If the driveway in your car has an oil stain, there are several things you can do to fix it. You can start by using a detergent (such as dish soap or baking soda) along with warm water and a steel brush to remove minor stains. If the oil stain is large, use a degreaser (an oil/grease remover product you can find at hardware stores) and a steel brush to remove any oil that has stuck to the concrete. Finally, if you want to minimize damage to the environment, use a microbial cleaner that can remove oil from the driveway without leaving a toxic residue.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing and Purchasing Materials
Step 1. Set the cleaning method you want to use
Depending on the type of stain, you may have to use different methods to remove oil from the driveway.
Choosing Method
New or hard-to-remove stains:
Use the poultice method.
Minor stains:
Use regular detergent to remove it.
Large stains:
Use a degreaser or microbial cleaner to remove the oil.
Step 2. Purchase or prepare the materials needed to remove the oil
You can buy all of the ingredients listed below at the grocery store, supermarket, hardware store, or online. Depending on the type of stain you have or the method used, you will need to prepare different materials.
Materials needed
Minor stains:
1) detergent (baking soda, soap, vinegar, dish soap or detergent) 2) bucket or pot and water hose 3) steel brush or stiff-bristled brush
Minor stains that are difficult to remove:
Use the poultice method: 1) cat litter 2) acetone, lacquer thinner, or xylene 3) plastic sheet slightly wider than the stain 4) steel brush or stiff-bristled brush
Large stains:
1) degreaser or microbial cleaner 2) bucket or water hose 3) steel brush or stiff-bristled brush
New stain:
For fresh stains or if you want to prevent further oil leaks, buy a box of baking soda or cat litter, and keep it in the garage just in case you need it.
Step 3. Wear protective clothing and equipment when you use a degreaser
Wear eye protection or goggles to protect your eyes from chemicals. Purchase chemical-resistant gloves at a hardware store to wear when you scrub. Also, wear the overalls you normally use to handle the car (if you have one). You can also wear used clothes that can cover your legs and arms.
Step 4. Look for emergency services telephone numbers and keep children or pets away from chemicals
Keep children or pets indoors when you do this task. Just in case something unexpected happens, write down the emergency phone number on paper or on your cell phone. You can call the emergency number 24 hours a day. One of the emergency services that can be contacted is this ambulance number: 118 or 119.
Step 5. Clean the oil stained area with water through a hose or bucket
Before removing the driveway stain, remove all dirt and debris blocking the oil stain. However, do not use a high-pressure hose to clean dirty areas as this can allow dirt to penetrate deeper into the concrete floor.
Method 2 of 3: Removing Small Stains
Step 1. Pour the detergent on the stained area
Slowly pour in the powder or liquid detergent until the stain is completely coated with the detergent. The detergent used can be a common household product: baking soda, soap, vinegar, dish soap, or laundry detergent. If using liquid detergent, let the product sit on the stain for about 15 to 30 minutes.
Step 2. Pour hot water on the detergent and scrub with a brush
You can boil water in a large saucepan while waiting for the detergent to soak into the stain, or you can run hot water from the faucet and place it in a bucket. Pour hot water on the stain, then use a steel brush or stiff-bristled brush to scrub the mixture. Rub the stain for 1 or 2 minutes, then rinse the area with hot water or running water through a hose.
Repeat this process as needed if the stain has not gone away. Wait a day to see if the oil stain appears again on the cement surface. This can happen if the stain is from the oil, and repeat the process if the stain reappears
Step 3. Use the poultice mixture to remove stubborn small stains
This mixture can also be used on new oil spills, as the material absorbs oil. This mixture is perfect for treating small stubborn stains, but is less practical when used on large stains stuck to the concrete floor.
How to Make Poultry Mix
Check the sealer (protective layer):
Make sure the driveway is not sealed because the poultice can damage it.
Absorbent + solvent:
Mix an absorbent material (such as sawdust, cat litter, or baking soda) with a solvent (such as acetone, varnish thinner, or xylene) until a thick paste is formed. These components will work together to remove the stain. The solvent will break down the oil, and the absorbent will absorb it.
Apply paste:
Apply this mixture to the stain, about half a centimeter thick.
Cover the stain and apply masking tape:
Cover the poultice with plastic, then glue it with tape so that it doesn't move. You can step on the plastic cover to allow the poultice mixture to seep into the concrete gap.
Wait 24 hours:
Wait 1 day for the poultice mixture to do its job, then remove the plastic cover, sweep up the mixture, and throw it away. Next, wash the stained area with water from a bucket or hose.
Step 4. Pour a few cans of Pepsi or Coke on the stained area
Let the soda sit on the oil for one day. This is the easiest and cheapest way to remove oil from concrete floors. The next day, wash off the soda and oil residue using water from a hose or bucket. If the stain hasn't gone away, try another method of removing the oil.
Method 3 of 3: Remove Large Stains
Step 1. Apply the recommended amount of degreaser on the stained area
This product is specifically designed to remove vehicle fluids adhering to the concrete floor without damaging it. This cleaner is ready to use, powerful, and works quickly to remove oil, grease, and dirt that has been on the surface for a long time. Read the instructions and warnings listed on the product packaging before you use it.
- Allow the degreaser to sit on the stain for approximately 1-3 minutes or for the time recommended in the product directions.
- If the stain has been there for a very long time, leave the degreaser on for a little longer. However, do not let the liquid dry.
- If the stain is not too strong, you can dilute the degreaser with 5 parts water.
Step 2. Scrub the stained area vigorously with a steel brush or a stiff-bristled brush
Wear chemical-resistant gloves when rubbing the brush on stains. Leave it for another 5 to 10 minutes before you clean the degreaser with water through a hose or bucket. Repeat the process if necessary.
Repeat the process if the stain is not gone. Wait a day to see if the oil stain reappears on the concrete surface. This can indeed happen to oil stains. Repeat the process if the oil stain appears again
Step 3. Remove oil stains on concrete floors using a microbial cleaner, to replace chemicals
This product is more environmentally friendly and can be purchased for around $40 for 4 liters of liquid. Microbial cleaners are usually used to clean up oil spills in the sea. The single-celled microorganisms present in this product will clean up oil spills on concrete floors without leaving any toxic by-products behind. Microbial cleaners can be purchased at KT Microbial Products or at ESI over the internet.
