How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look awful, and ruin your home exterior, even if the spots are still relatively new. Try to avoid oil spots on your driveway and in your garage if possible, and try to remove those stains quickly, before they set in.
If the stain has been there for a while, like from before purchasing the home, you might need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in Asheville that can remove the most set-in stains.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mostly, oil from vehicles is the cause for stains on concrete. This could be oil, gas or transmission fluids – or a combination of engine fluids. Some of the common ways concrete gets stained are from:
- Fixing your own car
- Filling up the lawn mower
- A leak that should be checked out by a mechanic
But, of course, there are many other things that can create an ugly oil stain on concrete. So let’s consider a few 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 needs to be dried up.
Sprinkle cat litter all over the oil, getting it down into the stain by crushing it with your feet. It’s a good idea to leave the litter on the stain for 24 hours so it absorbs as much as possible. Scoop it up or sweep it off of the driveway the following day and repeat as necessary.
Throw away used litter so pets and wildlife don’t eat it and get sick from it.
Then you can follow up 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 up the roads, but, be assured, that is not true. But, Coke does have strong cleaning properties for oily stains, partly because of its carbonated bubbles, but mostly because of the phosphoric acid in the soda.
Pour a good amount of Coke on top of the oil stain, then cover it with dishwashing soap (Blue Dawn is widely accepted as the most effective). Scrub hard with a stiff brush, using circular motions.
Rinse and repeat if needed.
BAKING SODA FOR OIL STAINS
Baking soda is a popular home cleaning remedy product.
To remove an oil stain on a driveway, you’ll first want to cover the stain with 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.
Then, add that famous blue dishwashing liquid and some water and scrub hard 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 pattern, then rinse.
Just like the Coke method, you might need to repeat the process one or two times.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS
Most homeowners already use this to get rid of bad stains on clothes. It’s actually a great option for getting rid of bad oil stains on concrete too!
Stir powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts according to the size of the stain. You will want to cover it completely. Let this mixture stay on the oil stain for an hour or more, then add some water to create a paste, scrub and then rinse.
This is a gentle cleaning method, 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 Asheville
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 concrete surfaces.
We don’t recommend pressure washing your driveway on your own to save a few dollars. You can cause significant damage that is extremely difficult 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 that look just as bad as the oil stains.
Calling Asheville Pressure Washing is definitely the best choice. We know the best methods to clean concrete without damaging it, such as:
- The right PSI and GPM settings to use to remove stains
- Which nozzle will penetrate concrete without damaging it
- The correct distance to spray the concrete from
- Solutions that can help lighten stains
Asheville Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps to clean the concrete– the most effective method. Most homeowners don’t have enough patience to do it correctly. They want fast results.
A professional pressure washing company in Asheville can also provide protective sealing services for driveway so oil stains are less likely to occur.