Oil leaks can leave stubborn stains on your driveway or garage floor. Fortunately, you can eliminate the stains in most instances using a variety of proven methods. Here are some of the most effective ways to remove oil stains from concrete.
Oven Cleaner
Oven cleaner can be a surprisingly effective solution for oil stains on concrete. Spray the affected area with a degreasing oven cleaner and let it settle for approximately ten minutes. Using a hard bristle brush, scrub it clean and rinse the surface using a hose. You may need to repeat the process several times until the stain is completely removed.
Liquid Detergent
Heavy-duty liquid detergent is able to loosen oil stains on concrete because of a chemical process that’s too complex to explain here. Simply pour the detergent directly onto the oil stain and add water. Scrub the concrete with a hard brush and rinse it off with a hose. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.
Poultice
A poultice is a mass of a porous material filled with a solvent. You can make your own paste-like poultice by finely grinding some type of absorbent material like sawdust or talc into a powder, and then mixing it with a blend of ordinary degreasing soap and hot water.
Wet the stain using a garden hose and then spread the poultice over the oil and let it sit until it dries. You can then scrape off the dried poultice and repeat the process until the stain is gone. Note that you can also purchase a poultice from your local home improvement store.
Concrete Cleaner or Degreasing Agent
If you want to be more aggressive, you can purchase a degreaser or concrete cleaner at your local home improvement store. This is essentially an alkaline soap that loosens the oil so you can rinse it away using an ordinary garden hose.
Cat Litter
Most inexpensive cat litters are made of highly absorbent clay that serves as a very effective oil stain remover. Unfortunately, the pricier brands tend to be made with perfumes and clumping agents that hamper this process. With this in mind, it’s best to purchase a cheaper litter as a stain remover.
Pour the litter onto the oil and let it sit for at least a half-hour. Use your broom to sweep up the absorbent litter. Then, wash the remaining stain away using a coarse brush and degreasing detergent. If you do not have any ordinary cat litter, you can also try cornmeal, cornstarch or baby powder.
Sawdust and Paint Thinner
Similar to cat litter, sawdust is an absorbent material that can soak up oil. Paint thinners then act as powerful solvents that can dissolve oil-based paints. Mix the two and you have an effective method for removing oil from your driveway.
After combining the paint thinner and sawdust, spread the mixture over the oil and leave it for about half an hour. You can then use your broom to sweep away the sawdust. Then, wash the remaining stain away using a coarse brush and degreasing detergent.
Baking Soda
Some people swear by baking soda as a solution for removing smaller oil stains on concrete. Start by thoroughly covering the oil with the powder and wait 20 to 30 minutes. Once the baking soda has absorbed the oil, rinse it away using a garden hose.
You may need to repeat the process several times, especially if the stain is large. You may also need to scrub away any leftover residue using detergent or a water-based degreasing dish soap.
Coca Cola
It may sound hard to believe but Coke has been used for generations to remove corrosion from batteries and oil from concrete. Start by pouring two cans of cola onto the oil stain. Wait a couple of hours and then rinse the stain using a hose. You may need to repeat the process to get good results.
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