Do you have oil stains on your driveway that are getting hard
to overlook? A little bit of dirt on your driveway, you can probably live with,
but if we’re talking about a leak or old oil stain, this can make your
driveaway look like a greasy chip pan.
Follow these steps to help remove those oil stains with items you’ve probably already got in your cupboards!
Before you get started
A little bit of dirt on your driveway is to be expected, but black oil leak spots are a little bit harder to ignore. The good news is these oil stains can be removed.
Before you dive straight in there, make sure that you’re choosing the right cleaning products to do the job. You can get your hands on a variety of supplies that you’re perhaps already familiar with, from dish soap to baking soda, there are plenty of products out there to help you tackle those tough stains.
Top tip, before you get cracking, check out what type of driveway you have. For example, if your driveway is on an incline, start at the highest point and work your way down it. This way the water gets a chance to run down and doesn’t flow over any parts you’ve already covered.
How to remove oil stains
If you’ve got a stubborn oil stain on your driveway, you might be able to get it off with these out-of-the-box top tips.
1. Inexpensive cat litter
This might sound crazy, but trust us when we say, it works a treat. Thanks to the absorbent clay within the cat litter, it’s great at acting as an oil stain remover. The trick is buying an inexpensive brand because they are the ones that are made with less perfume and less likely to start clumping up when you put it in contact with the oil stain.
You’re probably wondering how this works. Simply sprinkle some cat litter over the oil stain and let it absorb the oil. When you’ve left it a while, scoop it away and you’ll be able to rinse off any remaining residue with some water. It’s as easy as that.
2. Baking soda
Baking soda has to be one of the items on your list when you’re looking at using products on how to get rid of your oil stains on your driveway. This can work as a treat with a mix of water. The properties of baking soda mean that it’s effective in being able to cut through dirt and grease. After a good soak for about 20 minutes, it will just need a good rinse and clean and you should be rid of that nasty stain.
3. Laundry detergent
Let’s not forget the power of laundry detergent too. This is a great method for treating those oil stains on your driveway. Just by sprinkling some laundry powder onto the marked area and applying some warm water will see that it turns into a paste ready for you to scrub. Scrub the spot and then allow for it to sit before rinsing it off.
4. Dish soap
Another product that you could use is dish soap. This too can work a treat. Squirt some dish soap on the stain and scrub it until you can’t scrub anymore. A heavy-duty brush is essential for this. Rinse away the soap with water and keep repeating this process until the stain has faded.
5. Sawdust and paint thinner
You can’t do much better than this. Sawdust is a cracking remedy for your oil stains. A bit like cat litter, it can mop up the oil like no tomorrow. Paint thinners are your solvent, so mix that, and you’ve whipped up the perfect little mixture to help you remove that oil from your driveway.
Once you’ve mixed that up, spread the sawdust over the stain and leave it for a while. Same as the above for the rest of it, you can just sweep away the sawdust. If it’s still there after the first try, just try again.
For rinsing, you can always use a hose when rinsing your driveway and once you’ve done that, just let it air dry if that’s easier for you. Don’t shy away from using a bit of elbow grease and a heavy-duty brush, your driveway is tougher than you think.
