How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look bad, and ruin your home exterior, even if the spots are relatively new. Avoid oil spots on your home’s driveway, sidewalks and in your garage whenever possible, and try to remove those stains right away, before they really set in.
If the stain has been there for a while, like from before you purchased the home, you might need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in Augusta that is able to remove the most set-in stains on concrete.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mainly, oil from vehicles is the cause for stains on concrete. This might be oil, gas or transmission fluid – or a combination of fluids. Some of the typical ways concrete gets stained are from:
- Fixing your own car
- Filling up the gas in a lawn mower
- A leak that needs to be checked out by a auto mechanic
But, of course, there are several other things that can leave an ugly oil stain on concrete. So let’s look at some of the best DIY methods to remove those 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 a lot of oil that has to be dried up.
Sprinkle the cat litter all over the oil stain, really getting it down into the stain by crushing it with your feet. It’s a good idea to leave the litter on the stain overnight so it absorbs as much as possible. Scrape it up or sweep it off the next day and repeat as necessary.
Get rid of used litter so pets and wildlife don’t eat it and get sick from it.
Then you can proceed with one of the following do-it-yourself concrete cleaning processes.
COCA-COLA FOR OIL STAINS
You might have heard urban legends about accident clean-up crews using Coca-Cola to clean up the roads, but, be assured, that is a myth. But, Coca-Cola does have powerful cleaning properties when it comes to oily stains, partly because of its carbonated bubbles, but mostly from the phosphoric acid in the soda.
Pour a generous amount of Coca-Cola on the oil stain, then cover it with dishwashing liquid (Blue Dawn is widely considered the most effective). Scrub with a stiff brush, using circular motions.
Rinse and repeat if you have to.
BAKING SODA FOR OIL STAINS
Baking soda is a common home cleaning remedy product.
To remove an oil stain on a driveway, you’ll first want to cover the stain with the baking soda and let it sit for a little bit, anywhere from 20 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 that famous blue dishwashing soap and some water and scrub until you have created a thick paste. Again, you can let this sit for the best penetration, or you can continue to scrub in a circular pattern, then rinse.
Just like with the Coca-Cola method, you might have to repeat the process one or two times.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS
Many homeowners already use this to wash off dirty stains on clothes. It’s also a great option for getting rid of bad oil stains on concrete as well!
Mix powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts based on the size of the stain. You will want to cover it completely. Let this dry mixture sit on the oil stain for an hour or longer, then add some water to create a paste, scrub and rinse.
This is a gentle cleaning process, so it may be necessary to repeat the process one or two times. But there is a possibility it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN Augusta
Some concrete oil stains on a driveway are too tough for DIY home remedies. 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 yourself to save a few dollars. You can cause major damage that is complicated to repair 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 almost as bad as the oil stains.
Calling GLO Augusta Pressure Washing is definitely the smart choice. Our technicians know the best methods to clean concrete without damaging it, including:
- The right PSI and GPM settings to use
- Which nozzle will penetrate concrete without damaging it
- The best distance to spray the concrete from
- Products that can help lighten stains
GLO Augusta Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps to clean the concrete little by little – the most effective process. Most homeowners don’t have the patience to do it right. They want immediate results.
A professional pressure washing company can also offer protective sealing services for driveway so oil stains are less likely in the future.