Oil and grease stains on your driveway are unsightly and can make your home look less attractive. If you are planning to seal or resurface your driveway, oil and grease stains will need to be removed or they will just seep back through. The size of the stain and how long its been there will determine how difficult it will be to remove. Luckily, there are things you can try to remove them. They may or may not be successful. It will all depend on the severity of the stain. Either way you should wait for shade or the solutions you use may dry out before they have a chance to work.
Option #1 to Remove Old Oil Stains from Concrete Driveways
You may look a little silly when your neighbors see you trying this method, but when your driveway is cleaner than all of theirs they’ll realize you’re not nuts! You’ll need the following items: non-clumping cat litter, a few cans of cola, a stiff brush, a bucket, ammonia free powdered laundry detergent, liquid chlorine bleach, protection for your eyes and hands and a garden hose with access to running water.
Step 1- Cover the stain completely with the cat litter, enough so there is a thin layer and grind it in with the bottom of your shoe.
Step 2- Sweep up all the litter and pour enough cola on the stain to cover it completely
Step 3- Use the brush to work the cola into the stain. Make sure the area stays wet and let it sit for about 20 minutes. You can also just wait for it to stop fizzing, but don’t let it dry.
Step 4- Rinse the stain with clean water. A gray spot will be left.
Step 5- Use a solution of 1 cup of the bleach, 1 cup of the laundry detergent and a gallon of really hot water, and scrub again. Try not to splash, or you may damage the area around the stain. Thoroughly rinse the stain with clean water after its stopped fizzing.
You may need to repeat the process. This method can be dangerous if you neglect to use detergent that is ammonia free because mixing ammonia with bleach creates a lethal gas. Be careful!
Option #2 for Removing Grease Stains from Driveways
First, blot up as much of the stain as possible and apply sawdust or cornmeal. Do this as soon as you can, the sooner the better. Let it sit on the stain for about three hours and then sweep it up. Then you can use one of the methods below:
• Sprinkle powdered dishwasher detergent on wet concrete. Let it sit for a few minutes and then pour boiling hot water over it. Scrub with a stiff brush and rinse.
• Scrub the stain with a stiff brush using concentrated liquid laundry detergent. Rinse with clean water and repeat as needed.
• Sprinkle trisodium phosphate (TSP) on the stain and let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes. Scrub the stain with a stiff brush and hot water and then rinse with clean water. Use rubber gloves and rinse thoroughly.
Oil & Grease Stain Removal Driveway Cleaning in McDonough, Barnesville, Fayetteville, Covington, Locust Grove, Griffin, Stockbridge & Social Circle Georgia
As with any stain, getting to them quickly will give you the best results if you want it gone. If your attempts are unsuccessful, contact Big Moose Pressure Cleaning. Our experts are trained to effectively dissolve and remove stains. Call us today to get started on your oil and grease removal service.