Using muriatic acid for cleaning concrete is an effective way to clean it, but it’s also a dangerous one. That’s because muriatic acid is a form of hydrochloric acid, which can damage pretty much anything it touches. You will need to wear protective clothing while cleaning, and will probably want to throw away the tools you use afterwards. This is a dangerous compound, and should only be used for cleaning as an absolute last resort.
Why would you use muriatic acid? When applied to concrete, it actually eats away at the concrete just a little, turning the surface into a calcium carbonate powder that you can then sweep away. So you’re not cleaning it as much as you are stripping it. This is going to damage the remaining concrete, leaving it with pores that can let in moisture that will damage it further. In the long run, the concrete will simply need to be replaced sooner if you’re cleaning it with muriatic acid. So again, don’t jump in unless you need to.
Hydrochloric acid eats away at anything it touches, especially skin, so you need maximum protection. Cover all your skin, including your hands, and wear goggles while mixing it. The acid is going to have clear instructions on the container that you must follow to the letter. Be ready for accidents. Have a hose or some other source of water on hand in case you spill it, and have a neutralizer in case you get any on your skin (baking soda, for instance). Make sure the weather is fine, with no wind or chance of anything coming up that would cause the acid to splatter.
The instructions will tell you to pour the acid into the water. Follow this as directed, for two reasons. One, if you pour water into the acid then there’s a chance the acid will react violently to the water. Pouring acid into water means there is less acid to react, and so the chances of it splashing at you are much lower. Secondly, just the act of dropping water into acid could cause the acid to splash up at you. Much better to have water splash up, just in case.
You can either apply the acid with a sprayer or a brush. Either way, you probably just want to throw it away afterwards. Leaving any acid on the tool can cause you to hurt yourself later down the road. Throw it away to be safe.
Once the acid has done its work you can wash it off the concrete – carefully. The concrete will now be cleaned, though a little rougher and more porous than before. But you did your work, and can safely use it again.
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