If your driveway is smeared with oil, there are several ways to get rid of the stains. You can try detergents, such as baking soda or dish soap and warm water, to scrub small stains with a steel brush. If you have to deal with very large dirty areas, it is worth buying a specific degreaser at the hardware store and a brush with steel bristles, to remove the oil that has penetrated into the concrete. Finally, if you want an eco-friendly solution, you can buy an enzymatic cleaner that will "eat" the traces of oil without leaving toxic residues.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare and Purchase the Materials
Step 1. Decide which method you want to use
Depending on the type of stain, you will need to use different techniques to get the oil out of the driveway.
- If the stain is still fresh or not that difficult to remove, then you can use the dough method.
- If the dirty area is small, you can use a household cleaner.
- If the stain is large, then you will need to buy a degreaser or enzymatic cleaner to fix the problem.
Step 2. Purchase or procure all the materials you need for the job
You can find them in hardware stores, home improvement stores, or even on Amazon. Depending on the type of stain and the method you have chosen to use, you will need different products.
- For small stains you will need: 1) a detergent (baking soda, vinegar, laundry detergent or dish soap); 2) a bucket or pot and a garden hose; 3) a brush with steel bristles or a broom with very stiff bristles.
- If you need to treat a small but difficult to remove stain, you must use the "poultice" method: 1) cat litter; 2) acetone, paint thinner or xylene; 3) a plastic sheet slightly larger than the stain; 4) a brush with steel bristles or a broom with very stiff bristles.
- For large stains get: 1) a degreaser or enzymatic cleaner (available online); 2) a bucket or garden hose; 3) a brush with steel bristles or a broom with very stiff bristles.
- If the stain is fresh or if you want to intervene promptly in the event of future oil leaks, keep a bag of cat litter or baking soda in the garage.
Step 3. Wear protective clothing if you intend to use the degreaser
Get goggles or a chemical resistant mask. At hardware and home improvement stores you can buy specific rubber gloves to handle chemical cleaners, so you can put them on while scrubbing the driveway. Finally, if you have it, consider wearing a mechanic overalls to do this job or put on an old shirt and pants, which you can ruin, and that completely cover your arms and legs.
Step 4. Look up the phone number of the poison control center in your area, keep pets and small children away from chemicals
Make sure both of you stay indoors while you work and have the phone number of the poison control center available (or store it on your cell phone) in case of an accident. These centers respond 24/7.
Step 5. Wash the stained area with a bucket full of water or a garden hose
Before using any type of detergent, remove all traces of dust and debris that have accumulated on the oil from the surface. Never use a pressure washer or a pressurized jet of water, as this will push the oil even deeper into the material of which the driveway is made.
Method 2 of 3: Remove Small Spots
Step 1. Pour the cleaner onto the soiled area
Use a liquid or powder product and completely cover the stain. The cleaner can be a regular household hygiene product, such as baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, or laundry soap. If it's a liquid solution, let it sit for 15-30 minutes.
Step 2. Use boiling water and scrub the soapy surface with a brush
You can heat the water in a large pot while you wait for the cleaner to take effect. Alternatively, take a bucket and fill it from the hot water tap. Pour the water onto the stain and scrub the surface vigorously with the steel or stiff brush. Treat the area like this for a minute or two and rinse with warm water or a garden hose.
If the stain has not disappeared, repeat the procedure. Wait a day to see if there is any more oil rising to the surface. It is not uncommon for this to happen with grease stains and, therefore, you will have to repeat the cleaning operations
Step 3. Make a poultice to remove small but stubborn stains
You can also use this method for freshly dropped oil, as the porous material will absorb it. The technique described here is perfect for small stubborn stains, but impractical for treating large concrete surfaces.
- Make the mixture by combining absorbent material, such as sawdust, cat litter, or baking soda, with a solvent such as acetone, paint thinner, or xylene. Stir to get a thick paste. The products joined together will perform a synergistic action to remove the stain: the diluent dissolves it and the porous material absorbs it.
- Sprinkle the paste on the stain creating a 6mm thick layer.
- Finally, cover the poultice with a plastic sheet and secure it to the ground with duct tape.
- You can also step on the plastic to get the mixture into the crevices of the driveway.
- Wait a day for the mixture to work on the stain. Finally remove the plastic sheet, brush off the poultice and throw it in the trash. You can now wash the driveway area with a bucket of water or garden hose.
- Make sure the driveway surface is not treated with a finishing sealer as it will be damaged by the compound. Always check this out.
Step 4. Pour a couple of cans of Coke or Pepsi over the stain
Let the soda work on the stain for a day. This is the simplest and cheapest method of removing oil from concrete. The next day you can rinse the area with water from a bucket or garden hose and get rid of any residue. If there is a streak left, consider another cleaning method.
Method 3 of 3: Remove Large Spots
Step 1. Pour the recommended amount of degreaser on the area you want to clean
This product is designed to eliminate vehicle fluids from concrete without damaging the flooring. It is ready to use, aggressive and fast-acting, and removes all traces of oil, grease and encrusted dirt from the surface you want to clean. Read the instructions on the label carefully before you begin.
- Wait for the product to act on the stain for 1-3 minutes or for the time recommended by the instructions.
- If the driveway has crusted stains, then you can increase the waiting time; in any case, do not let the liquid dry out.
- For easier-to-remove stains, dilute the degreaser with no more than 5 parts of water.
Step 2. Scrub the area vigorously using the steel brush or stiff broom
Put on chemical resistant gloves before proceeding and finally wait another 5-10 minutes. After this time you can rinse the area with water. Repeat the process if necessary.
If the grease is not gone, start over. Wait a day to see if more oil is emerging from the concrete. It is not uncommon for this type of stain to happen, and if so, you will need to repeat the cleaning treatment
Step 3. Use an enzymatic or microbiological cleaner, without chemicals, to remove the oil from the concrete
These products are environmentally friendly and a 4-liter pack costs an average of 35 euros. This type of detergent is also used to intervene in the event of an oil spill at sea. The single-cell microorganisms present in the product allow the grease to be absorbed from the driveway without leaving toxic residues. You can buy it online.
