The sound of rain can be very relaxing or stressful if you have humidity problems in your home. In addition to being an aesthetic problem, saltpeter on the walls of the house is a problem that, in the long term, can cause structural damage and pose a risk to our health.
Saltpeter is the deposit of mineral salts that forms when potassium nitrate, present in home construction materials such as cement or bricks, comes into contact with oxygen and excess moisture.
Mold, humidity and saltpeter spores can also be dangerous for our health, since they are capable of promoting the development of respiratory diseases such as asthma, sinusitis, bronchitis or allergies.
Recognizing saltpeter is very simple: it appears in the form of whitish or gray “crystals” on the walls and allows the paint to come off easily.
Removing saltpeter from walls is not an easy task and there is no product capable of eliminating it. Below we suggest a trick to contain the problem.
You need:
- a metal brush
- A bottle of hydrochloric acid
- A brush
- A container with soap and water.
- Concrete
- a sealant
- Paint
To eliminate saltpeter from the walls of your home, follow these steps:
- Wear a mask, gloves and glasses. Using the wire brush, remove all the salt from the walls of the house. Immediately afterwards, pour one glass of hydrochloric acid and three of water into a container and mix with a brush.
- Spread the solution with the brush. Don’t be afraid if you notice a kind of foam: it is the result of the effect of the acid on the saltpeter. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then scrub the wall with soap and water. Rinse and dry with a clean cloth.
- After the wall is completely dry, knead the cement or putty to repair the wall. Let the material dry and then apply a moisture sealant. Let it rest for 24 hours between coats.
- Finally, it’s time to repaint the wall to restore it to its original appearance.
The trick described above is not always decisive. Sometimes it may be necessary to apply it every two or three years, because saltpeter tends to reproduce.