Replies

1. 
   Jencar | Jan 11, 2003 08:59pm | #1

   I guess sandblasting is out of the question...how dark are the stains from the boxes?

   Jen 8)

   
   

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   Edited 1/11/2003 3:00:08 PM ET by Jencar

1. 
   mgueriera | Jan 12, 2003 02:23am | #2

   They are blue and grey letters and have stained the concrete about half as solid a tone as they appear on the boxes.

1. 
   pm22 | Jan 12, 2003 03:37am | #4

   Sometimes the dyes used on cardboard boxes will fade in bright sunlight. Is it possible to place your foyer out in the sun for a week or two?

   Seriously - if that doesn't work, do as the man suggested and try some bleach. Be careful of the muriatic [hydrochloric] acid. It will etch the begeeezis out of your finished surface. Don't mix them or apply on the same day.

   Since the stain got from the card board to the concrete - maybe it got wet - the maybe put some damp wet paper on it and reverse the process.

   Also you could try various mild solvents such as alcohol, paint thinner, acetone, etc.

   Perhaps TSP might work. Maybe a light dusting with a heat gun or propane torch. If all else fails, a .50 cal. machine gun always works for me in this situation - at least with "blue and grey" stains. I haven't tried it with red chaljk line stains tho. However you will have a lot of brass casings to clean up.

   Cheer up, you have created a special effect which no one else has. This makes your house unique and special and individual "I did it myself".

   -Peter

2. 
   Frankie | Jan 12, 2003 05:11am | #6

   I would not wet it at all. The additional water may make it set deeper into the concrete. The dry portland idea sounds okay but if the floor is already dry I don't know what medium would be the transfer vehicle. Sunlight sounds best. Box colors usually are not light-fast. But I understand the logistical difficulty of getting the sun through the front door.

   Instead, try an ultra-violet grow-light from a greenhouse/ plant/ head shop. Set it above the stain and see what happens.

   Let us know what works. Good luck.

2. 
   Harborman | Jan 12, 2003 03:20am | #3

   Mqueriera:  Try some bleach and if that does not work try muriatic acid.  Best Regards

3. 
   kennedy136 | Jan 12, 2003 04:37am | #5

   Mgueriera,

           No guarantees that this will work but you might have success by placing some dry portland cement on the spots (like you would place floor -dry on a grease stain.)  Sometimes this will leach stains back out of concrete.  Might be worth a shot if nothing else works.

                             Mark