How do I Remove Old Oil on a Concrete Driveway?

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber gloves

  • Lime

  • Turpentine

  • Paint scraper

  • Plastic wrap

  • Tape

  • Bucket

  • Water

  • Liquid dish soap

  • Scrub brush

  • Water hose

  • Clumping cat litter

  • Dustpan

  • Broom

  • Neat detergent

Oil stains on driveways are typically caused by a leaky vehicle.

Oil stains on your concrete driveway can be an eyesore that makes the whole exterior of your home look dingy. The oil stains on concrete are typically caused by motor oil -- also known as engine oil -- from vehicles parked in your driveway. Fortunately, you do not have to live with these stains. A few methods can successfully remove the old oil stains.

Advertisement

Lime and Turpentine

Step 1

Don a pair of rubber gloves and perform work outside in the fresh air.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Mix together 1 part lime and 2 parts mineral turpentine to create a paste.

Advertisement

Step 3

Spread the paste over the old oil stains with a paint scraper. Make sure to overlap the paste few inches from the oil stain.

Step 4

Place a piece of plastic wrap over the paste. Secure the edges with tape. Allow the paste to dry for 24 hours. After the allotted time, remove the plastic. Scrape the paste off the concrete driveway with the paint scraper.

Advertisement

Step 5

Mix 1 gallon of warm water and 1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap. Scrub the area of the concrete driveway with a scrub brush saturated in the mixture.

Step 6

Rinse the concrete driveway clean with a water hose. If necessary, repeat the process until you have removed all traces of the old oil stain.

Advertisement

Neat Detergent

Step 1

Apply clumping cat litter on the old oil stain. Cover the stain completely with the litter. Allow the litter to sit on the concrete for a few hours, preferably overnight. It is best to do this on a warm night when there is no chance of rain.

Advertisement

Step 2

Remove the cat litter from the concrete driveway by sweeping it into a dustpan with a broom.

Step 3

Apply two to three drops of neat detergent to the old oil stain. Work the detergent into the concrete with a scrub brush. Neat detergent is used to make powders, flakes and bars and is available at craft stores.

Step 4

Rinse the driveway clean with a water hose. If necessary, repeat the process until you have removed all traces of the old oil stain.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references