How to Get Rid of Oil Stains on Pavement

Any machine that runs gas or oil can leave oil mark anywhere. Oil stains are a very common dilemma of gas or oil refilling stations, driveways, sidewalks and garage floors. Unfortunately, getting rid of oil stains can be very challenging, especially if they have dried up over time. This is a real challenge particularly if you are striving to maintain a healthy home. Stains from motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and brake fluid contain harmful toxins that you don’t want on your floor especially if you have kids around. They may also cause injuries for people passing through the paved area. Aside from the health hazards, oil stains don’t look pleasant either.

Absorb as Much Oil

The easiest way to get rid of oil stains is to quickly pay attention to them as soon as you see them form.  Get the excess oil off the concrete surface as quickly as possible. You may have to blot it up with paper napkins, newspapers, or cleaning rags and allow them to absorb as much oil as they can. Make sure to properly dispose these absorbent materials when you’re done to prevent accidental combustion. If you’re using recyclable items like rags and towels, wash them immediately after use. If you have to leave them overnight make sure to keep them outdoor and out of your children’s reach. Also, you have to keep these porous materials soaked with oil or gas at a distance from any fire catching devices.

Reminder: When oil is spilt on concrete, it is necessary to clean the surface very quickly. Keep in mind that concrete is much like a large sponge, so the longer you leave oil spills on a concrete surface, the harder for you to clean the stains yourself.

Scrub Area and Then Rinse

Small oil spills can be often removed with liquid soap, scrub brush, and a sponge. Liquid soap or detergent acts like sharp blades, cutting through grease to help you get rid of oil stains easily. Just pour out some detergent to the affected area and scrub it in using a scrub brush or a push brush. The downside, however, is that concrete that has been contaminated by oil spills for a long time is quite a challenge for a typical degreaser like soap and water. Hence, you might need to keep on scrubbing until your pavement is free from those unpleasant oil stains. You can also use hot water to help loosen up the oil from the concrete.

Reminder: Avoid using wire brushes because they can damage your concrete floors. Use a synthetic bristle brush instead.

Cover and Sweep

Cover the oil spills with a heavy coating of kitty litter to absorb the oil. Let it stand for a day or more to get most of the oil in the process. Kitty litter basically contains a deodorizer and absorbent clay that clumps up urine. The same principle applies for soaking up oil. The litter absorbs as much oil as it could to prevent stains from getting worse. When it’s time to pick the sawdust or litter, make use of a broom and dustpan to sweep the paved area thoroughly.

Reminder: You should allow the sawdust/litter to stand over the affected area for a long period of time to ensure that oil spills are absorbed as well as possible.

Baking soda works in two ways: it soaks up the oil and it works as a bleaching agent as well. So if you badly want to get rid of oil stains whilst preserving the beauty of your paved area, a box of baking soda is all you need. Let it stand on the affected area for about 10 minutes and wait for it to soak in and work on the pavement. Now, boil a large pot of water. You will use it when it’s time to wash off the baking soda. To effectively remove stains, you have to scrub the area as necessary.

Reminder: Wear long pants when pouring hot water onto the baking soda to prevent water from splattering on your legs.

Re-Liquefy Hard Oil Spills

Hydrocarbon-based solvent such as kerosene and paint thinner are a good remedy to oil spills that have been ignored over a long period of time. These solvents can help re-liquefy hard oil deposits to help you remove untreated oil stains effectively. However, these liquids are extremely dangerous. If you are not careful, you can become a human torch.

Reminder: The use of safety gears like protective glasses, gloves and a mask are extremely important when working with flammables. Since these solvents are highly flammable you have to stay away from open flames when working with them. It is also necessary to ventilate the area when you’re working.

For best results, clean up grease stains as soon as they happen. The best thing to keep your pavement oil stain-free is to ensure that your car is in perfect condition. If you suspect that your car is leaking oil, rush it to the garage and have it fixed at the earliest time!