How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look bad, and age your home exterior, even if the spots are relatively new. Avoid oil spots on your driveway, sidewalks and in your garage if possible, and try to get rid of those stains right away, before they really 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 Miami that is able to get rid of the most set-in stains on concrete surfaces.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mostly, oil from cars is the reason for oil-stained concrete driveways. This could be oil, gasoline or transmission fluids – or a combination of engine fluids. Some of the most common ways your concrete gets stained are from:
- Servicing your own car
- Filling up the gas in a lawn mower
- A leak that needs to be checked out by a auto mechanic
But, there are many other things that can create an unsightly oil spot on your concrete. So let’s review some 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 spots where there is a lot of oil that has to be cleaned up.
Sprinkle the cat litter all over the oil, really 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 overnight so it absorbs as much as possible. Scrape it up or sweep it off the following day and repeat if necessary.
Throw away used litter so your pets and nearby 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’ve probably heard urban legends about accident clean-up crews using Coke to clean the roads, but, be assured, that is not true. That said, Coke does have strong cleaning properties for oily stains, in part due to its carbonated bubbles, but mainly because of the phosphoric acid in the soda.
Pour a good amount of Coke on the oil stain, then cover it with dishwashing soap (Blue Dawn is widely accepted as 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 popular home cleaning remedy ingredient.
To get rid of an oil stain on a driveway, you’ll first need to coat the stain with the baking soda and let it sit for a little bit, anywhere from 15 minutes to two or three hours. This should absorb some of the oil and allow the baking soda to penetrate the porous concrete.
Then, add blue dishwashing detergent and some water and scrub until there is a thick paste. Again, let this sit for optimal penetration, or 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
Many homeowners already use this to remove bad stains on clothes. It’s also a great option for getting rid of tough oil stains from concrete as well!
Stir powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts according to the size of the stain. You want to cover it completely. Let this mixture stay on the oil stain for an hour or more, then add some water to make a paste, scrub and rinse.
This is a gentle cleaning method, so it may be necessary to repeat the process one or two times. But there is a possibility it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN Miami
Some concrete oil stains on a driveway are just too tough for home remedies to remove. That’s when it is 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 little money. You can cause major harm that is complicated 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 on a driveway that look almost as bad as the oil stains.
Calling Miami Pressure Wash Co. is definitely the safe choice. Our technicians know the best ways to clean concrete without ruining it, such as:
- The right PSI and GPM levels to use to remove stains
- Which nozzle will penetrate concrete without damaging it
- The best distance to spray the concrete from
- Products that can help lighten stains
Miami Pressure Wash Co. also follows all of the steps to clean the concrete– the most effective method. Most homeowners and other companies don’t have enough patience to do it right. They want immediate results.
A professional pressure washing company in Miami can also provide protective sealing services for your driveway so oil stains are less likely to happen again.