How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look bad, and tarnish your home exterior, even if the oil stains are relatively new. Try to avoid oil stains on your home’s driveway and in your garage when possible, and attempt to get rid of those stains right away, before they really set in.
If the oil stain has been there for a long time, like from before purchasing the home, you might need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in Toledo that can get rid of even the most set-in oil stains.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mostly, oil from automobiles is the reason for stains on concrete. This might be oil, gas or transmission fluids – or a combination. Some of the most typical ways concrete gets stained are from:
- Fixing your own car
- Filling up the gas in a lawn mower
- A leak that should be checked out by a mechanic
But, of course, there are countless other things that can cause an ugly oil stain on concrete. So let’s look at some of the best DIY ways 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 stains where there is excess oil that has to be dried up.
Sprinkle cat litter over the oil, really getting it down into the stain by stomping on it with your feet. It’s a good idea to leave the litter on the oil stain for 24 hours so it can absorb as much as possible. Scrape it up or sweep it off the next day and repeat as necessary.
Throw away used litter so pets and nearby wildlife don’t eat it and get sick.
Next you can follow up with one of the following do-it-yourself cleaning processes.
COCA-COLA FOR OIL STAINS
You might have heard urban legends about accident clean-up crews using Coke to clean the roads, but, be assured, that is a myth. However, Coke does have powerful cleaning properties when it comes to oily stains, partly because of its carbonated bubbles, but mainly from the phosphoric acid in the soda.
Pour a generous amount of Coke on the oil stain, then cover it with dishwashing detergent (Blue Dawn is widely accepted as 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 common 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 then let it sit for a while, somewhere from 20 minutes to a few hours. This should absorb most of the oil and allow the baking soda to penetrate the porous concrete.
Next, add blue dishwashing liquid and water and scrub until there is a thick paste. Again, let this sit for the best penetration, or continue to scrub in a circular motion, then rinse.
Just like with the Coke method, you might need to repeat the process one or two times.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS
Many homeowners already use this to remove bad stains on clothes. It’s also a great product for removing bad oil stains from concrete too!
Mix powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts based on the size of the oil stain. You will want to cover it completely. Let this mixture sit on the oil stain for an hour or more, then add 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 good chance it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN Toledo
Some oil stains on a driveway are too difficult for home remedies to remove. That’s when it may be time to call a professional pressure washing company to 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 extremely difficult to fix 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 almost as bad as the oil stains.
Hiring True Toledo Pressure Washing is definitely the safe choice. We know the best ways to clean concrete without damaging it, including:
- The right PSI and GPM levels to use
- Which nozzle will penetrate concrete without chipping it
- The best distance to spray the concrete from
- Products that can help lighten stains
True Toledo Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps it takes to clean the concrete– the most effective method. Most homeowners and other companies don’t have enough patience to do it correctly. They want immediate results.
A professional pressure washing company in Toledo can also offer protective sealing services for driveway so oil stains are less likely in the future.