much worse, either.

Just take the usual precautions and you should be fine. I wouldn't brush my teeth with it, but neither would I feel a need to get all gussied up in a body condom.

My son used to use it almost every day and he just wore rubber boots, rubber gloves, and safety glasses. They were prepping concrete floors for a special coating.

I've used it to clean brick work and wore no protection whatever, except for glasses. I got a slight tingling on my hands after using it for an hour or so. I rinsed every few minutes in water after I first felt it and suffered no ill affect.

[nedbal]

6. I add it to the swimming pool water, full strength it is nasty, ....

It's a very cheap acid pool pro's will use. retail pool stores tend not to stock it as it does require more care to use and a real problem if it should ever leak. The brand I get at the masonry supply or home depot had directions for brick work and pools on the label

Used it once a long time ago on brick work and survived