How to Remove Oil From Brick Pavers

Treat oil stains when they are fresh before they soak into the brick.

Oil stains on brick pavers are unsightly and diminish the appearance of the entire surface. Whether it's motor oil or cooking oil, it is important to remove oil from brick pavers at first sight for the greatest chance of success. You can remove oil from brick pavers even if the oil stain is old; however, fresh stains are the easiest to remove. Take care when cleaning up oil stains that you don’t make the problem worse by spreading around the oil.

Things You'll Need

• Cat litter or sawdust
• Broom
• Bucket
• Water
• 1 pound trisodium phosphate
• 1-2 cups powdered chalk
• Putty knife
• Wooden scraper
• Garden hose
• Chlorine bleach
• Stiff scrub brush

Instructions

1. Sprinkle cat litter or sawdust on top of fresh oil stains. Let it sit on the spot overnight to absorb the oil. Brush away the litter or sawdust the next day with a broom. If the oil stain is old, proceed directly to Step 2.

2. Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of hot water. Add 1 pound of trisodium phosphate. Stir in 1-2 cups of powdered chalk until a thick paste forms. Apply the paste to the stain.

3. Scrape the paste from the brick with a wooden scraper. Rinse the brick pavers with clean water from the garden hose.

4. Mix one part bleach to four parts warm water if the oil stain persists. Scrub the oil stain with a stiff scrub brush and the bleach solution. Rinse the pavers thoroughly with clean water from the garden hose.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear when cleaning with trisodium phosphate or chlorine bleach.

References

• Dan Vandervort's HomeTips.com: Cleaning & Repairing Concrete or Brick Driveways
• HowtoCleanStuff.net: How to Clean Exterior Brick