A strong, corrosive acid, hydrochloric acid is used to treat steel in the building and construction industry. The chemical industry uses it to manufacture vinyl chloride, with which polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic is made. It is a chemical used in the production of polyurethane foam and calcium chloride.
Several other chemicals can be formulated using Hydrochloric. The chemical can also be used as disinfectant and slimicide, a substance designed to prevent bacterial growth on paper stock.
Aside from household cleaners, hydrochloric acid is also used for pool maintenance and food processing.