Muriatic Acid Splashed on Concrete While Balancing pH

[Mendy48]

I was balancing my pH about 30mins ago and ended up splashing MA onto my concrete. I tried to clean it off but to no success. I thought I was being careful, but apparently not. How can I remove acid stain from concrete. I searched this forum, but can’t find any answers to this. I may be the only careless person on the planet when it comes to adding acid to the pool. I’m sad right now cause I think I ruined my concrete FOREVER.
‍♀

 

[JamesW]

Not much you can do. Just be careful from now on.

 

[Mendy48]

Not much you can do. Just be careful from now on.

My husband has NO idea that I did this. If he asks, I have no idea what I’ll tell him. It’s soooo noticeable. Ugh

 

[Newdude]

. I may be the only careless person on the planet when it comes to adding acid to the poo

Oh no, quite the contrary. People breathe it in and splash themselves instead of the concrete.

My husband has NO idea that I did this. If he asks, I have no idea what I’ll tell him. It’s soooo noticeable. Ugh

We are a family here. As such, we got you. Make another thread and we will bombard it with bogus answers about how when sunblock reacts with concrete it can start to etch it if not caught in time. @JoyfulNoise can chime in about the C6H4-O2-Z3 (coincidentally of whatever brand you use) being caustic Then you show the hubs and all is well.

 

[Richard320]

It'll weather and match in time. I used to have nice rings on my patio, precisely the size of an acid jug. I didn;t pay attention to how long it took, really, but I know I could never find them now. .

 

[JoyfulNoise]

It looks like stains from chipmunk urine to me ... very acidic stuff ... you have to be really careful with chipmunk urine. Never handle it without proper PPEs ...

 

[JamesW]

Best to just be honest. Stuff happens. Not the end of the world. Sharing the story with him will make him be more careful with the chemicals as well and everyone will be safer.

 

[mguzzy]

According to the environmental news, I heard there was a population surge of chipmunks in Midland. No doubt Alvin and the gang were partying on your deck and drank too much. They don't have much of a constitution so they soiled your deck... dang party animals!

 

[JamesW]

It looks like stains from chipmunk urine to me ... very acidic stuff ... you have to be really careful with chipmunk urine. Never handle it without proper PPEs ...

We know what happens to chipmunks and squirrels who pee on the pool deck.

Fluctuations of Reduced Quantum Gravity and Nose Dives

Here's an odd way to do a nose dive and then the dead-man's float - That's a ground squirrel and it's literally pointing vertically upwards with it's nose touching the plaster surface...I have never seen a critter go like that before. Oh well, it was scooped out and given a proper desert...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mendy48]

Haha! . I actually tried....

I started off by telling him about the heat wave we’ve been having lately and then about bird poop on the concrete that may be very acidic. Then started with the squirrels running around in our backyard (we get that a lot), but he just looked at me and said “tell me what really happened“ . So I told him pool chemicals splashed on the concrete. I didn’t tell him it was MA... He thinks it’s bleach. LOL. I don’t think I’ll be telling him it’s MA cause he told me not to worry about it and that he’ll power wash it off. LOL. I’ll tell him when the power wash doesn’t work.

 

[RMcGirr83]

C'est la vie

 

[Divin Dave]

If spots on your deck like that bother you, Its probably not a bad idea going forward, to have some baking soda or soda ash on hand in case it happens again.

The MA eats away at the portland cement in the concrete and its actively doing that for a good while after the spill. Baking Soda will neutralize the MA and stop the chemical reaction with the cement. It probably will not totally prevent the spot from occurring, but if you get the baking soda on there quickly enough there's a good chance it will keep it to a minimum.

 

[setsailsoon]

I think hubby is lucky you're doing the acid... may be good to remind him. Does he know about the HWHL principle? (happy wife, happy life).

 

[Coolhand64]

Better it landed on the concrete and not splash on your face or fingers

 

[Mendy48]

If spots on your deck like that bother you, Its probably not a bad idea going forward, to have some baking soda or soda ash on hand in case it happens again.

The MA eats away at the portland cement in the concrete and its actively doing that for a good while after the spill. Baking Soda will neutralize the MA and stop the chemical reaction with the cement. It probably will not totally prevent the spot from occurring, but if you get the baking soda on there quickly enough there's a good chance it will keep it to a minimum.

I’ll have some handy next time. Im so scared of handling acid. It freaks me out. I’m a scientist, so I’ve seen horrible things before. I have long acid gloves with me and some safety glasses, but I’m still terrified of it. I honestly don’t trust my clumsy husband to do any acid handling lol. Next time I’ll be a bit more careful. I think my nerves get the best of me for sure.

 

[mknauss]

Dip the bottle of acid in the water before you set it down on the deck. Water will dilute and drips. With your size pool you should not be having to pour the acid into a measuring device. Just eyeball straight out of the jug.

 

[Mendy48]

Dip the bottle of acid in the water before you set it down on the deck. Water will dilute and drips. With your size pool you should not be having to pour the acid into a measuring device. Just eyeball straight out of the jug.

ahhh... So I can just eyeball it and pour it directly into the pool water from the jug? Cause with the measuring cup, I tend to splash everything all over the place. Great idea. Thanks for letting me know. I just checked my pH and it’s back down to 7.8. I'm certain it will creep back up above 8 again. I’ll eyeball the pour next time, dip the Acid jug in the pool before setting it back down on the concrete.

 

[mknauss]

It might take a couple times to perfect your eyeball, but as long as you do not go crazy the pH will not drop too far.

With your current TA of 80, to lower your pH from 8 to 7.6 is about 2 cups. Undershoot at the start and you can dial it in.

 

[mguzzy]

ahhh... So I can just eyeball it and pour it directly into the pool water from the jug? Cause with the measuring cup, I tend to splash everything all over the place. Great idea. Thanks for letting me know. I just checked my pH and it’s back down to 7.8. I'm certain it will creep back up above 8 again. I’ll eyeball the pour next time, dip the Acid jug in the pool before setting it back down on the concrete.

So I cut my teeth in a lab, long ago... So this is what I do. I got a ruler and figured out how many inches a pint was, how many inches a quart was etc. And then I would put a tick mark on the jug so many inches down from the current level of the acid. That was my target and I would pour from the jug to the line and be done. By the time I was done with a jug it had a bunch of tick marks for each addition. Now I have a pretty good idea how far down a pint is... some times I make a scratch with my finger on the label or with a stick and I pour to the mark. ..

"Barkeep fill my glass with two fingers of Muriatic Acid, neat"

 

[duraleigh]

Please do NOT BLAME bleach. We fight bleach myths on TFP all swim season......we don't need even the mention of another one!