Homeowners work hard to maximize the curb appeal of their houses. From trimming the front yard to repainting the exterior, there are several ways one can make their home look more functional and aesthetically pleasing. However, one thing most people have trouble cleaning is their driveway.
The unsightly stains can ruin the entrance to your house. Therefore, we have put together a comprehensive guide on how to remove old oil stains from driveway that every homeowner will find helpful.
Motor oil is one of the biggest culprits of stains on any driveway. Even if you are really careful about your vehicle’s maintenance, it could be quite aggravating to see a guest’s car or a delivery van leaking oil in front of your home. Since oil stains are much more apparent on concrete than on asphalt, your house’s curb appeal can suffer a huge setback due to these spots.
While power washing your driveway may seem like a tempting option, you will probably have to hire experts for the job. Needless to say, it can be a little expensive, which is why we have brought you this step-by-step guide. It will tell you exactly how you can get rid of the stains on your concrete driveway without putting a dent in your wallet.
So, let’s take a look at tips on removing old oil stains from the driveway and making it look spot-free.
Table of Contents
What You Will Need
Here are the items you will need to remove stubborn fluid stains from your driveway:
Broom and dustpan
- No Bending Clean Up: The broom and dustpan set for home has upgrade 52 long broom handle which allow you to stand upright for comfortable sweeping instead of bending over.
- Dustpan Teeth: The broom with dustpan combo set builts in comb teeth for easy to scrape off the hair and rubbish of the broom silk into dustpan , no need to drag by hand, easy to clean human hair/pet hair and dust on the broom.
- Dustpans Flexible Rubber Lip: The broom and dustpan sets flexible rubber lip conforms to clean all garbage and debris into dustpan, not swept underneath it.
- Efficient and Large Area Cleaning: The broom and dustpan set heavy duty is made of high quality/soft and heavy duty bristles which can effectively grab dust and dirt, full sized lobby broom head and large-capacity dustpan perfect for sweeping large areas.
- Dustpan Locks: Standing dustpan locks in open position for easy emptying , can easily dispose of dustpans contents into the garbage. compact broom dustpan set design lets you hang the broom and dustpan together on the wall. It is a great way to save storage space.
Clay cat litter
- 2 18.5 pounds packs, total 37 pounds
- Gain original scent: Subtly scented with the amazing fragrance of gain, Fresh Step Cat Litter leaves your home smelling fresh with the gain scent you love
- Most advanced odor protection formula yet: Fresh Step Advanced Gain cat litter starts fighting odors on contact to control odor longer (vs. Fresh Step Gain cat litter)
- The power of febreze: Fresh Step Cat Litter uses the power of Febreze with Ammonia Block Technology and activated charcoal to block urine odors so all you smell is the fresh, clean, scent of Gain
- 10-day odor control : Kitty litter with odor control means 10 days of odor control in your litter box with a paw-activated gain fragrance
- 99.9% dust free: Fresh Step Cat Litter’s 99.9% dust-free clumping formula helps keep surfaces cleaner and air clearer, helping your entire home stay fresh smelling lon
Plastic bags
- ★BIODEGRADABLE TRASH BAGS : Plastarch material(PE), plant renewable resources as raw materials, modified and plasticized, this new plastic can be naturally decomposed in the natural without causing damage to the environment.without any unpleasant smell, it is harmless to the human body.
- ★4 GALLON HANDLES TRASH BAGS：are the easiest and most convenient way to ergonomically lift, tie and carry，7.7 * 27.6inch/45*69cm, 5 rolls are packed together, 20 waste bin bags per roll ,it is bigger than nomal 4 gallon trash bags, so you don¡¯t need to worry that it fit your trash cans.
- ★TRANSLUCENT HANDLES TRASH BAGS:These trash bags are translucent. It can help you to easily view and identify what kind of contents are contained in the small garbage bags, so that you can separate recyclable from non-recyclable materials.Strong Handles and Reinforced Bottom,Strong handles make us easier to lift,These liners fits most kitchen trash cans, even the odd shaped ones.
