How to Remove Oil Stains From a Concrete Floor

Oil stains on concrete are inevitable. Any machine that runs on oil or gasoline can leave an oil mark on a driveway, sidewalk or garage floor. Although commercial concrete-cleaning products claim to get rid of oil stains, there is a less toxic way to accomplish the same task. This article will describe how you can safely and effectively get rid of the nasty oil stains on your concrete floor.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Rubber gloves
• Baking soda
• Hose
• Pot
• Water
• Scrubbing brush

1. Spray the oil stain with water. You can use a hose or just a bucket of water. Basically, you only need to get the area slightly damp. This is to loosen the oil and prepare the concrete for scrubbing action.
2. Sprinkle an ample amount of baking soda on the oil-stained concrete. The baking soda works in two ways. First, the powder soaks up the oil; second, the baking soda works as a bleaching agent. If you have a box of baking soda sitting in your garage just for oil stains, it works extremely well.
3. Wait for 10 minutes while the baking soda soaks in and works into the concrete. It will begin to look like paste. It is at this point that you know it is working.
4. Boil a large pot of water. You can start this step earlier if you like, because large pots of water can take a long time to get up to temperature.
5. Pour the boiling water onto the baking soda. This washes the baking soda away as it gives it one last cleaning kick. The hotter the water, the better.
6. Scrub the area with a stiff-bristled scrubbing brush. Most of the time, you can begin scrubbing right away, but if you are working on a hot day with hot concrete, wait until the water cools slightly. Vigorously scrub the area for three minutes. If you find you need to repeat the process, do it all over again. Each time, the stain will get lighter and lighter.

Tips & Warnings

• The quicker you act on oil-stained concrete, the easier the stain will be to remove. As with clothing, the longer a stain sits, the more it sets.
• Make sure you wear long pants when you pour the water on the baking soda. This will prevent the boiling water from splattering on your legs.

Who Can Help:

• Find Awning Services Here. Compare Up to 4 Quotes, Free Service & No Obligation.
• Find Deck & Porch Services Here. Compare Up to 4 Quotes, Free Service & No Obligation.
• Find Contractors Here. Compare Up to 4 Quotes, Free Service & No Obligation.