How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look bad, and ruin your home exterior, even if the oil spots are relatively new. Avoid oil spots on your home’s driveway and in your garage when possible, and try to get rid of those stains fast, before they set in.
If the oil stain has been there for a long time, like from before purchasing the house, you might need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in West Palm Beach that has the ability to get rid of the most set-in oil stains.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mostly, oil from cars is the reason for stains on concrete. This might be oil, gasoline or transmission fluids – or a combination of fluids. Some of the most common ways concrete gets stained are from:
- Fixing your own car
- Filling up the lawn mower
- A leak that needs to be checked out by a mechanic
But, of course, there are countless other things that can leave an unsightly oil stain on concrete. So let’s explore a few of the best DIY tips to remove those oil stains!
DIY Oil Stain Removal Tips
CAT LITTER FOR OIL STAINS
Cat litter is a simple first step for fresh oil spots where there is excess oil that needs to be dried up.
Sprinkle cat litter all over the oil, getting it down into the stain by stomping on it with your feet. It’s recommended to leave the litter on the oil stain for 24 hours so it can absorb as much as possible. Scoop it up or sweep it off the next day and repeat if necessary.
Throw away used litter so pets and wildlife don’t eat it and get sick from it.
Next you can follow up with one of the following do-it-yourself concrete cleaning processes.
COCA-COLA FOR OIL STAINS
You’ve probably heard urban legends about accident clean-up crews using Coca-Cola to clean the roads, but, rest assured, that is a myth. That said, Coca-Cola does have powerful cleaning properties when it comes to greasy stains, partly because of its carbonated bubbles, but mostly because of the phosphoric acid in the soda.
Pour a good amount of Coca-Cola on top of the oil stain, then cover it with dishwashing liquid (Blue Dawn is widely accepted as the most effective). Scrub with a stiff brush, using circular motions throughout.
Rinse and repeat if necessary.
BAKING SODA FOR OIL STAINS
Baking soda is another popular home cleaning remedy ingredient.
To get rid of an oil stain on a driveway, you’ll first want to cover the stain with baking soda and let it sit for a while, anywhere from 20 minutes to two or three hours. This should absorb most of the oil and allow the baking soda to penetrate the porous surface.
Then, add blue dishwashing soap and water and scrub until there is a thick paste. Again, let this sit for maximum penetration, or continue to scrub in a circular pattern, then rinse.
Just like with the Coca-Cola method, you might need to repeat the process.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS
Many homeowners already use this to eliminate tough stains on clothes. It’s actually a great product for getting rid of tough oil stains from concrete too!
Stir 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 sit on the oil stain for an hour or more, then add water to make a paste, scrub and then rinse.
This is more of a gentle cleaning method, so it might be necessary to repeat the process two or three times. But there is a good chance it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN West Palm Beach
Some concrete 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 home’s concrete surfaces.
We don’t recommend pressure washing your driveway on your own to save a few dollars. You can cause significant harm that is complicated to fix if you don’t know what you’re doing. The high pressure water stream can break and loosen concrete, and it can create streaks that look just as bad as the oil stains.
Calling West Palm Beach Pressure Washing is definitely the safe choice. We know the best ways to clean concrete without destroying it, such as:
- The right PSI and GPM settings to use to remove stains
- Which nozzle tip will penetrate concrete without chipping it
- The best distance to spray the concrete from
- Solutions that can help lighten stains
West Palm Beach Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps to clean the concrete– the most effective method. Most homeowners and other companies don’t have enough patience to do it right. They want quick results.
A professional pressure washing company can also provide protective sealing services for driveway so oil stains are less likely to happen again.