Where to Find Muriatic Acid

Ask Danny, Concrete and Masonry, Kitchens and Baths by Danny Lipford

Danny, On one of your episodes, Joe Truini said that muriatic acid would remove scum and water deposits from tile in a bathroom. What I need to know is where can I purchase muriatic acid? - Denise

Denise,

Muriatic acid is used to remove excess mortar from bricks and to balance the pH of swimming pools, so it can be found at both home centers and pool supply stores. At The Home Depot stores it is available in the gardening department with the pool supplies. Muriatic acid is strong stuff, so be sure to read all the precautions and follow directions including wearing rubber gloves and eye protection. Dilute one part acid with five parts water before using and make sure there is adequate ventilation.

You can read and watch the video on Joe Truini’s method of cleaning bathroom tile with muriatic acid at our website in Episode 641: Bathroom Makeover.

18 Responses to “Where to Find Muriatic Acid”

  1. MrWolf Says:
    January 4th, 2008 at 6:15 pm

    You can’t find muriatic acid on the Home Depot site.

  2. Official Comment:

    Ben Erickson Says:
    January 7th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    Mr. Wolf,
    It is available at The Home Depot stores.

  3. ann Says:
    February 25th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    danny can you use muriatic acid on the one piece fiberglass tub enclosure? have tried everything else to remove hard water spots aand soap scum thank you love your website

  4. Frankie Says:
    April 5th, 2008 at 7:07 am

    I would also like to know if you can clean a fiberglass tub of hard water spots and scum with muriatic acid?

  5. downdraft Says:
    April 15th, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    I have a tile shower. Where the wall meets the floor, I have the ancient problem: Caulking deteriorates and wanter seeps below the pan, not to mention meldew buildup. I want to do thios right and not often have to re-do it.
    I have been advised to:

    1. Use grout and epoxy mixture n the seams. I can get it at Lowes.
    2. Muratic acit to clean the tile scul.
    Also, I have a few tile cracking at the threshold area, corners, etc so I am removing them, ibncluding the Duroc and thin set, and starting fresh in the threshold with net tile.

    While doing this I want to redo it right and correct errors of past.

    Any thoughts??

    THNX
    Downdraft

  6. Tim McCarthy Says:
    May 23rd, 2008 at 11:41 am

    Can you use muriatic acid to clean iron stains off of stone?

  7. mr. clean Says:
    June 12th, 2008 at 12:45 am

    I can not find any muriatic acid at Home Depot or Lowes. Any other suggestions?

  8. John Says:
    June 15th, 2008 at 5:56 am

    Check McCoy’s Building Supply or Ace Hardware last time I was at those two places that had it.

  9. Kristina Says:
    June 23rd, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Check your local swimming pool store. They sell it by the gallon. It is less than $5.

  10. Tawnee Says:
    July 6th, 2008 at 11:09 am

    Muriatic Acid is in the paint dept of my local Lowes store. I just bought a gallon for $6.98 today. Hope this helps.

  11. wm siemon Says:
    July 8th, 2008 at 9:59 pm

    Can anyone buy muriatic acid in N.Y. State? I heard that you have to be a contractor.How about the states of Connecticut and Mass?

  12. mr. clean Says:
    July 9th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    thanks i found it now

  13. wm siemon Says:
    July 9th, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    I want to clean around the rim of a toilet. I also want to clear a possible partial blockage as the toilet only flushes COMPLETELY one out of three or four times. This makes no difference whether all liquid or semi-solid waste. I have asked whether just ANYONE can buy muriatic acid in New York State. I have heard about something called IRON OUT. Can you tell me anything about it?

  14. melanie Says:
    July 31st, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    Home depot have stopped stocking it HAZMAT issues. Hardwear stores ACE etc or pool suppliers: ths is the best stuff when used properly

  15. Kent Says:
    August 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am

    Why has the price of muriatic acid gone up so much lately?

    I put a pool in 4 years ago and used to by muriatic acid at Home Depot for less than $5.00 for a 2-gallon box. The las time I bought it I had to pay $8.99. I’ve also noticed that it doesn’t have the same strong smell that it used to have and it takes more to keep the pH in my pool where it should be. So it would seem it’s getting weaker as well as more expensive.

    Does anyone know why this is or any more about it?

  16. intrepid Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    muriatic acid has gone up in price because of new hazmat laws and shiping is stricter.

    it is weaker because of terrorist threat it is easy to make into a weapon.

  17. jeff Says:
    October 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    For those who are looking for “muratic acid” to clean your toilet…why not just buy toilet bowl cleaner from the grocery store? “Muratic acid” (more properly known as hydrochloric acid) is already the main active ingredient of most commercial toilet bowl cleaners.

    For example, see http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/brands?tbl=brands&id=14003001

  18. Al Says:
    November 9th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    City Mill carries muratic acid in various sizes.

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