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WAYS TO USE OXALIC ACID
Updated: Nov 17
OXALIC ACID IS A FANTASTIC, VERSATILE CHEMICAL THAT CAN BE USED IN NUMEROUS DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS.
AS ALWAYS, PLEASE ENSURE TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND ALWAYS DO A TEST PATCH IF POSSIBLE BEFORE FULL APPLICATION.
Usages:
Oxalic Acid is a versatile, odorless, chemical that can be used for many purposes.
· Cleaning
o The main use for Oxalic Acid is industrial cleaning. It can effectively remove many kinds of stains/marks from a variety of surfaces, including metals, wood, and stones. It can also be used to sterilize equipment and bleach clothes.
· Bleaching Wood
o It can be used on any wooden surface and is most often used on wood that has weathered from spending prolonged amounts of time outside in the sun and rain. It can be applied to lighten the color/stains.
· Removing Stains
o Oxalic Acid is a gentle stain remover that is an effective way of removing stains without affecting the base surface of areas, like wood. It can be used on stone, vinyl, brick and linoleum.
· Rust Removal
o Oxalic acid is one of the main ingredients in most rust removal products, and can be used to remove rust from tubs, sinks and most metals.
· Polisher
o Oxalic Acid can be used to polish stones like marble back to their original shine.
· Bee Keeping
o It can be used to control Varroa mites in honeybee colonies
How to Use:
**Always ensure to wear proper protective gear, including gloves, skin, eye, and face protection, and to work with Oxalic Acid in a well-ventilated environment. Ensure to perform a test patch on your surface area beforehand. **
FOR CLEANING: Pre-clean the stained area with soap and water, then prepare your solution based on the below recommendations, depending on your application purposes.
o For removal of stains from outdoor areas such as sidewalks and buildings, add one cup of Oxalic Acid per gallon of warm water. Spray your solution onto the stained area, scrub with a brush to remove stains. Let solution sit if area is badly stained. Repeat application/scrubbing multiple times if necessary. Once stain is removed, rinse area thoroughly with plenty of water and let surface dry.
o For removal of stains on wood, mix 1-part Oxalic Acid to 6-parts warm water. Apply a liberal amount of your mixture with a brush or sprayer and scrub. Allow to dry (the wood will dry without stains). Repeat steps if necessary for deep stains.
o For removal of rust on metal, pre-clean area with soap and water to remove grease. Soak metal parts in solution of 10-parts water to 1-part Oxalic Acid. Soak for up to 1 day or less to remove rust, then rinse and clean with plenty of water.
FOR BEEKEEPING: Can be used to control Varroa mites in honeybee colonies.
o Important: Remove honey supers before applying and allow at least 14 days before putting them back in to ensure acid is cleansed from the hive.
o Sublimate Oxalic Acid in the hive or dissolve into a sugar syrup and spray between frames. Mix 8.75 grams of Oxalic Acid with 150 grams of hot water, and 150 grams of sugar – stir until dissolved. Ensure you are wearing appropriate protective gear and use a syringe to draw about 50cc of solution and dripple no more than 5 cc over bees, starting from lower box.
o 1 kg of Oxalic Acid will treat approximately 500 colonies. (Do not apply when brood is present)
o Please reference this website for more detailed instructions and a video on application / usage method
https://www.perfectbee.com/blog/a-beekeepers-guide-to-using-oxalic-acid
GREAT WEBSITES TO REFERENCE BELOW:
HOW TO ACID WASH A DECK
HOW TO REMOVE STAINS FROM WOOD