How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look bad, and age your home exterior, even if the stains are fairly new. Avoid oil stains on your home’s driveway, sidewalks and in your garage whenever possible, and attempt to eliminate those stains fast, before they really set in.
If the stain has been there for a long time, like from before purchasing the house, you may need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in Sugar Land that has the ability to eliminate even the most set-in stains.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mainly, oil from automobiles is the reason for stains on concrete. This might be oil, gasoline or transmission fluids – or a combination. Some of the typical ways your concrete gets stained are from:
- Fixing 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 unsightly oil spot on your concrete. So let’s explore some of the best DIY tips to remove those stains!
DIY Oil Stain Removal Tips
CAT LITTER FOR OIL STAINS
Cat litter is a simple first step for new oil stains where there is a lot of oil that has to be cleaned up.
Sprinkle the cat litter over the oil, really getting it down into the stain by crushing it with your feet. It’s best to leave the litter on the stain overnight so it will absorb as much as possible. Scrape it up or sweep it off of the driveway the next day and repeat if necessary.
Get rid of 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 concrete cleaning processes.
COCA-COLA FOR OIL STAINS
You’ve probably heard urban legends about accident clean-up crews using Coca-Cola to clean up the roads, but, rest assured, that is a myth. That said, Coca-Cola does have strong 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 good amount of Coca-Cola on top of the oil stain, then cover it with dishwashing soap (Blue Dawn is widely considered 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 product.
To eliminate an oil stain on a driveway, you’ll first need to cover the stain with the baking soda and then let it sit for a while, somewhere from 20 minutes to a few hours. This should absorb some of the oil and allow the baking soda to penetrate the porous surface.
Then, add that famous 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 Coca-Cola method, you might need to repeat the process.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS
Most homeowners already use this to clean off dirty stains on clothes. It’s actually a great option for removing bad oil stains from concrete as well!
Mix powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts based on the size of the 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 then rinse.
This is more of a gentle cleaning process, so it could be necessary to repeat the process two or three times. But there is a possibility it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN Sugar Land
Some concrete oil stains on a driveway are too difficult for home remedies to remove. That’s when it is 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 major 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 on a driveway that look almost as bad as the oil stains.
Calling Supreme Sugar Land Pressure Washing is definitely the best choice. We know the best ways to clean concrete without harming it, including:
- The right PSI and GPM levels to use to remove stains
- Which nozzle tip will penetrate concrete without damaging it
- The optimal distance to spray the concrete from
- Products that can help lighten stains
Supreme Sugar Land Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps it takes to clean the concrete little by little – the most effective process. Most homeowners and other companies don’t have enough patience to do it correctly. They want quick results.
A professional pressure washing company can also offer protective sealing services for your driveway so oil stains are less likely in the future.