How to Get Grease off a Concrete Driveway
You don't have to live with an oil-stained driveway. Get rid of the mess with these stain-busting techniques.
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Attention, homeowners: Don't pay another repairman until you check out this video series on simple repairs you can make yourself.
You Will Need
- Newspaper
- Paper towels
- Rags
- Grease-cutting liquid dish detergent
- A nylon scrub brush
- Hot water
- Cat litter
- A Broom
- A Dustpan
- Plywood or cardboard
Steps
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Step 1
Act quickly
Using a combination of newspaper, paper towels, and rags, blot as much oil as possible immediately after a spill to keep it from soaking into the concrete.
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Take the oil-soaked paper and rags to a recycling center as soon as possible. Leave oil-soaked materials outside your house and garage until you can dispose of them properly.
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Step 2
Scrub with soap and water]
Apply grease-cutting dish detergent to the stain and work it in with a nylon scrub brush. Add hot water and continue to scrub.
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Wet the area surrounding the stain to prevent the released oil from causing a secondary stain.
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Step 3
Blot
Blot the soapy mixture with towels.
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Step 4
Flush
Flush the area with hot water, taking care not to burn yourself. If necessary, scrub again after the water has cooled.
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Step 5
Use cat litter
Sprinkle cat litter on the spill to absorb any remaining oil. Use a push broom to work the litter into the stain; then let the litter sit overnight to absorb the rest of the oil.
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Step 6
Sweep up the litter
Sweep up the cat litter with a broom and dustpan the next morning.
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Step 7
Repeat
Repeat the cleaning process as many times as necessary. With a little work, your driveway will be as good as new!
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Step 8
Prevent a repeat
Prevent future oil stains in your driveway by laying a piece of plywood or cardboard on the floor and parking your car over it.
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One gallon of oil can ruin the taste of a million gallons of drinking water. That's good reason not to wash your oil down the drain!
