How to Remove Oil Stains from Concrete Driveway and Garage

Nothing is quite as frustrating as pulling your car out of the driveway and noticing a big oil stain right where you were parked. Not only are you looking at car repairs, you have an unsightly stain to deal with too! Here are a couple ways to handle that.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Kitty Litter

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Kitty litter does a great job for both cats and concrete because it's highly absorbent.
When it comes to kitty litter cleanup, you do not want the expensive, clumping kind. You want the inexpensive kind that happens to be super absorbent.^{[1]XResearch source}
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Use a generous amount, and completely cover the oil stain.
Wait for a bit, and give the litter a chance to work. If it's just a little bit, 10 to 15 minutes should be enough. For bigger spills, let it sit a couple hours, or even overnight.^{[2]XResearch source}
Using your grubby shoes, crush the litter on the oil, breaking it up and grinding it into the oily spot, like a scrub brush. When you're done scrunching, sweep up and discard the dirty litter.
Using a concentrated detergent and a stiff brush, scrub the area in a circular motion. Be vigorous where the oil is, and then continue scrubbing beyond the spill, with a lighter touch. This will even out the difference between the scrubbed area and the rest of your driveway.^{[3]XResearch source}
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Rinse and repeat. After you've scrubbed, rinse away the detergent, and check to see how well the litter and detergent and your elbows have done their job.
- If it looks good, clean up, and call it a day.
- If it's still too stained, use more detergent and scrub more.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Product

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Sweep the area to be cleaned and treated free from dirt and debris, and make sure the surface is dry before application.
^{[4]XResearch source} Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding how much to use, and spread it out over the stain. Soften the edge between the stain and the clean part of your driveway, so you don't have a glaring clean spot.
Follow the manufacturer's direction to determine how long you let the product sit on the stain.
Some products require rinsing, some just rinse away with rain and time. Use whichever method your product calls for. Stubborn stains may require additional applications of product, or even a different solution entirely.

How Do You Remove Oil Stains From a Driveway?

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What is the fastest way to get oil out of concrete?
Alessandra Mendes
Cleaning Specialist
Alessandra Mendes is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleaning Glow. With ten years of experience, Alessandra and her team specialize in providing residential cleaning services in the San Francisco Bay Area. All members of the Cleaning Glow team have completed thorough background checks.
Alessandra Mendes
Cleaning Specialist
Expert Answer
The best method for removing oil stains is to purchase a degreaser. Generally you pour it over the stain, wait for it to dry, then vacuum up any powder. Some products are as easy as spraying, waiting, and rinsing.
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What is the name of a commercial cleaner I can use?
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Fels Napa -- it's great for greasy surfaces like onions. It's a soap that is made to break down greasy surfaces.
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What is TSP?
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Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) is a very good cleaner. It can be found in the paint department at pretty much any hardware store.
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Tips

If your efforts yield a big, bright clean spot in your driveway, scrub lightly from the clean area into the dirty area to fade out the clean spot.
- If that fails to satisfy, buy or rent a pressure washer and clean the whole thing.^{[5]XResearch source}
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No matter what method you use, the sooner you clean your oil spill, the better your results will be.
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Wear rubber gloves whenever using strong detergents or harsh chemicals.
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Warnings

Never use gasoline or other highly flammable substance to clean oil spills. One spark could have disastrous consequences.
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