Five Tips on Removing Oil Stains from Your Driveway

Last updated on January 27, 2019

Cleaning and maintaining your driveway is crucial to ensure that the road looks great and is safe to use. However, it can get quite difficult, particularly if there are oil spills and stains all over it. And no matter how hard you may try, it’s difficult to avoid these oil spills and just as tough to remove them!

But not to worry, these oil stains won’t last forever! As long as you know what to invest in and how to use these materials to remove the stains, then you’ll have a stain-free and great-looking driveway for curb appeal

So if you’re wondering how to start cleaning your curb up, read on as I show you the five tips on removing oil stains from your driveway.

From kitty litter to high pressure cleaning, there are tons of ways to keep your driveway clean and free from oil stains. Here are the top five effective tips to follow:

1. Household Detergents

Using dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent can work if the oil stains aren’t that deep.

With dishwashing liquid, squirt generous amounts of it on the oil stain then scour the driveway with a brook or bristly brush. Continue brushing until the stain starts to disappear. Rinse the foam with hot water and then repeat the process until the oil stain is gone.

With laundry detergent, cover the stain with the detergent and let the soap moisten with a bit of water. Allow it to sit for a few minutes. Scrub the detergent on the stain then allow it to sit for another hour for the soap to penetrate and lift the stain. Rinse the driveway with hot water and repeat the process until the stain has completely vanished.

2. Kitty Litter

You’ll be surprised that kitty litter can actually remove the stains! This is because the ingredients in kitty litter can absorb the grease stains. However, this method works best on newly-formed oil stains rather than ones that have been dried out for longer.

Soak up the excess oils first then cover the stains with kitty litter. Stomp on the kitty litter to absorb the grease and leave it overnight. Throw out the kitty litter in the morning and rinse with hot water to see if the stains have disappeared. If not, you can wash it or repeat the process again.

3. Pressure Washers

If you plan on using a pressure washer, it’s recommended to use medium to heavy-duty pressure washers, which can remove and lighten oil stains.

Before washing, apply a cleaner on the oil stain then scrub using a brush or broom. After, add detergent to the pressure washer and start spraying it all over the spray. Make sure that you move at an even pace, keeping the nozzle at the same distances from the surface to avoid streaking. Let the detergent sit on the stain for about ten minutes before you rinse and wash.

4. Chemical Removers

If ever the oil stains are stubborn and refuse to move, chemical removers are a more “aggressive” way to remove the large stains. These removers are concentrated alkaline soap which would loosen oil from concrete to make it easier to remove. However, these chemical removers are best for newly-formed spills. With older stains, consider using trisodium phosphate or paint thinners like turpentine.

Just make sure that before you do begin using chemical removers, wear protective clothing and goggles. Also, keep pets and children away while you are cleaning. Follow the instructions of the chemical removers well to avoid accidents.

5. Bonus Tip on Removing Oil Stains

Besides using these effective methods on removing oil stains, I show you other tips to take note of:

• Never use metal brushes to clean the driveway, which may end up damaging the surface.
• As much as possible, remove oil stains immediately when seen to prevent oil stains from penetrating even deeper, making it hard to remove.
• If you are unsure of what chemical removers to use, it’s best to ask a professional from your local stores for recommendations. Remember to always follow the instructions.

Wrapping It Up

We all know how irritating oil stains can get, especially deeper ones that seem like it will never get out! Fortunately, there are ways on how you can get rid of them without having to spend thousands on professionals and high-tech equipment!

I hope that these five tips on removing oil stains from your driveway gave you an idea on how to increase your curb appeal and value of your home. So don’t wait any longer and start trying any of these effective ways today.

If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences on how to remove oil stains, then comment below. I would love to hear what you have to think.