- 1). Start with a clean concrete surface. Wash the surface if necessary with a mixture of water and degreasing dish detergent. Rinse the concrete and let it air-dry 2 to 3 days.
- 2). Make a golden or orange-hued stain. Combine one quarter cup iron sulfate with two-thirds cup warm water in a plastic bowl. Apply the mixture to the concrete with a paintbrush and dab away excess with a sponge; let the concrete dry completely and add more stain as desired.
- 3). Create a teal or blue stain. Mix together one-quarter cup copper sulfate and one cup warm water in a plastic bowl. Paint the stain on with a paintbrush, pat off excess with a sponge, and let the stain dry; layer on more stain if you wish.
- 4). Mix up an orange stain by combining one cup hot water and 1 tablespoon potassium dichromate in a non-metal pot over low heat. Remove from the heat, add one plastic teaspoon of muriatic acid, one-quarter cup copper sulfate, and one-quarter cup table salt; stir the solution with a plastic spoon until everything dissolves. Use a paintbrush to apply this stain to the concrete; it will go on green and become intensely orange as it dries.
- 5). Put on rubber gloves and a pair of plastic safety glasses. Stir together one-quarter cup manganese carbonate and 1 tablespoon potassium dichromate in a plastic bowl with a plastic spoon; slowly stir in one-half cup plus 2 teaspoons of muriatic acid to make a brown or black stain. Paint the stain onto the concrete and let it dry.
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