New Stone Hearth

[gone-a-milkin]

First of all, we are (finally!) getting a new woodstove.I am so happy I can hardly STAND it. It is this one, the Lopi Leyden.

http://www.bestcleanplus.com/images/DSC02489.JPG

Sooo, DH and I have totally rebuilt our hearth to accomodate the new stove. We poured the footing pad wider, and more level...and we took out the old (purple-painted!?) concrete 'facade'. It was so ugly, and now it is chucked out in the weeds.

My question is - How can I remove the concrete 'haze' that is left on some of the stone faces of my new hearth rocks? It is fresh conc work, done over the last 3 days and not 'deep' just kind of a whitish haze. What takes this off? An acid? Or maybe just some type of oil/wax/ sealer? It looks fine when it is wet.

Have I mentioned how super-d-duper excited I am? LOL.

Help me out with some cleaning options if you can.

[ronbre]

just a guess..try vinegar?

[TurnerHill]

Trisodium Phosphate. And if that doesn't work, muriatic acid.

[7thswan]

Ya, muriatic acid. But be very careful. I know how you feel , I got a new woodstove last year. P.S. the glass in your stove can be cleaned with vinagar and a scrubby. I read on here someone mentioned using ashes, I haven't tryed it yet.

[gone-a-milkin]

Okay, muriatic acid, gotcha.

However, I just did myself a little experiment with CLR. I put a little on a cotton ball and rubbed it on. I think that might really work. I know I dont want to get it on the mortar, but since the rocks are just plain 'river stone' and not fine marble...

I will report back.

[gone-a-milkin]

Update~ well, it seems to be working, the CLR. These rocks came from the Gasconade riverbed and they are actually beautiful under their lime deposits. The CLR is kicking butt to remove the conc and so much of the white lime deposits.

Pics eventually. I am about half way done, after 5 hours.

Should I put any type of 'sealer' on there after it is clean?

["simon says"]

hmm?
i never thought of having cows help clean.....

[gone-a-milkin]

What?! Cows are good at cleaning. They have the long and abrasive tongues. You just have to get them out of the house before DH gets home from work.