Cigarette Stains

[Andy]

I need some advice in removing cigarette stains from a concrete surface. Will hot water/surface cleaner and a degreaser do the trick? Thanks!

 

[Jon]

Andy being from California and seeing gum on concrete please cue me in on what cig.burns look like. Sounds dumb but I just don't recall seeing those.

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Hey Jon, relax be glad you don’t have to deal with cigarette stains. LOL

Jon the stains he is talking about are even more difficult than rust. Some where to start anyway.

Andy,

More details next time can help will assume this is a shopping center around one of those ashtrays maybe by a garbage can. People go to put their cigarettes out before they walk into a building. The one who throws them down usually gets swept up and no stains ever arise. These ones close to garbage cans benches are the toughs ones. The reasons are these usually get wet and the tobacco gets soaked right in the surface.

The method I use in to use and acid based cleaner to try and safely lift the stains. Make your solution week and try many washes versus trying to attack it to quickly. Attacking quickly can cause you not only damage the surface but push the stain deeper into the concrete. This might result in permanent damage and never being able to remove these stains.


Andy if you need over the counter chemicals Jon have some experience here and might be able to help you. Same chemicals you would use for rust. I know Jon just went through something similar.


Thanks Andy for joining my bb I hope you find it nice and will always try to help with as much inf. as possible. Andy if you look in the links I think KO chemicals have concrete acid based cleaner. Also vendor can advise but cannot push product in this are if you go down to their section they might recommend something. Ron Strickland or mark or wiz.

 

[Andy]

Sorry for the limited details - was in a hurry last night.

Jon,

This is a hospital and the cigarette stains are found only in the employee break areas and designated smoking areas. Ron is right on the money, the stains actually look like rust but not quite as dark. Thats the best description I can give. I've never seen them before but I haven't done alot of flatwork anyways. What would work that I might be able to pick up local? I've heard some talk about oxalic for rust - do you think it would work on the cigarette stains?

Ron,
Would have joined up alot sooner just been really busy. Any ideas on how to price these out?

Thanks again!

 

[Barry]

If thats what what they do to concreat, just think what they do to your lungs..

 

[Jon]

Barry that could be why I never smoked and require my wife to do so outside the house.

I have installed a commerical fan in her bathroom, a nice big 7 inch one rather then the little 4 inch ones in homes.

It sucks that smoke right out of the house but only draw back is I have to clean it monthly as it gets like a hood in a restaurant, sticky, dirty and clogged up.

All green and yellow like the inside of lungs indeed.

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Another one

Hey Jon, relax be glad you don’t have to deal with cigarette stains. LOL

Jon the stains he is talking about are even more difficult than rust. Some where to start anyway.

Andy,

More details next time can help will assume this is a shopping center around one of those ashtrays maybe by a garbage can. People go to put their cigarettes out before they walk into a building. The one who throws them down usually gets swept up and no stains ever arise. These ones close to garbage cans benches are the toughs ones. The reasons are these usually get wet and the tobacco gets soaked right in the surface.

The method I use in to use and acid based cleaner to try and safely lift the stains. Make your solution week and try many washes versus trying to attack it to quickly. Attacking quickly can cause you not only damage the surface but push the stain deeper into the concrete. This might result in permanent damage and never being able to remove these stains.


Andy if you need over the counter chemicals Jon have some experience here and might be able to help you. Same chemicals you would use for rust. I know Jon just went through something similar.


Thanks Andy for joining my bb I hope you find it nice and will always try to help with as much inf. as possible. Andy if you look in the links I think KO chemicals have concrete acid based cleaner. Also vendor can advise but cannot push product in this are if you go down to their section they might recommend something. Ron Strickland or mark or wiz.