How to Remove Car Oil From a Driveway

Treating a Fresh Oil Stain

If the oil stain is fresh, with liquid still visible on the surface, you need to soak up as much of the oil as possible before it gets absorbed by the driveway surface material. Place some old shop rags or paper towels on the fresh oil, but don’t rub. That risks spreading the stain.

As an alternative, you can apply cat litter or powder laundry detergent to suck up the oil before it stains. Let the oil absorb into the material.

Safely dispose of the used rags or powder. Spontaneous combustion is real.

Cleaning Older Oil Stains

Whether dealing with an old oil stain or a fresh spill, you have several options for removing it. If this is your first oil stain removal, test a small portion with your preferred method to ensure compatibility with the driveway surface.

• Apply oil absorbent.
  The absorbent is usually granular clay or diatomaceous earth (DE). As analternative, you can use cat litter or powder laundry detergent. Let it sit for five minutes. Use the sole of your shoe to grind and twist the clay into the stain. Then, sweep up the absorbent, and the oil stain will be gone.

• Spray it with a liquid oil stain remover. Alternatively, spray the stain with dish soap or an all-purpose cleaner. Let the liquid sit for five minutes, but don’t let it dry on the surface. Use a brush to scrub away the stain, then rinse with water. Note that some liquid stain removers are designed to dry on the stain and become a powder that is then swept up. Read the directions before use.

Concrete manufacturers also offer oil stain removers specifically designed for this surface. The stain is soaked and then scrubbed, similar to the above method.

Oil Stains on Other Surfaces

The methods mentioned above focus on removing oil stains from concrete. But what about other driveway surfaces?

Asphalt

Since the surface is a black bituminous surface, you might overlook this stain. But the risk of a slip or tracking the oil elsewhere still exists. Place some absorbent on the oil deposit, let it work its magic by absorbing the oil, then sweep it away. If necessary, spray with an all-purpose cleaner and scrub with a stiff-bristled floor scrubber brush.

Pavers

Pavers are often different colors and might absorb more or less oil, depending on the specific product. Use absorbent to remove as much of the oil as possible. Apply an all-purpose cleaner and lightly scrub to avoid discoloring the pavers.

Epoxy

Some garages and driveways are covered with an epoxy floor coating. This shiny covering is designed with a sealant to prevent oil or other liquids from being absorbed by the surface. Check with the manufacturer for any specific procedures to remove oil stains.

Usually, you’ll just wipe away the oil using paper towels or rags. You might apply a small amount of all-purpose cleaner to remove any residue.

Remember, any oil stain removal process works best the sooner it is applied. Don’t let an ugly oil stain ruin the look of your driveway or garage.