You take pride in how your home looks from the outside, which means that those oil stains on your driveway have got to go. Fortunately, with the right products and a bit of elbow grease, you can remove grease and oil spots in no time. Whether your stain is large or small, brand new or super old—we’ve got you covered. Read through this article to get your driveway looking brand new again.

Things You Should Know

1

Kitty litter

  1. The absorbent power of kitty litter soaks up spilled oil.[1] If the stain is still wet, sprinkle a thick layer of kitty litter over the entire thing, then let it sit for 1 to 2 hours. Scoop up the kitty litter with a shovel, then sweep the entire area. For small or fresh stains, kitty litter might be enough. If the stain is still there, move on to another method.[2]
    • Kitty litters are made with different materials, like wood shavings, crystals, and clay. As long as it’s an absorbent type of kitty litter, you can use whichever material and brand you’d like.
    • If you don’t have kitty litter, try another absorbent product, like cornstarch or baby powder.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    How do you remove motor oil from concrete?
    Duston Maynes
    Duston Maynes
    Automotive Repair Specialist
    Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Associate’s degree in Automotive/Diesel Technology from The Universal Technical Institute of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Automobile Mechanics Technician through BMW STEP. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Built in LA’s 50 Startups to Watch and The Business Intelligence Group’s 52 Names Leading the Way in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere.
    Duston Maynes
    Automotive Repair Specialist
    Expert Answer
    A concrete cleaner might help—just be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. A pressure washer might help, too.
  • Question
    What is the best way to clean stones that have chainsaw oil on them?
    Mark Spelman
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    Get a bucket and pour enough acetone in to cover the stones. They will have to soak for a few days.
  • Question
    What is the best absorbent to use?
    Mark Spelman
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over 30 years of construction experience, Mark specializes in constructing interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.
    Mark Spelman
    Construction Professional
    Expert Answer
    If you have any kitty litter, this works great. They also sell the absorbent material in the hardware stores.
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About This Article

Duston Maynes
Co-authored by:
Automotive Repair Specialist
This article was co-authored by Duston Maynes and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Duston Maynes is an Automotive Repair Specialist at RepairSmith. Duston specializes in leading a team that handles a variety of automotive repairs including replacing spark plugs, front and rear brake pads, fuel pumps, car batteries, alternators, timing belts, and starter motors. Duston holds an Associate’s degree in Automotive/Diesel Technology from The Universal Technical Institute of Arizona and is a Certified Diagnostic Technician and Automobile Mechanics Technician through BMW STEP. RepairSmith received The 2020 Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group and The Startup of the Year by the American Business Awards. RepairSmith was also included in Built in LA’s 50 Startups to Watch and The Business Intelligence Group’s 52 Names Leading the Way in Customer Service. RepairSmith offers in-home services to provide car owners convenient and complete auto repair everywhere. This article has been viewed 2,763,399 times.
1 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 46
Updated: October 25, 2022
Views: 2,763,399
Categories: Stain Removal | Driveways
Article SummaryX

To clean a small oil stain off a driveway, cover the area with baking soda, vinegar, or laundry detergent and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. Scrub the stain with a brush and hot water, then rinse the area thoroughly. For large oil stains, apply a commercial degreaser to the area and let it sit for 1-3 minutes. Scrub the stain with a stiff bristled brush, then let it sit for another 5-10 minutes before rinsing the degreaser away with water. Always wear gloves and eye protection when working with degreasers. If you want to learn how to make an absorbent poultice mixture to get rid of oil, keep reading!

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