The most common oil remover is the degreaser, Simple Green. While Simple Green is most effective at removing fresh oil stains from concrete, it's gentle on outdoor concrete, and you can easily apply it to large areas. Further, it's inexpensive, and you can buy it at any hardware or auto parts store.
Common household products such as cat litter, baking soda, dish soap, and even laundry detergent are prime tools for tackling oil stains.
Unfortunately, the rain isn't going to wash it away, and if you leave the oil spill, it can damage your concrete. Oil will break down the sealant/finish on the top layer and seep into the tiny pores of the concrete, creating a permanent stain, if not taken care of.
Yes, cleaning concrete with vinegar will remove oil from concrete. You wouldn't believe it, but if you've had an oil spill in your garage, it will work. Vinegar will remove mild oil stains from concrete. You might be able to remove even the deepest oil stains if you mix vinegar with dish or laundry soap.
WD-40 can do more than eliminate unpleasant door squeaks – it may also help remove oil stains in your driveway, according to Reader's Digest. That's because it has ingredients that can penetrate grease. Spray a liberal amount on the area and let it sit for 20 minutes, adds Organic Lesson, then wipe the area clean.
However, it can be removed with sugar soap. To lift light oil and grease stains from concrete, apply the sugar soap and scrub to a lather. Rinse the soap away and repeat if necessary.
Zep Driveway Concrete Cleaner And Degreaser
This concrete cleaner is a top choice for oil stain and grease removal. Zep is perfect for concrete, paving stones, asphalt, and brick. It also works great for cleaning pathways, driveways, patios, and walkways.
If the stain is old, you will need a more forceful strategy: make a paste of baking soda and water. Spread the paste to cover the old stain. Let it sit for 30 minutes and then scrub the stain hard with your stiff brush or broom. If you don't have enough baking soda, use powdered laundry detergent.
Are oil stains permanent? They can be. The trick is to blot them quickly and treat them quickly. The longer you wait, the more likely they are to be permanent.
In a plastic bucket or container, add ⅓ cup of Clorox® Outdoor Bleach to 15⅔ cups of water to make 1 gallon of solution. Apply bleach solution using a brush or broom on horizontal surfaces, and a sponge or mop on vertical surfaces. Heavily soiled surfaces may require additional scrubbing.
Oil stains can be permanent, but that is not always the case if they are treated and cleaned quickly after they happen. Blotting and removing excess oil and treating the stain as quickly as possible will increase the possibility of successfully removing it.
Vinegar or baking soda: These natural cleaners work well to clean cement patios with stubborn charcoal or rust spots. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, scrub the patio with the mixture, then give it a good rinse. If stains don't dissolve, try undiluted vinegar.
Baking Soda to Remove Oil Stain
Baking soda is great for scrubbing stubborn stains and soaking up excess oils. Sprinkle the entire stain with baking soda. Use a toothbrush to scrub the stain. Let the baking soda sit for as long as you can.
Another way to remove oil stains from concrete is a poultice, especially for small, stubborn stains. Make a poultice by soaking absorbent material (like kitty litter, pool filter media, or sawdust) with a strong solvent (such as acetone, xylene, lacquer thinner, or MEK), then spreading the material over the stain.
Concrete Acid Stains are the only true stains with permanent results.
Pressure washers
Using a medium- to heavy-duty pressure washer can remove or lighten oil stains on your concrete driveway if the spill is relatively new. First, apply a commercial-grade cleaner to the oil stain and scrub with a brush or broom. Then add detergent to your pressure washer and begin spraying.
Sand or table salt – Sands and salts are great at absorbing moisture and can be used on most oil stains. Let them absorb for at least 15 minutes and then brush them away.
Use a hot water pressure washer and a commercial degreaser for the best results. Use a steam cleaner: Steam cleaning can also be effective in removing oil stains from concrete. Steam cleaners use high-temperature water to break down and remove the oil from the surface.