Where can I get brick acid?

[keiron99]

I want to clean our chimney stack which is covered with 70 years of grime and pollution. It's convenient to do it at the moment whilst we are having a new roof fitted and the scaffolding is up, so I'll get the roofer to do it (you won't get me up there!). To that end, I want something you can literally just tip on (brick acid?). Unfortunately, I was informed by the bloke at the counter at Travis Perkins there's no such product now, due to health and safety regs, and could only offer some non-specific brick and patio cleaner - the likes of which I've wasted to much money on before.

Can anyone recommend a product and where I might get it at short notice (ie tomorrow!)? Thanks.

[Phil L]

That's a common trick at Travis Perkins, if they don't stock something it doesn't exist, only because they want to sell you their stuff.

I got some only a few weeks ago so it is still made, try small hardware stores, mine was about £4 for a gallon, but don't expect miracles, acid will only usually remove alkali type stuff, so general discolouration of bricks will not be affected, although algy and mortar stains will.

[Nigel Molesworth]

Do it *before*

[Ian Stirling]

[Rob Morley]

I don't think brick acid would do a lot of good in this situation - a pressure washer is probably a better bet.

[Rob Morley]

They do atock it, or at least they did a few months ago the last time I bought some. Travis Perkins Mortar Cleaner - 16% hydrochloric acid.

[Andrew Gabriel]

You definately don't want brick acid. The only thing it will clean is the mortar out from between the bricks, which is a really bad idea. The dirt up there probably isn't susceptable to removal by acid, as rain would have washed it off. I'm afraid I can't think of anything you could simply pour over without also some surface scrubbing with a soft brush. Beware that chimneys were often built with expensive facing bricks, which can be very soft and easily damaged by hard brushing.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Agreed.

Standard issue for this is sandblaster or pressure washer.