Neutralizing playa dust

[Sync]

So we all know, or should know, that playa dust is highly corrosive when wet. I’ve been told it has the base ph of Drano, and have seen the volcano effect when I poured a splash of vinegar on the playa.
Now, the conventional wisdom is you wash everything, especially metals and moving parts, in vinegar, which is an acid ph, to neutralize the dust’s base ph. One problem with this is all the sticky goo stuff in the vinegar leaves a residue to deal with. Here’s a better way; go to a hardware store. Buy one of those pump bug sprayers, and some muriatic acid for adjusting pool ph. Its basically pure HCL (hydrochloric acid). Put a few splashes of it (carefully) in a few gallons of water in the sprayer. You now have harmless acidic water to spray-wash off playa dust that neutralizes the ph. And, even better yet; HCl can only exist in water suspensions. So, as soon as the water evaporates, no residue at all. Cheeper than vinegar as well.

[GreyCoyote]

Be aware that after reacting with a base, HCl will leave you with a chloride solution. Not good for metal. The water will evaporate and the chloride will remain. Once you get a chloride started eating on a metal, it will keep corroding. Control after-the-fact can be problematic.

I agree with your assertion that HCl may be a better neutralizer in skilled hands, but only if you flush it very well and dont use a strong solution.

Another trick I use is to add a squirt of soap to the solution. This helps it to cling and penetrate caked playa better. Dawn brand dish soap works exceptionally well for this.

But I think for many (most?) acetic acid (white vinegar) is a better, and lower risk solution. YMMV

[mulch]

I've heard it here before,and have found it very helpful to remove as much dust as possible before using any water.
A blower tip on my big air compressor tank got almost all the dust out of a carpet, the nooks of my scooter motor, the window glides of the RV, and the rest. Even when hardened into the concrete, pressurized air did a better job than I expected and water didn't do as well as I had hoped.

[FIGJAM]

Leaf blowers work great for the first pass.

[theCryptofishist]

What happens to the rest of the acid? Do you store it all year, just so you can have a few splashes next year?

[GreyCoyote]

What happens to the rest of the acid? Do you store it all year, just so you can have a few splashes next year?

Acetic acid: mix with equal amounts of vegetable oil, add a packet or two of of Good Seasons Italian, and refrigerate. Shake well before serving. Serve over lettuce, tomatoes, shredded carrots, etc.

HCl: you can store it if you can do so safely (ie, outside, no kids around), but I find it makes short work of sink and toilet scale. Also does a good job cleaning concrete and removing rust stains. Ecologically, its very benign stuff once diluted. You can simply flush it down a sanitary sewer AFTER dilution.

[Sic Pup]

Acetic acid: mix with equal amounts of vegetable oil, add a packet or two of of Good Seasons Italian, and refrigerate. Shake well before serving. Serve over lettuce, tomatoes, shredded carrots, etc.

Ahem..... 1:3 is the optimum ratio

[phil]

>SNIP>
when I poured a splash of vinegar on the playa.
>end SNIP<

You left a trace!