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Muriatic Acid has Rusted Pewter and Brass Fireplace

By recommendation of my local hardware store, I have cleaned (brushed) my brick fire place with muriatic acid. Since then, the metal fire place screen has rusted and the pewter and brass artifacts on top of the fire place mantle have oxidized. How can I solve this problem?

Werner Sieweke
- Montreal, QC, Canada
2001

2001

Try neutralizing wash-down with water or dilute solution of water and baking soda [in bulk on eBay or Amazon [affil link] . Repeat when dry, as necessary, until neutralized (rusting effect stops). Always wear eye protection. Provide adequate ventilation as long as acid odor remains.Restore rusted and oxidized parts with elbow grease and appropriate metal polishes.

Note: Avoid using muriatic acid ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] indoors on porous or absorbent materials, and almost never at full strength from the bottle...dilute!

Robert Bedsole
- Mount Prospect, Illinois, USA

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