How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look awful, and age your home exterior, even if the stains are still relatively new. Try to avoid oil stains on your home’s driveway and in your garage when possible, and try to remove those stains right away, before they set in.
If the stain has been there for a long time, like from before you purchased the home, you may need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in Pembroke Pines that can remove even the most set-in stains.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mostly, oil from automobiles is the reason for stains on concrete. This could be oil, gas or transmission fluids – or a combination. Some of the common ways concrete gets stained are from:
- Servicing your own car
- Filling up the lawn mower
- A leak that needs to be checked out by a mechanic
But, of course, there are a lot of other things that can create an unsightly oil spot on concrete. So let’s consider some of the best DIY ways to remove those 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 a lot of oil that has to be cleaned up.
Sprinkle the cat litter over the oil stain, getting it down into the stain by crushing it with your feet. It’s recommended to leave the litter on the stain for 24 hours so it can absorb as much as possible. Scrape it up or sweep it off the next day and repeat if necessary.
Get rid of used litter so pets and 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. However, Coca-Cola does have powerful cleaning properties for oily stains, partly because of its carbonated bubbles, but mainly because of the phosphoric acid in the soda.
Pour a good 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 another common home cleaning remedy ingredient.
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 while, 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 concrete.
Next, add that famous blue dishwashing detergent and water and scrub until there is a thick paste. Again, you can let this sit for the best penetration, or you can 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
Many homeowners already use this to clean off tough stains on clothing. It’s also a great option for removing bad oil stains on concrete as well!
Mix powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts according to the size of the stain. You want to cover it completely. Let this mixture sit on the oil stain for an hour or longer, then add water to make a paste, scrub and rinse.
This is more of a gentle cleaning process, so it might be necessary to repeat the process two or three times. But there is a possibility it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN Pembroke Pines
Some concrete oil stains on a driveway are just too difficult 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 on your own to save a little money. You can cause major harm that is difficult to repair if you don’t know how to properly pressure wash concrete. The high pressure water can break and loosen concrete, and it can create streaks that look just as bad as the oil stains.
Hiring Pembroke Pines Pressure Washing is definitely the best 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
Pembroke Pines Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps it takes to clean the concrete little by little – the most effective process. Most homeowners don’t have enough 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.