Abstract: Acidic compositions comprising mixtures of hydrochloric, phosphoric, oxalic and citric acids, optionally additionally containing oleic, hydrofluoric or sulfuric acid and methods of preparing the acidic mixtures. Uses for certain mixtures of the acids include treating crude oil, in oil recovery processes, for well acidizing, cleaning glass, in batteries, removing corrosion from metals, removing oil residues from oil handling equipment and reactivating wells clogged with asphaltene.