Abstract: A method of pickling metallic material particularly for the continuous treatment of material in strip or wire form and especially such material consisting of stainless steel, wherein the material after annealing is subjected in a first step to the chemical attack of a first aqueous solution which is heated to a temperature above room temperature, preferably to between 55.degree. - 60.degree. C, and which contains HF in contents of from 7 to 25%, or which contains HF in the contents mentioned above and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 over 2%, or which contains HF in the contents mentioned above the NaCl up to 10%, but especially from 0.5 to 2.5%; or which contains HF in the contents mentioned above and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in the contents mentioned above and NaCl in the contents mentioned above, and in a second step the material is subjected to the chemical attack of a second aqueous solution heated to a temperature above room temperature, preferably to between 55.degree. - 60.degree. C, and containing HF and HNO.sub.3.