How to Remove Oil Stains From New Concrete

Oil stains can be difficult and aggravating to remove from concrete. Oil stains on new concrete can be very noticeable, and they may not wash away with just a rain shower or a garden hose. With a little elbow grease and a few spare minutes, there is a way to clean your concrete and to leave it oil-free.

Things You'll Need

• Clay non-clumping cat litter
• Can of cola
• Liquid dish soap
• Water
• Broom
• Dustpan
• Scrub brush
• Bucket

Instructions

1. Pour cat litter over the oil stains. The amount of cat litter to use will vary depending on the size of the oil stains. Make sure to evenly coat the stains with the cat litter. Leave the litter on the stains overnight. The cat litter will absorb the oil from the concrete.

2. Grind the cat litter into the oil stains with your feet. Sweep up the litter with a broom and dustpan and throw away.

3. Pour a can of cola over the oil stains. Scrub the stains with a scrub brush until the oil stains begin to fade. Rinse with water. The oil stains are dissolved by the combination of phosphoric acid and carbonation which are both found in cola.

4. Combine 6 cups of warm water with 4 tbsp. liquid dish soap in a bucket. Scrub any remaining stains with the soap solution and a plastic scrubber until they disappear. Rinse with water.

References

• "How to Cheat at Cleaning"; Jeff Bredenberg; 2007