How To Remove Oil Stains From Concrete [Exhaustive Guide]

If you’re looking for a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to remove oil stains from concrete, then you’ve landed on the right page.

No matter whether you are too conscious about the cleanliness of your home or not, the stain on your floor can bother you anytime. Not only the appearance of the floor can be affected by that, but also, you can attract infests depending on the material that stained it.

A normal water-based liquid stain is easy to remove. You can just get rid of the same with a bit of detergent in your mopping bucket. The situation becomes strenuous when the stain is a stubborn one, and the material is oil.

Oil stains are one of the hardest to remove stains, for which many people rely only on professionals. And when the surface is made of concrete, the task becomes nearly impossible to do.

But don’t worry, you don’t have to pay a professional to get rid of the oil stain from your concrete floor if you read this detailed guide on how to remove oil stains from concrete thoroughly and follow all the steps dedicatedly.

Expert professionals of the industry recommend all steps explained here in detail, so keeping the required equipment handy along with the determination to finish the job will give you the most desired outcome. Let’s get started!

How To Remove Oil Stains From Concrete — Step By Step Guide

Removing Oil Stains With Detergent

Be it your garage, kitchen, patio, or basement; oil spilling can take place anywhere. A little unmindfulness or an accident, and you will end up seeing oil all over your concrete floor.

The marble floor has the advantage that it doesn’t catch the stain of oil quickly. If it is not dried up, the marble floor is less likely to be stained. This is a disadvantage of bare concrete.

Even if you wipe the oil soon, there is a high chance that your floor can get stained. And the situation can be worse if the oil is dried over there and the stain is old.

As the detailed guide will deal with oil stain removal from concrete, we will start with the most common way out – with detergent. A powerful detergent may be necessary to remove the oil stain from the cement if it continues to sink in. Recently we have published a definitive guide on removing paint from concrete.

Soak The Stain

Before starting the process, you want to tell you that it wouldn’t be effective if the oil is dried out completely or is an old one. If you just spilled some oil on the concrete and want to prevent any stain, this process would be perfect.

Let’s say that if the detergent is strong enough, you can remove the mild stain with this. We before starting the cleaning process, you must wet the stain.

With water, the stain will start to lose its strength of stickiness, and it will definitely help you while rubbing and wiping it out. Hence, add a significant amount of water to the stain and leave it for some time so that water can play its role.

Use A Detergent

You can’t wait for the water to be dried out completely to move on to this step. While the stain is still wet. Get a strong detergent or dish wash. Make sure that the detergent or dish wash you are adding to it is strong enough to fulfill your purposes. By pacing up, you can prevent the oil from staining your floor.

Scrub The Area

Now, this is going to be a tedious job. It would require some effort and strength. It would be best if you scrubbed the stain. What should you use for doing that? A scrub brush with a hard bristle would do the job perfectly. You can also use steel wool or a nylon scrub. You will need a long-handled brush if you don’t want to get close to it; it is up to you.

Rinse The Area

The dish wash or the detergent and your scrubbing would gather quite a lather on the surface, and to check whether all your efforts have been fruitful, it is time to rinse the area.

It is better to use a good water force to do that; otherwise, there would be detergent remains. Make sure that you use a water force with high pressure to wash away all remaining detergent.

Check

Once the soapy water is gone you can see the surface clearly. Check closely to understand if the stain is completely removed or not. If you see even a slight discoloration, it is better to repeat the process once again so that the little stain can’t grow older and put you in thick soup in the future.

Continue reading to know if that is your scenario.

You Might Also Like To Read: High-Quality Paints For Concrete Surface

Removing Stains With Poultice

A poultice is a mixture of a drawing agent and a chemical solvent. These products are used to remove oil stains from concrete and asphalt using direct contact. Oil is attracted to the pavement by these chemicals.

During the process of drawing in and trapping the oil, the drawing agent is activated. Whether it is a marble floor or concrete floor, a poultice can be an effective component to remove stains.

Various companies offer poultice in the market; you can use them or make your homemade poultice.

Prepare The Stain

The first step is to clean the soiled area of trash and other items thoroughly. Make the concrete wet in a garden shed. Use a firm brush to remove any lingering sludge from the surface.

Prepare The Poultice

The poultice is now ready to be made. Try preparing a poultice from simple household materials if the stain is new or minor. Make a poultice out of household detergent and baking soda.

Many people use acetone with flour and powdered sugar in the mixture, but if you have a marble floor, frequent use of the same can have an adverse effect on the marble.

It will speed up its decaying process. Therefore, it is safest to go with the detergent and baking soda mixture. =Older, more extensive stains usually necessitate a more incredible amount of chemotherapeutic intervention.

Safety Tip: Most of what we mentioned above are strong chemicals capable of removing paint & stains from concrete. When working with hazardous chemicals, always wear rubber gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes.

Apply The Poultice

Using the same solution you used to produce your poultice, dampen the stain. Afterward, spread the mixture with a spatula or a paint scraper or another flat implement) over the stain. Your first application should have a thickness of approximately 12 inches. The stain should be completely covered.

Protect With Plastic Sheet

Protect it with long-lasting plastic sheeting. Tape it in place to keep youngsters and pets from messing with it afterward. Secure the plastic sheet in place with duct tape.

Rest It For One To Two Days

The mixture will not work instantly; you have to give it enough time to work on the stain. Hence, you must leave the stain with the applied mixture for at least one night. You may need to leave it to sit for up to 48 hours, depending on how bad the stain is.

