How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look terrible, and ruin your home exterior, even if the spots are still relatively new. Avoid oil spots on your driveway, sidewalks and in your garage when possible, and attempt 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 Hialeah that has the ability to get rid of the most set-in stains on concrete.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mostly, oil from vehicles is the reason for stains on concrete. This might be oil, gasoline or transmission fluid – or a combination. Some of the most common ways your concrete gets stained are from:
- Fixing your own car
- Filling up the gas in a lawn mower
- A leak that should be checked out by a auto mechanic
But, of course, there are countless other things that can create an ugly oil spot on your concrete. So let’s review 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 has to be cleaned up.
Sprinkle cat litter over the oil, really getting it down into the stain by stomping on 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 as necessary.
Get rid of used litter so your pets and wildlife don’t eat it and get sick from it.
Then you can proceed with one of the following do-it-yourself 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, rest assured, that is a myth. But, Coke does have strong cleaning properties for greasy stains, partly because of its carbonated bubbles, but mainly because of the phosphoric acid in the soda.
Pour a generous amount of Coke on top of 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.
Rinse and repeat if you have to.
BAKING SODA FOR OIL STAINS
Baking soda is another common home cleaning remedy ingredient.
To get rid of an oil stain on a driveway, you’ll first need to coat the stain with baking soda and let it sit for a little bit, somewhere from 20 minutes to two or three hours. This should absorb a lot of the oil and allow the baking soda to penetrate the porous surface.
Then, add blue dishwashing detergent 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 motion, then rinse.
Just like with the Coke method, you might need to repeat the process.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS
Many homeowners already use this to remove tough stains on clothes. It’s also a great option for removing bad oil stains from concrete too!
Stir powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts according to the size of the stain. You want to cover it entirely. Let this mixture sit on the oil stain for an hour or more, then add some water to create a paste, scrub and rinse.
This is a gentle cleaning method, so it may be necessary to repeat the process two or three times. But there is a possibility it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN Hialeah
Some oil stains on a driveway are too difficult for DIY home remedies. 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 complicated to fix 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.
Hiring Hialeah Pressure Washing is definitely the safe choice. We know the best ways to clean concrete without damaging it, such as:
- The right PSI and GPM levels to use to remove stains
- Which nozzle tip will penetrate concrete without damaging it
- The correct distance to spray the concrete from
- Solutions that can help lighten stains
Hialeah Pressure Washing also follows all of the steps it takes to clean the concrete little by little – the most effective method. Most homeowners and other companies don’t have the patience to do it right. They want quick results.
A professional pressure washing company in Hialeah can also provide protective sealing services for your driveway so oil stains are less likely to happen again.