How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways

Oil stains on driveways look bad, and age your home exterior, even if the oil spots are relatively new. Avoid oil spots on your driveway, sidewalks and in your garage whenever possible, and try to remove those stains fast, before they set in.

If the oil stain has been there for a while, like from before purchasing the house, you might need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in Greenville that can remove the most set-in oil stains.

Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?

Mostly, oil from automobiles is the reason for oil-stained concrete. This might be oil, gas or transmission fluid – or a combination of fluids. Some of the common ways your concrete gets stained are from:

• Servicing your own car
• Filling up the lawn mower
• A leak that should be checked out by a auto mechanic

But, there are several other things that can create an ugly oil stain on your concrete. So let’s look at some of the best DIY methods to remove those oil stains!

DIY Oil Stain Removal Tips

CAT LITTER FOR OIL STAINS

Cat litter is a simple first step for new oil spots where there is excess oil that has to be cleaned up.

Sprinkle cat litter over the oil stain, getting it down into the stain by crushing it with your feet. It’s a good idea to leave the litter on the oil stain for 24 hours so it will absorb as much as possible. Scrape it up or sweep it off the next day and repeat if necessary.

Throw away used litter so your pets and nearby wildlife don’t eat it and get sick from it.

Next you can proceed with one of the following do-it-yourself cleaning techniques.

COCA-COLA FOR OIL STAINS

You’ve probably heard urban legends about accident clean-up crews using Coke to clean the roads, but, rest assured, that is a myth. That said, Coke does have powerful cleaning properties for oily stains, in part due to its carbonated bubbles, but mostly because of the phosphoric acid in the soda.

Pour a good amount of Coke on the oil stain, then cover it with dishwashing detergent (Blue Dawn is widely considered the most effective). Scrub with a stiff brush, using circular motions throughout.

Rinse and repeat if needed.

BAKING SODA FOR OIL STAINS

Baking soda is another popular home cleaning remedy product.

To remove an oil stain on a driveway, you’ll first want to cover the stain with baking soda and let it sit for a little bit, somewhere from 30 minutes to two or three hours. This should absorb some of the oil and allow the baking soda to penetrate the porous surface.

Then, add blue dishwashing liquid and some water and scrub until you have created a thick paste. Again, let this sit for the best penetration, or continue to scrub in a circular motion, then rinse.

Just like the Coke method, you might have to repeat the process.

LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS

Many homeowners already use this to remove bad stains on clothes. It’s actually a great product for getting rid of tough oil stains from concrete as well!

Mix powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts according to the size of the oil stain. You want to cover it entirely. Let this mixture stay on the oil stain for an hour or more, then add some water to make a paste, scrub and rinse.

This is a gentle cleaning method, so it may be necessary to repeat the process one or two times. But there is a possibility it will work!

DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN Greenville

Some oil stains on a driveway are too difficult for DIY home remedies. That’s when it may be time to call a professional pressure washing company to thoroughly clean your concrete surfaces.

We don’t recommend pressure washing your driveway on your own to save a little money. You can cause major harm that is difficult to repair if you don’t know how to properly pressure wash concrete. The high pressure water can break and loosen concrete, and it can leave streaks on a driveway that look just as bad as the oil stains.

Calling Greenville Pressure Washing is definitely the safe choice. Our technicians know the best ways to clean concrete without ruining it, including:

• The right PSI and GPM settings to use
• Which nozzle tip will penetrate concrete without damaging it
• The best distance to spray the concrete from
• Products that can help lighten stains

Greenville Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps to clean the concrete– the most effective method. Most homeowners don’t have enough patience to do it right. They want immediate results.

A professional pressure washing company can also offer protective sealing services for your driveway so oil stains are less likely in the future.