Patio & exterior
Everbuild Mortar Clen Brick & Patio Acid dupe
Why pay around £16.50 for Everbuild? The bulk active is Technical hydrochloric acid 32–36% — 73% less per working litre than a typical shelf pack.
From the retail pack to the active and the mix
1 · Retail
Everbuild Mortar Clen Brick & Patio Acid
5 litres · £16.50 typical snapshot
Water and surfactants
2 · Active
Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid)
9% on the label
7647-01-0HCl
Bulk Technical hydrochloric acid 32–36%
3 · Mix
1:3
£0.90 per working litre · 73% less than the shelf pack
- Active
- Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid)
- CAS
- 7647-01-0
- Dupe
- Technical hydrochloric acid 32–36%
- Saving
- 73% / L
Saving is per litre of working-strength mix versus a typical pack price, not versus the DIY kit total. Shop prices move — always check the listing.
Label teardown
What the pack promises versus what the label chemistry actually is.
The marketing claim
“Cleans mortar stains, cement splashes and efflorescence from brickwork”
The chemical reality
Retail brick acid is technical hydrochloric acid cut to about 9%. 5 litres of 36% acid plus 15 litres of water is 20 litres of the same working strength.
Active vs filler
9% Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid) · 91% carrier / filler — Water and surfactants
- Typical retail
- £16.50
- 5 litres
- Estimated active cost
- £4.50
- Scaled from bulk £18.00 / 5 litres
- Indicative markup
- 3.7×
- Snapshot maths, not a live shop price
The Marketing Claim & The Catch
A 5 litres pack of Everbuild Mortar Clen Brick & Patio Acid typically retails around £16.50 in patio & exterior. That is a UK shelf-price snapshot for the maths on this page — not a live shop quote or a manufacturer RRP. Listings, sizes and deals move. The marketing line is that you are buying a finished lifestyle product, not a weighed chemical.
On the pack: Cleans mortar stains, cement splashes and efflorescence from brickwork; and Etches smooth concrete before sealing.
The catch: Retail brick acid is technical hydrochloric acid cut to about 9%. 5 litres of 36% acid plus 15 litres of water is 20 litres of the same working strength.
- “Cleans mortar stains, cement splashes and efflorescence from brickwork”
- “Etches smooth concrete before sealing”
Proprietary Blend & Dosage Breakdown
The labelled active is Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid) at 9%. Everything else in the pack is water and surfactants.
At 9% active, most of what you pay for is carrier and packaging. The brand is selling convenience, fragrance and a label — not a uniquely potent molecule.
Branded working strength is whatever comes out of the bottle. The bulk alternative is 36% Technical hydrochloric acid 32–36%, mixed to 1:3.
- Labelled active
- Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid)
- 9%
- Carrier
- Water and surfactants
- Retail pack
- 5 litres · £16.50
The Active Chemical Alternative (Dupe Stack)
The dupe stack is Technical hydrochloric acid 32–36% at 36% bulk. Indexed as CAS 7647-01-0, formula HCl. Buy it as 5 litres for around £18.00 from Amazon UK.
Working strength: 1:3. Indicative cost £0.90 per diluted litre — 73% below a typical branded pack on a per-litre basis, before you reuse leftover bulk.
Follow the mixing method and the supplier SDS. Wear the listed PPE. Do not mix incompatible oxidisers, acids or ammonia.
- Corrosive. Acid-resistant gloves, splash goggles and a respirator. Always add acid to cold water — never water into concentrated acid.
- 1 part 36% acid + 3 parts water yields about 9% working brick acid (5 L concentrate → 20 L).
- Pre-wet the brick. Apply with an acid-resistant brush, dwell a few minutes, then rinse copiously. Keep off limestone, marble and metals you care about.
- Neutralise spills with bicarbonate, then rinse. Store locked away from bleach (chlorine gas).
Dilution recipe
5 L sprayer
Working strength 1:3. Educational estimate from the listed ratio — check the SDS before you mix.
Chemical
1,250 millilitres
Technical hydrochloric acid 32–36%
Water
3.75 litres
Carrier / diluent
25% concentrate · 75% water by working volume (solids are dissolved into the water share).
Required PPE
Loading calculator…
Side-by-Side Price & Potency Comparison
Head-to-head comparison
| Measure | Retail brandedEverbuild | Raw active dupeDupeStack |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Mortar Clen Brick & Patio AcidAmazon UK search — listing, not a confirmed seller | Technical hydrochloric acid 32–36% |
| Pack / unit | 5 litres · £16.50 | 5 litres · £18.00 |
| Active | Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid) at 9%Carrier: Water and surfactants | 36% bulkHCl |
| CAS number | Not disclosed on pack | 7647-01-0 |
| Working strength | Ready-to-use pack | Dilute 1:3 |
| Cost per litre | £3.30 / L typical pack | £0.90 / L mixed from bulk |
| Headline saving | Baseline | 73% cheaper |
| COSHH / PPE | Follow the branded SDS | Gloves. Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene)Eye protection. Indirect-vent splash goggles — not ordinary spectaclesRespirator. Rated respirator for dusts or vapours as specified on the SDSAcid-resistant PPE. Apron and gloves rated for corrosive liquids |
Active ingredient and cheaper alternative — FAQ
Is Mortar Clen the same as HG rust remover?
No. Mortar Clen is hydrochloric acid (HCl) for cement smears and efflorescence. HG masonry rust is oxalic acid. Jenolite rust gel is phosphoric. Three different acids — pick the teardown that matches the stain.
Can I put brick acid through a garden sprayer?
Prefer an acid-resistant brush or a chemical-rated sprayer. Ordinary poly garden sprayers can fail on strong HCl. Always add acid to water, never water into acid, and keep it away from bleach.
How do you mix the Mortar Clen Brick & Patio Acid dupe stack?
Corrosive. Acid-resistant gloves, splash goggles and a respirator. Always add acid to cold water — never water into concentrated acid. 1 part 36% acid + 3 parts water yields about 9% working brick acid (5 L concentrate → 20 L). Pre-wet the brick. Apply with an acid-resistant brush, dwell a few minutes, then rinse copiously. Keep off limestone, marble and metals you care about. Neutralise spills with bicarbonate, then rinse. Store locked away from bleach (chlorine gas).
DupeStack provides chemical concentration data and educational mixing guides only. Wellness pages compare food supplements, not medicines or prescribed treatments. Always review the supplier Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and comply with UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and COSHH regulations when handling concentrated substances. Mixing and storage are at your own risk. Some links are affiliate advertisements (Amazon Associates, eBay Partner Network, and Awin when those programmes are live). Commissions do not change listed concentrations or calculator output.
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Indicative DIY stack