How to remove oil stains from the driveway is probably one of the top questions most homeowners ask. After all, concrete surfaces easily accumulate stains from spilled oil, gasoline, and transmission fluids in just a few days. On top of that, the splotches can instantly make your home look unkept and even uninviting.
While eliminating oil stains can be challenging, the good news is that you can restore your home to its stain-free state! With the right supplies and techniques, you can effectively clean up oil spills and make your driveway look spotless again.
Let’s jump right into some practical ways and clever tips on how to remove oil stains from your driveway.
How To Clean Oil Off Driveway With a Laundry Detergent
Many aren’t aware that laundry detergent can be used to treat oil stains on your driveway. Here’s a simple step-by-step process you can follow today to get rid of those unsightly spots:
- Apply the powdered laundry detergent to the area you want to treat by carefully sprinkling it.
- Add warm water just enough to form a paste, and then start scrubbing with a stiff nylon brush for around two minutes.
- Let the laundry detergent sit for 15 minutes.
- Give the spot one last scrub before rinsing the detergent away with clean water.
How to Clean Oil Off Driveway Using Cat Litter, Baking Soda, and Dish Soap
Cat litter, baking soda, and dish soap may seem like an unusual combination, but these three household supplies can work wonders in eliminating oil stains — especially fresh ones.
Cat litter has excellent absorbent properties, making it ideal for absorbing excess oil. Meanwhile, baking soda is an alkali substance that can effectively dissolve grease. Then, there’s dish soap, which is commonly used in stain removal.
Here’s how you can use these three materials to remove oil stains from your driveway:
- Sprinkle cat litter over the stain to absorb excess oil. Let it sit for around 30 minutes before sweeping it up with a broom and rinsing the remaining residue with water. Let the cat litter sit overnight if you’re treating oil stains covering a large area.
- Use baking soda and water to scrub the stain, then rinse with clean water.
- Finally, squirt some dish soap onto the treated area and scrub with a scrub brush. You don’t have to worry about using heavy-duty brushes; remember, concrete are durable materials that can withstand intense scrubbing.
- Rinse the soap away with clean water, and simply repeat the process until the stain is gone.
Cornstarch and baby powder can be adequate substitutes if you do not have cat litter at home.
How To Remove Oil Stains From the Driveway Using Oven Cleaners
Oven cleaners effectively degrade caked grease so it can be easily wiped away. As such, they can also help free your driveway from baked-on grime and oil stains. Using oven cleaner on your driveway is straightforward too:
- Spray the oven cleaner on the area to be treated and let it sit for ten minutes.
- Scrub the stain thoroughly with a hard bristle brush and then rinse with clean water.
- Repeat the process of spraying, scrubbing, and rinsing until the stain disappears.
Other Tools and Cleaning Products You Can Use on Your Driveway
While the above supplies can help eliminate oil stains, you may need to find stronger solutions for tough or old blemishes. You can pick these up at hardware stores and even auto shops. Aside from that, you can also use the oil stain removers you’ll find at full strength (rather than diluting them) to treat stubborn stains easier. With that said, remember that your best bet is still to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper usage — and the best results.
Power washing equipment can also aid your stain removal project, as this high-pressure hose can easily lift oil spills and other stains off of your driveway. If you don’t have a high-pressure hose at home, you can always opt to rent one from your local hardware store.
The Easiest, Most Effective Way to Keep Your Driveway Clean
Since your driveway is usually exposed to oil, gas, and transmission fluids, it will inevitably accumulate stains over time. The good news is that you can use different household supplies to treat these oil spills, such as the ones we’ve listed above. Using these tips and helpful ideas on how to clean oil off driveway surfaces, you can get your driveway looking pristine again.
But now that you know some handy hacks to keep your concrete stain-free, it’s time to take on the bigger challenge: keeping your driveway looking clean and fresh — all year round.
Rolling your sleeves and cleaning your driveway yourself is a big first step. However, that’s not the end of the story. It’s an activity you have to commit to going forward if you want to keep your driveway and property looking presentable.
Of course, you can also leave your surface cleaning needs to concrete experts like The Driveway Company. Whether you lack the time, the right tools, or simply the expertise to get the job done, we’ll be glad to remove the oil stains off your driveway and keep it stain-free for years to come.
Contact your local The Driveway Company and we’ll help keep your driveway looking as good as new.