Does your concrete driveway have motor oil stains? It is common for driveways to be contaminated by oil leaks from your car or machinery. Cleaning an oil stain on concrete right before it penetrate in is easy and produces good results. Old oil stains ingrained into concrete requires a lot of effort to remove.
Stains on concrete driveways, and garage floors are unsightly. Oil can also interfere with decorative and protective treatments on concrete such as staining or painting.
In this guide, learn how to get rid of oil and grease stain from your concrete driveway or garage floor easily.
How to Remove Oil Stains from a Driveway
There are various methods of dealing with oil stains on concrete each depending with the age and size of the stain. Fresh and small stains can be removed by common household detergents such as dish washing soap, vinegar, baking soda or a laundry detergent.
Old oil stains are tough and sticky thus requires a strong degreaser or power washing. to completely get rid of this type of contamination. Some types of concrete cleaners that have strong grease cutting power can also be helpful in removing oil stains from concrete.
Step1: Assessment and Preparation
Assess if the oil is fresh or old. This will help you in choosing the appropriate method of removal. You will also want to see if the oil has penetrated into the concrete finish or not.
Next, find out if there are plants around the affected area so that you can protect them from any chemical product you might use.
If you choose to use a degreaser, be sure to wear a protective gear. Put on gloves and boots to protect your skin and goggles for eye protection. Locate the toxicity level of the product and work away from pets, children and plants.
Clear the area by removing furniture any loose dirt debris. You may use a broom to sweep any soil, leaves or other form of dirt to create a clean work space.
Step 2: Removing Fresh/Small Oil Stains
- Get a household liquid or powder detergent and pour on the stain covering it completely. You may use dawn dish soap or laundry soap. Let it sit for 20 or 30 minutes.
- While the detergent is sitting on the stain, prepare some hot water in a bucket and pour on the detergent covering the stain
- Scrub the area vigorously using a soft bristled brush. Rinse with hot water and repeat the process if the stain is not completely gone.
- You may also remove oil stains from concrete with coke. Obtain a can of coke soda and pour on the stain. Let it sit for a whole day and rinse off the oil residue with water or a hose on the next day.
- Applying cat litter on the oil stains is also a simple way of getting rid of fresh oil from the concrete. Pour a generous amount of the cat litter on the spillage area and leave it for 30 minutes before clearing it away.
Step 3: Removing Old Stains
- Order a degreaser and read the instructions and warnings labeled by the manufacturer. A degreaser is a strong solvent that lift off any oil stain or petroleum contamination from a concrete surface without affecting it.
- Apply the solvent and let it sit for several minutes as recommended on the label.
- Use a bristle brush to scrub the area and follow with a hose or a bucket of water. Check after a day to see if the oil stain has resurfaced and repeat the process again.
- Alternatively, you can use a microbial cleaner that acts on the stains without causing any problem to the environment. The Eco-friendly method may take some time to complete the task but the outcome will be perfectly satisfying.
- Pressure washer can also be used for removing old motor oil stains from driveways. The hot blast of water on the concrete will lift off the tough oil stains. You can hire or purchased a pressure washer if you want to have your driveways and hardscapes clean all the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to commonly asked questions about removal of oil stains from a concrete.
Does WD 40 remove Oil stains from Concrete?
Yes, WD 40 can perfectly clear oil stains from a concrete surface. WD 40 is a multi-purpose solvent that has ability to dissolve and remove grease and other petroleum stains. This product is known to work on concrete without causing any damage.
How to use
- Spray the entire oil stain with WD 40 and let it sit for 10 minutes before you wipe it up with a towel or old rug.
- Splash a dish washing soap on the area and let it sit for 5 minutes then rinse with hot water.
Does Dawn dish soap remove oil from concrete?
Yes, concentrated down dish soap is a strong remover of oil stains. To use, simply squirt the soap on the entire stain and let it sit for several minutes. Wipe everything with paper towels and use a garden hose to rinse your driveway.
Final Thought
The ideal time to remove oil stains effortlessly is when they are still fresh. This will save you time, cost and efforts to remove the stain as compered to when the oil penetrates into the concrete and attracts dirt. If you decide to use stain removers, avoid using solvents that are not recommended for concrete surface.