Nobody likes seeing a dark, blotchy, stubborn oil stain on their nice, clean driveway.
Your vehicle has all kinds of fluids running through it. All it takes is one small leak, and you are stuck with an unpleasant stain. Whether it is a fresh stain or not, you can use some household items to take care of it in no time.
Preparation and Preventative Measures
Before we remove the stain, it is important to know how to prepare well and learn ways to prevent this from happening again. First, you want to be as safe as possible when dealing with cleaning and staining chemicals. PPE, or personal protective equipment, can keep you safe and stop you from cleaning more stains from clothes or anything else. It takes many forms, but goggles and gloves should be sufficient for this project.
Due to the nature of oil stains and concrete, you will want to bring a heavy-duty cleaning brush and broom to help agitate the chemicals and the stain. Remember that some of these oils are flammable, and any materials used to clean the stain should be disposed of carefully. This goes for any clothes or rags that can’t be cleaned or have absorbed too much oil.
In the future, there is a simple way you can prevent stains like these from cropping up again. Using a concrete sealer, you can coat your driveway or garage with a chemical that will keep the oil from soaking into the concrete ever again. You should always follow the sealer’s instructions, but be sure to clean your floor or driveway first. Without any obstructions, the sealant can penetrate deep into the concrete and provide you with all its benefits.
The Not-So-Obvious Choices
You may want to jump straight to industrial-strength products, but there are some methods that use common home materials to remove oil. If the stain is fresh, you want to absorb as much from the ground as possible before trying to remove it. This can be done with inexpensive cat litter. The reason I say inexpensive is because higher-priced litter can contain chemicals that are less absorbing than cheaper litter. Pour the litter onto the stain and let it sit for around 30 minutes. It may need to sit overnight to absorb better if it is a large stain.
Another absorbent that can be used is sawdust. Combined with paint thinner, this solvent can be applied the same way as cat litter and sometimes achieves better results. Corn starch can also work in a pinch if you have that on hand.
Even if you act fast, chances are that the oil still managed to seep into a small portion of your driveway. Now is the time to use some household chemicals to remove the stain. Perhaps the simplest way to remove the stain is with Coca-Cola. Known to help with stains, try pouring a couple of cans on the stain and letting it sit overnight. If the stain is still there, don’t worry, there are stronger options.
Liquid detergent is very common and easily accessed. All you need to do is pour it on the stain, add some water to the mix, and let it sit for 10-30 minutes. Once the timer is up, you can scrub away until the stain is removed or… it’s still stubbornly there.
If the detergent doesn’t cut it, simply move up the food chain of chemicals. Next on the list is baking soda. Combine with water to get a thick paste and follow the same procedure as before. Put it on, let it sit, and then scrub. Vinegar, vegetable oil, and oven cleaner are chemicals that can be used the same way, just without water.
The Stronger Solutions
If the other methods simply were not enough, there are some options that are much, much stronger. Industrial-strength chemicals like concrete cleaners and degreasers were made for this very purpose, and while you could go right to them if you have them on hand, most people don’t keep these lying around.
Due to their strength, you should read the directions carefully and wear protective gear. As with other methods, you will apply the chemical directly to the spot and wait a designated amount of time described on the product. Once done, you might still end up scrubbing the stain to agitate further before eventually washing it with water thoroughly. Even if these solutions do not work the first time, it is recommended to attempt them several times.
Keeping Your Driveway Clean
With enough elbow grease and various chemicals, you too can combat the oil stains you may find on your driveway. If you ever have trouble and need additional help removing the stains, contact us so that we may help. We can even pressure wash the stain if it’s still new and hasn’t seeped into the concrete too much.
