If a hose comes into contact with acid, what should you do?

Using baking soda to neutralize acid and then cleaning the hose thoroughly is the appropriate response when a hose comes into contact with acid. Acid can cause significant damage to materials, particularly rubber and synthetic materials commonly found in hoses. By applying baking soda, which is a base, you can effectively neutralize the acidic substance, minimizing further damage. After neutralization, thoroughly cleaning the hose helps to ensure that any remaining acid or harmful residues are removed, preserving the integrity of the hose and ensuring safety for future use.

In this context, simply discarding the hose may not be necessary if it can be effectively cleaned and restored, while rinsing with water alone might not neutralize the acid and could still result in damage. Additionally, using vinegar to counteract acid could be counterproductive, as vinegar itself is acidic and could exacerbate the issue rather than resolve it. Therefore, neutralizing the acid with baking soda and properly cleaning the hose is the safest and most effective course of action.