How to Dispose of Muriatic Acid? 6 Easy Ways!

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Muriatic acid can be found in every household these days in some form or another.

Whether you are using it in cleaning supplies or inside your pool, this acid is available in your house.

Keep reading further as we share with you the best ways to dispose of your leftover muriatic acid, safely and responsibly.

What is Muriatic Acid?

Muriatic acid is also referred to as hydrochloric acid. It is a diluted version of hydrogen chloride combined with water.

Muriatic acid is most commonly used for neutralizing the PH levels of chlorine in pools. Moreover, it is also sometimes used to remove mold.

It is commonly found in bathroom cleaning supplies and used for cleaning concrete floors and walls.

Is It Safe to Pour Muriatic Acid Down the Drain?

No, you cannot pour leftover muriatic acid down the drain.

Muriatic acid is still a strong and highly reactive acid. It will easily rust and ruin your drainage pipes if poured directly down the drain.

If you are disposing of a small quantity, then make sure to dilute it properly with water to not cause any damage.

Why is it Important To Safely Dispose of Muriatic Acid?

Muriatic acid is considered hazardous and toxic and can be highly dangerous to health if not used properly.

This is why it is essential to remain attentive and use the proper and safe methods while disposing of any leftover muriatic acid.

If muriatic acid comes into direct contact with skin, it can cause burning, irritation, redness, and rashes on the skin.

The gas released while using muriatic acid, when inhaled, can be extremely dangerous and can cause serious damage to the nose, throat, and lungs.

Milder symptoms include coughing, sore throat, and chest pain.

This is why you must use safe techniques to dispose of muriatic acid to protect yourself and the environment.

Safety Precautions to Take While Handling Muriatic Acid

Caution is advised while using muriatic acid. This acid can be highly dangerous to health due to its corrosive nature.

Muriatic acid should not come in direct contact with skin and eyes. You must use acid-resistant gloves and wear safety goggles while working with this dangerous substance.

Besides this, inhalation of muriatic acid can cause major damage to your respiratory system.

Therefore, please ensure you are wearing an appropriate respiratory face mask while in the presence of muriatic acid.

It is also essential to ensure that there is a good ventilation system.

6 Methods of Disposing Muriatic Acid

Now let’s have a look at some methods you can use to dispose of muriatic acid.

Method # 1: Pour Leftover Muriatic Acid Into Your Pool

Instead of disposing of muriatic acid through the drain, store it and use it to balance out the PH levels in your pool.

Store it in a well-ventilated and dry place, and then when chlorine levels in the pool are too high, pour in muriatic acid to neutralize the water and balance out the PH levels.

Method # 2: Use Unused Muriatic Acid to Wash Out Your Concrete

Muriatic acid works wonders for cleaning concrete surfaces like walls and floors.

It can also clean pool walls and get rid of different types of mold. Always wear gloves while using muriatic acid.

  • Get three-parts water
  • Pour in one-part muriatic acid in the water
  • Mix them
  • Use the mixture to scrub the concrete
  • After 10-15 minutes, use a pressure washer to clean the mixture off.

Method # 3: Use Muriatic Acid for Tidying Up Your Toilet

Muriatic acid can be one of the most effective tools to eliminate pesky and hard-to-remove stains and can work best for cleaning toilets.

Most bathroom cleaners have muriatic acid concentrations mixed in them.

  • Dilute the mixture further in order to neutralize it
  • Mix in the first ten parts water, and then 1 part acid in a bucket
  • Pour the mixture into the toilet, making sure it covers the surface properly
  • Let the mixture sit for an hour
  • Tap the flush button
  • Scrub the toilet, wearing proper cleaning gloves

This will ensure all those stains are gone.

Method # 4: Use Muriatic Acid as a Pool Filter Cleaner

Instead of throwing it out, use it to clean the filter cartridges in your pool.

  • Turn off the pump in the pool
  • Take out the filter cartridges
  • Use a large plastic container to mix 20 parts water with 1 part acid
  • Soak the cartridge in the mixture for an hour
  • Take out the cartridges and clean them

This will ensure you have clean pool filters.

Method # 5: Dispose of Muriatic Acid through a Local Hazardous Waste Facility

If the Muriatic acid that you want to dispose of is in large quantities, then make sure to contact your local Hazardous Waste Facility.

