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.
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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
- Absorb excess oil with kitty litter, cornstarch, or baby powder.
- Break down grease and grime with laundry detergent or dish soap. Or, use an abrasive product, like baking soda.
- Try WD-40, TSP, oven cleaner, or concrete cleaner on tough or old stains.
- Scrub the stain with a nylon or wire brush to remove it completely.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you remove motor oil from concrete?Duston MaynesDuston 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.
Automotive Repair SpecialistA concrete cleaner might help—just be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. A pressure washer might help, too. -
QuestionWhat is the best way to clean stones that have chainsaw oil on them?Mark SpelmanMark 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.
Construction ProfessionalGet a bucket and pour enough acetone in to cover the stones. They will have to soak for a few days. -
QuestionWhat is the best absorbent to use?Mark SpelmanMark 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.
Construction ProfessionalIf you have any kitty litter, this works great. They also sell the absorbent material in the hardware stores.
References
- ↑ Duston Maynes. Automotive Repair Specialist. Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.
- ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/driveway-cleaning/
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/au/outside-the-home/how-to-remove-oil-from-a-concrete-driveway.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/au/outside-the-home/how-to-remove-oil-from-a-concrete-driveway.html
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/22289389/cleaning-concrete
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65jYtUMLl2E&t=61s
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65jYtUMLl2E&t=93s
- ↑ https://www.thisoldhouse.com/cleaning/22221192/trisodium-phosphate
- ↑ Duston Maynes. Automotive Repair Specialist. Expert Interview. 11 June 2021.
About This Article
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!