Mold rust and other stains can mar the clean beauty of your concrete lessening the visual impact and even the curb appeal of your property.
Muriatic acid oil stain concrete.
You should see a gray stain.
While some stains can be rinsed away with a pressure washer tougher stains such as rust require an acid based cleaner like muriatic acid.
How to apply muriatic acid.
Muriatic acid is highly corrosive and must be used with caution.
Make sure the detergent you use is ammonia free.
The most common acids used to clean concrete and bricks are hydrochloric acid muriatic or phosphoric acid.
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.
How to use muriatic acid to clean concrete.
Mixing ammonia with bleach creates a lethal gas similar to mustard gas.
Scrub the gray stain with a solution of 1 cup liquid chlorine bleach 1 cup powdered laundry detergent and 1 gallon of very hot water.
Despite its effectiveness muriatic acid should be used on concrete stains only if you ve tried gentler alternatives to no avail.
Always wear a carbon activated mask.
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.
Using acid is dangerous.