How to Remove Oil Stains on Driveways
Oil stains on driveways look terrible, and tarnish your home exterior, even if the oil stains are relatively new. Avoid oil stains on your driveway and in your garage whenever possible, and attempt to get rid of those stains quickly, before they really set in.
If the oil stain has been there for a while, like from before you purchased the house, you might need the help of a local driveway cleaning service in San Antonio that has the ability to get rid of even the most set-in oil stains.
Where Do Concrete Oil Stains Come From?
Mostly, oil from cars is the reason for oil-stained concrete driveways. This could be oil, gas or transmission fluid – or a combination. Some of the typical 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 mechanic
But, there are countless other things that can cause an ugly oil stain on your concrete. So let’s consider a few of the best DIY ways to remove those oil 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 excess 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 best to leave the litter on the oil stain for 24 hours so it will absorb as much as possible. Scoop it up or sweep it off of the driveway the following day and repeat if necessary.
Get rid of used litter so your pets and nearby wildlife don’t eat it and get sick from it.
Next you can follow up with one of the following do-it-yourself cleaning tips.
COCA-COLA FOR OIL STAINS
You’ve probably heard urban legends about accident clean-up crews using Coca-Cola to clean the roads, but, be assured, that is not true. However, Coca-Cola does have powerful cleaning properties when it comes to oily stains, partly because of its carbonated bubbles, but mostly from the phosphoric acid in the soda.
Pour a good amount of Coca-Cola on 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 throughout.
Rinse and repeat if necessary.
BAKING SODA FOR OIL STAINS
Baking soda is a popular home cleaning remedy ingredient.
To get rid of an oil stain on a driveway, you’ll first need to cover the stain with baking soda and let it sit for a while, anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. This should absorb most of the oil and allow the baking soda to penetrate the porous concrete.
Next, add that famous blue dishwashing liquid and some water and scrub hard until there is a thick paste. Again, let this sit for the best penetration, or continue to scrub in a circular pattern, then rinse.
Just like the Coca-Cola method, you might have to repeat the process.
LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR OIL STAINS
Most homeowners already use this to get rid of bad stains on clothing. It’s actually a great option for getting rid of tough oil stains from concrete too!
Combine powdered laundry detergent and borax in equal parts according to the size of the oil 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 make a paste, scrub and then rinse.
This is more of a gentle cleaning process, so it may be necessary to repeat the process one or two times. But there is a good chance it will work!
DRIVEWAY CLEANING IN San Antonio
Some oil stains on a driveway are just too tough 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 little money. You can cause significant harm that is complicated to fix if you don’t know how to properly pressure wash concrete. The high pressure water stream can break and loosen concrete, and it can create streaks that look almost as bad as the oil stains.
Calling San Antonio Pressure WashCo is definitely the safe choice. We know the best ways to clean concrete without harming it, such as:
- The right PSI and GPM levels to use
- Which nozzle will penetrate concrete without chipping it
- The optimal distance to spray the concrete from
- Products that can help lighten stains
San Antonio Pressure WashCo also follows all of the steps it takes to clean the concrete– the most effective process. Most homeowners don’t have the patience to do it correctly. They want quick results.
A professional pressure washing company in San Antonio can also offer protective sealing services for your driveway so oil stains are less likely to occur.