- ★STRONG & DURABLE HANDLES TRASH BAGS : These bags have good toughness and are not easily torn. They have been tested to withstand amaximum weight of 11 lb (5-6 kg)£¬which are strong enough for daily life.The handles of our 4 gallon fit snugly around any kitchen trash can
- ★MULTIFUNCTION HANDLES TRASH BAGS: Perfect small plastic waste bags for office, kitchen,bathroom, bedroom, living room,baby diapers,car, cleaning pets litter.5 rolls of mixed color garbage bags (2 rolls of blue, 1 roll each of pink, black and silver). You can choose different colors of garbage can lining according to different household garb
Tape
- This heavy duty packing tape is guaranteed to Stay Sealed. If your box does not stay sealed, 3M will refund the purchase price of this tape. Proof of purchase required
- Feel confident that your moving boxes have a tape with excellent holding power for all heavy-duty packaging and shipping
- The super strong holding power has all your moving, shipping, and office needs covered, securely sticking on all moving boxes, packages, and more, including harder-to-stick-to 100% recycled boxes
- Feel confident that your moving boxes have a tape with excellent holding power for all heavy-duty packaging and shipping
- A heavy duty packing tape with a clear backing and instant adhesion
- Resists slivering, splitting, and tearing, leaving you with a hassle free packaging experience
- Release coating on this packing tape makes unwind easy
- Includes 6 rolls and 6 dispensers with fallback tabs to ensure tape doesnt fall back on the roll, keeping your moving and office supplies fully stocked and ready to work
- Add Scotch Brand’s heavy duty packing tape to your list of office suppl
Dishwashing liquid
- Contains 3x more grease-cleaning power (cleaning ingredients per drop vs. The leading competitors non-concentrated brand)
- Concentrated formula helps you get through more dishes with less dishwashing liquid
- Original Scent. 50% Less Scrubbing
- Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap Refill, Original. Usage instructions-Do not add bleach. Not for use in dishwash
Coarse bristle brush
- Quality & durable bristles: Amazer scrub brush boasts extra-tough fibers for easy scrubbing of large areas. Efficiently clean hard-to-clean dirt around your bathroom or kitchen
- Comfortable grip: The ergonomically shaped handle makes it easy to apply pressure as you scrub without straining your body. The dual tone design features rubber grooves that make it more comfortable to hold
- Apply to all surfaces: The scrub brush head features strength bristles for hard and soft scrubbing of tubs, tile walls, carpet, floor and so on
- Long-term durability: Stiff white bristles firmly attached to scrub brush head; Durable bristles stand up after sustained use; The Amazer scrub brush will stand up to the test of time
- Ergonomic design: Easy to apply force and allows for heavy duty cleaning. Efficiently clean hard-to-clean dirt around your bathroom or kitchen. The brush air dries quick
Oven cleaner
- Fast-acting, advanced formula removes baked-on grease
- Cleans warm or cold ov
Step 1: Sweep the Surface
It would be best if you started by sweeping the driveway using a broom and dustpan. Make sure to remove any loose dust and debris on the surface to ensure proper cleanup. This step is extremely important when it comes to cleaning your driveway, as dust and dirt can keep the cleaning supplies from doing their job properly.
Ideally, you should choose a sunny day to undertake this venture. Otherwise, you may have to sweep the area more than once.
Step 2: Our Fresh Cat Litter on the Stains
Pour fresh cat litter on the old oil stains and spread it around with a broom. You must make sure the cat litter completely covers all the stains. If the stain is small, you can leave the litter to absorb the residual oil for about two hours. However, if the stains are too big, allow the litter to remain on your driveway overnight or for 24 hours.
If the weather conditions are too windy or wet, you can cover the litter with plastic bags and secure them in place with tape.
Step 3: Remove the Cat Litter
Use a broom to sweep away the cat litter and place it in a plastic bag. You should loosely tie the bag and keep it away from the house as its fumes can be toxic. The oil stains on your drive should have lightened up by then. If not, you can cover them with litter for few more hours or choose to move on to the next step.
Please note that baking powder is also a good substitute for removing oil stains. So if you can’t get your hands on the cat litter, you can always use the baking powder from your pantry.
Step 4: Squeeze Some Dishwashing Liquid
Once you have brushed away the litter, pour a few drops of grease-cutting dishwashing liquid on each of the remaining stains. Then, dip a coarse bristle brush in warm water and use it to scrub the surface thoroughly. Depending on how stubborn the stains are, you may have to put in some elbow grease to achieve the desired result.
Let the soap cover the stains for about an hour before scrubbing them again. Rinse off the dishwashing soap with clean water.
If you can still see the stain, no matter how faint, please move on to the next step in our guide on how to remove old oil stains from driveway.
Step 5: Cover the Stain with Oven Cleaner
Oven cleaners are great for cutting grease. They consist of a variety of chemical products, including caustic soda, dichloromethane and even ethylene glycol. It is one of the best cleaning supplies for removing oil stains from almost every surface.
Once your driveway is completely dry, cover the remaining stains with an oven cleaner. For better results, consider sealing the stains using plastic bags and tape.
Step 6: Rinse the Driveway with Water
For particularly tough stains, let the oven cleaner work its magic overnight. Next morning, take your coarse bristle brush and scrub the affected areas once again. When the driveway looks clean and the old oil stain is completely gone, you can use clean water to rinse the area.
You can repeat the steps mentioned above more than once if needed.
Our Final Thoughts
To conclude, fresh cat litter should be your starting point when it comes to removing oil stains. The clay in the litter can soak up the residual oil and make the surface easier to clean. If you don’t have access to cat litter, you can utilize baking powder to achieve similar results. Next, use a strong dishwashing liquid to scrub away the oil stains. If they are still evident, you can cover them with an oven cleaner and leave them overnight.
While a little time-consuming, this exercise can make your driveway look clean and flawless. If you are planning to sell or rent out your house, a spot-free entrance can put a good impression on the prospective buyers and tenants.
These tips on how to remove old oil stains from the driveway are both easy-to-follow and budget-friendly. So, please put on your rubber gloves and get cleaning whenever you have some free time because the result would be worth it.