Your local Hazardous Waste Facility can help you dispose of muriatic acid responsibly. Alternatively, they can guide you more about safe disposal protocols to follow.

Method # 6: Recycle Your Leftover Muriatic Acid

When it comes to recycling hazardous substances like muriatic acid, the best bet is to use it for house cleaning purposes.

Other than this, you can contact a recycling company that takes care of hazardous substances.

Alternatively, you can contact your city’s local Hazardous Waste Disposal facility and ask them to take care of the leftover muriatic acid for you.

They will either reuse the leftover acid appropriately, or dispose of it in an environmentally conscious way.

Best Methods of Safely Neutralizing Muriatic Acid 

And now look at some methods you can use to neutralize muriatic acid.

Method #1: Dilute Muriatic Acid With Baking Soda

If you have a small amount of muriatic acid, then you can neutralize it and dispose of it through the sewer drain.

Make sure to check your city or town’s environmental and drainage laws to see how much amount is permissible to drain before you do this.

If the acid is in a larger quantity, then it is best to contact your Waste Disposal centers and ask them to dispose of it for you.

Supplies You Will Require:

  • Safety goggles
  • Safety mask
  • Rubber gloves
  • Protective apron
  • A large bucket
  • Baking soda
  • Water

Procedure:

1. Take a large bucket and add baking soda and water in a 1:10 ratio.

2. Add the acid to the baking soda mixture

  • Ensure that you pour the acid into the water- and not the mixture into the acid, to avoid dangerous reactions.
  • Make sure you slowly pour the acid into the picture and not all at once.
  • It will fix for a few minutes, and once it stops, move on to the next step.

3. Repeat this by adding more acid to the solution until the fizzing has ceased.

Once the fizzing stops completely, your acid has been neutralized.

Method # 2: Dilute Muriatic Acid With Water

Muriatic acid can also be diluted with water and poured down the drain.

However, different cities and towns have different laws regarding the amount and areas where this can be done, so make sure to check your area’s rules.

Never dispose of the acid directly, and always neutralize it with water; otherwise, it can be highly corrosive.

To dilute with water:

  • Ensure you are in a place that has very good ventilation. Fumes can be hazardous.
  • Put on acid-resistant gloves, goggles, masks, and other protective equipment.
  • Take 3 gallons of water
  • Add a quarter cup of muriatic acid to the mixture
  • Let it mix
  • Slowly pour the diluted mixture down the drain.
  • Leave the water running for about a minute
  • Rinse the container, and dispose of it safely.

How to Safely Store Muriatic Acid?

Make sure that the muriatic acid is placed in a very well-ventilated place, where cross ventilation is present.

Ensure it is kept in a dry and cool place. Do not keep it in direct contact with sunlight.

Make sure that the acid is placed and kept inside an acid-resistant container and sealed container and that there are no leaks or damages in the container.

Label the container appropriately as ‘Muriatic Acid’ or ‘Hydrochloric Acid’ to avoid confusion, as this is a hazardous substance.

What Not To Do When Disposing of Muriatic Acid

It is not advised to pour out this acid in sewerage or drainage systems, even if it has been diluted.

Do not pour muriatic acid down any kind of storm drains or any drainage pipes that lead to large bodies of water.

This can be extremely harmful to the environment and water bodies such as lakes, oceans. Different areas have different laws regarding this, which can also be illegal in most places.

The acid can be hazardous for animals living in the oceans or lakes. It can disturb the entire ecosystem of the environment and can negatively impact it due to its hazardous properties.

Furthermore, it can also be extremely harmful if mixed inside with the city’s water supply.

Muriatic acid is hazardous to human health. Therefore, it should not be disposed of within central water drainage systems.

Furthermore, if you have septic drains, it can disturb the bacterial levels within the drains, so it is not recommended to dispose of them in septic drains.

The Bottom Line

These are all the different ways that you can use to dispose of muriatic acid.

Before you dispose of muriatic acid, try out the various methods mentioned above to reuse them for household cleaning purposes.

Remain cautious when using muriatic acid and always wear proper protective equipment to ensure your safety.

We hope this helps. Good Luck!

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