The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Oil stainsspoil the appearance of concretedrivewaysandgarage floors.
Plus, oil spills can be a slip hazard.
If you don’t manage to remove theoil stainsquickly, they only become more embedded and difficult to remove.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
After the stain has been loosened, follow up by soaking up the mixture with a granular absorbent.
Solvents
Use a solvent that contains kerosene, white spirits, emulsifiers,and halogenated hydrocarbons.
These are found in auto supply stores, home centers, and hardware stores.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Absorbents
Basic cat litter or granular automotive oil absorbent are both acceptable for soaking up oil stains.
Both are essentially the same product: clay granules.
On a pound-per-pound basis, automotive oil absorbent is less expensive than cat litter.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
If using cat litter, pick a plain, unscented product with no special additives.
It must be a traditional clay-based cat litter.
When to Clean Oil Stains From Concrete
Clean oil stains fromconcreteright after they occur.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
The longer you wait, the deeper the oil will soak into the porous surface.
Over time, liquefied oil hardens and becomes more difficult to remove.
Safety Considerations
Wear full safety gear when spraying the solvent on the oil.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Goggles will protect your eyes from backsplash.
Waterproof gloves, long sleeves, and pants will protect your body from caustic and hazardous fluids.
Always absorb the solvent and oil and dispose of it in a community-approved manner.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Do not wash it into storm drains, gutters, flowerbeds, bushes, or grass.
Apply about a 1/4-inch of cat litter across the entire oil puddle or lay the towels on top.
Remove the Absorbent
After about 5 minutes, remove the cat litter or towels.
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Sweep the cat litter into a dustpan or lift the towels straight up off of the oil stain.
Be careful not to spread the oil further than the perimeter of the stain.
Add the Absorbent
Apply a thick layer of the granular absorbent to the oil stain.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
After about 10 minutes, sweep up the absorbent with the broom and dustpan.
Add the Solvent
Wearing full protective gear, liberally spray the solvent onto the oil stain.
The entire stain must be dampened with the fluid.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Quickly add the absorbent before the solvent dries up.
Apply a generous amount of absorbent, covering the entire stain.
Let the absorbent sit for about 20 minutes.
The Spruce / Sanja Kostic
Sweep Up the Absorbent
Sweep the absorbent into the dustpan.
Apply a thick layer of detergent to theconcreteuntil it becomes a paste.
Scrub it in with the nylon brush.
Let it dry for several hours.
Wash off with water.
Muriatic acid chemically abrades the concrete.
Use carefully and be sure to wear full protective gear.
For this part, you may want to call a professional pressuring washing company.
