How to Clean Oil off a Driveway

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How to Clean Oil Off a Driveway

Edited by Arnþór Gíslason, Toddc, Krystle C., Ben Rubenstein and 31 others

Seven Methods:Cat LitterPepsiPeat MossDawn + Murphy's Oil SoapSimple GreenLiquid TideOil-Removal Product

An oil stain can be very hard to clean up since the ground will absorb some of the oil. Follow these steps and you will get rid of the stains easily.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Absorb and dispose of as much of the oil as you can with a rag or paper.Avoid rinsing it into the gutter or storm drain; storm drains don’t treat the water that flows through them, meaning the oil will end up right in our streams.^[1]
2. 2
   Use one of the following methods to clean the stain. There are many options, so you’re bound to find one that works with what’s already in your pantry.

Method 1 of 7: Cat Litter

1. 
   1
   Get some kitty litter. This works well for both wet and dry stains.
2. 
   2
   Put some on the stain and rub it in with your foot. Don't worry about wiping any wet spots up; they will be absorbed by the litter.
3. 
   3
   Let it sit for a while, then, sweep the kitty litter up.
4. 
   4
   Repeat at least once.

Method 2 of 7: Pepsi

1. 
   1
   Pour some Pepsi over the stain.
2. 
   2
   Scrub the spot vigorously.
3. 
   3
   Repeat if necessary.

Method 3 of 7: Peat Moss

1. 1
   Spread some peat moss on the stain
2. 2
   Roll it over the stain. Use your hands, a stick, or a spatula to move the peat moss around the stain. Pat it down, spread it it around, turn it over. The grease stain should eventually come up.

Method 4 of 7: Dawn + Murphy's Oil Soap

1. 
   1
   Wait until it is a cool outside. This method will not work as well in the heat of the day.
2. 
   2
   Squirt a generous amount of Dawn dishwashing soap over the oil stain. The dark blue, super concentrated soap is recommended.
3. 
   3
   Wait an hour, then sop up as much as you can with an old rag or some paper towels. If necessary, use a high-power garden hose to spray the stained area, but save this as a last resort to avoid polluting.
4. 
   4
   Cover the affected area with Murphy's Oil Soap.
5. 
   5
   Wait two hours, then sop up the stain once more. Again, spray the area with a hose only if absolutely necessary.
6. 
   6
   Completely saturate the oil spot with WD-40.
7. 
   7
   Let it sit for 1 minute, then wipe with a rag.

Method 5 of 7: Simple Green

1. 
   1
   Pour lots of Simple Green on the stain.
2. 
   2
   Let the spot soak for a few hours.
3. 
   3
   Wipe/rinse the area.

Method 6 of 7: Liquid Tide

1. 
   1
   Cover the area with Liquid Tide.
2. 
   2
   Pour 1/4 cup of water on top of the Tide.
3. 
   3
   Use an old broom to scrub the area for about 5 minutes.
4. 
   4
   Wipe down the area and/or rinse it with a hose.
5. 
   5
   Repeat if necessary.

Method 7 of 7: Oil-Removal Product

1. 
   1
   Go to your local hardware store and ask for a product that will clean up the oil. Some examples of products include Oil Gone Easy S-200, Quikrete Concrete and Asphalt Cleaner, and Griot's Garage Oil and Grease Cleaner.
2. 
   2
   Pour the oil cleaner on the ground, rub a little with the rag, and let it vaporize.
3. 
   3
   Repeat until you're happy with the results.

Add your own method

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Tips

• If your car is leaking oil, put cardboard under it when you park it in the driveway and try to get it fixed ASAP. If you put cat litter (cheap) in the spot where oil is dripping, it will absorb most (if not all) of the oil before it stains driveway
• Laundry detergent, a little water, and a push broom or big brush works wonders. Then when you are done, squirt it off.
• When oil is spilled, a little water should be hosed onto it immediately. This will cause the oil to float to the top of the puddle, prevent it from soaking the ground.
• There are a number of green, eco-friendly oil absorbent products that you can find and buy online to keep on hand so that if you ever spill oil, paint, gasoline or other liquid, you can quickly absorb them and minimize pollutants.

Warnings

• Most cleaners are bad for your skin, so don't put any on your hands and wear latex gloves if possible.

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Sources and Citations

1. ↑ NCCWEP.org on oil stains and storm drains

Article Info

Categories: Stain Removal

Recent edits by: Sddek, Hinni, Ciccio Veronese

In other languages:

Deutsch: Wie man Öl von einer Einfahrt entfernt, Español: Cómo quitar manchas de aceite de la entrada de vehiculos, Italiano: Come Rimuovere l'Olio da un Vialetto, Português: Como Remover Manchas de Óleo de uma Garagem, Français: Comment nettoyer une tache d'huile de moteur sur votre allée, Русский: убрать следы масла с подъездного пути

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