Ever Had an Oil Stain on Your Driveway? Here’s What You Need to Know
Oil stains on concrete can be a nightmare to remove. There are a lot of different ways to get rid of oil stains, but not all of them are effective. The most important thing to know is that you should never use gasoline, kerosene, or any other type of petroleum-based products to clean up an oil spill. Those substances will only make the problem worse and can actually stain your driveway even more.
If you want to remove the stain yourself, then you can use products like dish soap and baking soda. You’ll need to scrub the baking soda over the oil stain and then use dish soap to make a sudsy mixture. If that doesn’t work, then you might need to call up a professional for more advanced methods of removing the oil stains from your driveway.
Step 1: Evaluate the Damage and Identify the Source of the Stain
First, it’s important to take a close look at the oil stain and see if it’s still wet. If so, cover the stain with clay-based cat litter, baking soda, sand, or cornmeal and allow it to sit overnight. This will absorb any excess or surface oil and prevent it from soaking in further. In the morning, sweep up the cat litter and you can begin removing the oil stain.
Step 2: Apply a Solvent
In order to clean concrete, you need a solvent to dissolve the oily substances that are on the surface. You can use specific solvents that are designed for cleaning concrete which you can find at your local hardware store or you can use dish soap, baking soda, or even WD-40. If you use a solvent, should always test it in an inconspicuous spot to make sure it won’t damage the surface of your driveway.
Step 3: Scrub The Area
Prior to scrubbing the area or coming into contact with any chemicals, make sure you’re wearing proper safety equipment like gloves and goggles. Next, scrub the area with a stiff brush to remove as much of the oil as possible. Once you’ve scrubbed the area, hose the solvent and oil away. You can also use a pressure washer for this process which may help move things along quicker.
Step 4: Repeat The Process
If the steps above haven’t fully remove the stain, you can repeat the process as many times as needed. We recommend starting with baking soda and water or dish soap and water prior to moving to the special solvents because they’re more environmentally friendly and not toxic to you. However, if you’ve tried those and they haven’t worked, you may need to go ahead and use one of the professional solvents.
Work With The Best
If your driveway is stained, old, and breaking down, it might be time to consider installing a new driveway or resurfacing your existing one so that it looks brand new again. At AM Construction & Concrete, our expert Merced concrete contractors can provide you with a free quote, prompt scheduling, affordable services, and we back everything we do with our 100% satisfaction guarantee. Reach out to us today to get started!
