- 1). Sweep and mop the floor and allow it to dry. Contaminants on the floor can interfere with the acid, leaving you with unevenly etched tile.
- 2). Mix a neutralizing agent of 1 lb. baking soda to 5 gallons of water and set it aside.
- 3). Put on protective gloves, eyewear and a breathing mask. Acid made for eating through flooring is powerful enough to cause severe injury if it comes into contact with your skin. Open any windows or doors to the outside before beginning the project. Proper ventilation is essential as acid fumes are toxic.
- 4). Dilute the acid if you are using a liquid solution rather than an acid-etch powder. The dilution ratio will differ depending on the type of acid you use, but the standard dilution for muriatic acid is ten parts water to each part acid.
- 5). Wet the floor. Sprinkle the acid solution uniformly over the section you plan to etch. Bubbling indicates that the acid solution is eating through the top surface of the tile, dulling your tile’s glossy finish.
- 6). Scrub the floor with a stiff-bristled brush, working the acid solution into the grooves where each piece of tile meets. The time frame may vary but should take no longer than 10 minutes.
- 7). Spray your work area with the baking soda neutralizing agent. This neutralizes the acid, preventing it from damaging any other surfaces or causing injury after you rinse it from the floor.
- 8). Rinse the floor well. Scrub the area with a clean, stiff-bristled brush to remove all acid residue.
- 9). Vacuum up the neutralized acid and water with a wet/dry vacuum. Place the acid and water mixture into a plastic container and dispose of it at a hazardous waste disposal facility.
next post