How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look awful, and tarnish your home exterior, even if the stains are still fairly new. Try to avoid oil stains on your driveway, sidewalks and in your garage when possible, and attempt to remove those stains fast, before they set in.
If the stain has been there for a long time, like from before you purchased the house, you may need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in Scottsdale that can remove the most set-in stains on concrete.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mostly, oil from cars is the cause for oil-stained concrete driveways. This could be oil, gas or transmission fluid – or a combination of engine fluids. Some of the most typical ways your concrete gets stained are from:
- Fixing your own car
- Filling up the lawn mower
- A leak that needs to be checked out by a mechanic
But, there are countless other things that can leave an ugly oil stain on your concrete. So let’s explore a few of the best DIY ways to remove those stains!
DIY Oil Stain Removal Tips
CAT LITTER FOR OIL STAINS
Cat litter is a easy first step for new oil stains where there is a lot of oil that needs to be cleaned up.
Sprinkle the cat litter over the oil, getting it down into the stain by stomping on it with your feet. It’s a good idea to leave the litter on the stain for 24 hours so it will absorb as much as possible. Scrape it up or sweep it off the next day and repeat as necessary.
Throw away used litter so your pets and wildlife don’t eat it and get sick.
Next 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 Coke to clean the roads, but, be assured, that is a myth. That said, Coke does have powerful cleaning properties for oily stains, in part due to 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 you have to.
BAKING SODA FOR OIL STAINS
Baking soda is another popular 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 little bit, anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours. This should absorb most of the oil and allow the baking soda to penetrate the porous surface.
Next, add that famous blue dishwashing soap 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 with the Coke method, you might have to repeat the process one or two times.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS
Many homeowners already use this to get rid of bad stains on clothes. It’s also a great option for getting rid of bad oil stains from concrete too!
Stir powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts based on the size of the stain. You will want to cover it entirely. Let this dry 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 process, so it might be necessary to repeat the process two or three times. But there is a good chance it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN Scottsdale
Some concrete oil stains on a driveway are just too tough for DIY home remedies. That’s when it may be time to call a professional pressure washing company to clean your concrete surfaces.
We don’t recommend pressure washing your driveway yourself to save a few dollars. You can cause significant harm that is complicated to repair if you don’t know what you’re doing. The high pressure water can break and loosen concrete, and it can leave streaks on a driveway that look just as bad as the oil stains.
Calling Scottsdale Pressure Washing is definitely the best choice. We know the best methods to clean concrete without damaging it, including:
- The right PSI and GPM levels to use
- Which nozzle will penetrate concrete without chipping it
- The correct distance to spray the concrete from
- Products that can help lighten stains
Scottsdale Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps to clean the concrete– the most effective process. Most homeowners don’t have enough patience to do it correctly. They want fast results.
A professional pressure washing company in Scottsdale can also provide protective sealing services for your driveway so oil stains are less likely to happen again.