Removal Of The Poultice

After the stipulated period, you can remove the sheet. This is the time you can re-evaluate whether the stain is gone or not. Using a paint scraper, remove the poultice from the jar. The chemical residue should be disposed of immediately.

Pets and little children can get into it, so keep it out of their reach. Don’t forget to put on rubber gloves and goggles while cleaning up. A more robust chemical solution may be required if this approach fails.

Rinse & Repeat

A vigorous garden hose, pressure washer, or hot water should be used to flush the area once you have removed any residual poultice. You should now be able to assess. This treatment can be repeated, or a more caustic poultice found in the market can be used if there are still unattractive blemishes.

Remove Oil Stains With A Commercial Degreaser

Products that are commonly referred to as degreasers are compounds that aid in the removal of water-insoluble grease and oils from hard surfaces like metal or concrete.

Degreasers are commonly employed in industrial and commercial environments like manufacturing or automotive facilities to remove grease, dirt, and other oil-based pollutants from metal or concrete. Degreasers are used in the foodservice industry to remove oil residue from surfaces.

Sprays, foams, solutions, wipes, and powders are all sorts of degreasers. Water-insoluble contaminants can be removed without hurting the surface with degreasers.

Apply A Degreaser To The Stain

Clean your crude oil stain with a commercial degreaser that has a low VOC content. Several companies produce degreaser; you can get anyone of them according to your preferences.

Degreaser is commonly used by businesses to maintain their pavements on a regular basis. Concentrated degreasers are extracted from citrus fruit rinds. If you choose an eco-friendly cleaner, it will help you maintain the quality of the environment too.

Carefully consider the effects of any chemical cleaner you use to remove a stain from your driveway or patio before using it.

Grab a Wire Brush to Scrub the Area

Post to apply the degreaser to the stained cement, start scrubbing it with a sharp bristled brush. This is a critical step because the intention is to get the chemical cleaner to go deeper into the pores of the concrete to remove the stain effectively.

Some Other Alternative Ways

Apart from the ones mentioned above, there are some other ways too that many people think to be effective. Now, after discussing the popular ones in detail, we are going to shed light on some alternative ways to remove oil stains from concrete.

Remove Stain With Kerosene

To remove oil and grease from your floor, this is an inexpensive and clever method. Kerosene, as an inorganic solvent, will break down the oil or grease’s strong bonds, making it easier to remove.

Kerosene should be sprayed on the stained places, and a stiff nylon brush should be used to scrub until there is no stain at all. Remove the dye off the floor by using a high-pressure water pipe or a garden hose.

With this process as well, you must use protective gear and keep all inflammatory items far away. Kerosene is highly flammable, and it is better not to keep children and pets nearby while following this process.

Remove Stain With Tri-Sodium Phosphate

Concrete flooring can also be cleaned using this chemical, which is far less expensive. As a crystallized soap, it removes oily spots from the floor relatively easily. You can also use its solution.

To use TSP, you first have to make the mixture. Add 1 cup of phosphate-free trisodium phosphate to a gallon of boiling water and give it a thorough mix.

Pour the TSP onto the oil stain and allow it to soak in for 20 to 30 minutes. Don’t forget to wear eye protection and gloves before using the solution. After that, use a nylon brush to scrub and a hose to rinse.

Repeat to ensure complete removal of the stain. The cleaner will break oil and grease stains down, making it easier for you to get rid of them. In addition to oil stains, the chemical can be used to dissolve other greasy compounds.

Remove Stain With Oven Cleaner

The cleaner completes its task really quickly. If you don’t want to wait for a long time for a chemical to sit and then clean the concrete, this process is for you. Using this product on your concrete floor, you may efficiently remove stains from oil and grease.

You just need to give it 15 minutes to get set on the stain before starting the cleaning process. After that, get a stiff nylon brush to scrub it. At last, get equipment that exerts water in full force and use that on the affected area to clean all oil and stain.

If the stains remain on the floor after a second application of the cleaner and the second scrubbing session, repeat the process.

Remove Stain With Cat Litter

If the oil stain is large, the first step is to cover it well with cheap absorbent cat litter. Use your feet or any heavy tool to crush and smash the trash into the oil stain. To remove the oil with the cat litter, let it sit for an hour before sweeping it up and discarding it.

After smashing the cat litter, you must wait a few hours to let it absorb the oil before sweeping it up to remove strong stains. Then, using a stiff brush and a strong detergent soap, thoroughly clean the affected region. Repeat the process if the stain is still there.

Remove Stain With Sawdust & Paint Thinner

Using a paint thinner, dampen sawdust and spread it over the stain. For 20 minutes, let it sink into the oil stain. If required, repeat the process of clearing the sawdust. Then use a powerful detergent to finish clearing up any remaining oil spots.

Remove Stain With Microbial Oil Stain Removal

It’s also possible to use an eco-friendly microbial oil stain remover that employs microorganisms to eat away the oil and grease. For big areas, use a pump sprayer to apply the solution and wait for the oil to be consumed.

For significant stains, this could take up to 24 hours. Soap and water can then be used to clean the area after the oil has been removed.

Remove Stain With Single-Cell Microorganisms

Single-celled microbes have been hailed by several cement scientists. Cleanup of large-scale oil spills has even been accomplished using single-cell organisms. Microorganism cleansers are among the most commonly used.

Crude oil is the primary food source for the microorganisms in these environmentally friendly cleaners. Otherwise, they pose no environmental threat.

Follow the manufacturer’s directions to get the best results.

WD-40

WD-40 is another home treatment for stains caused by cement-based motor oil. Water-displacement agent and lubricant combine in one product, WD-40. Fortunately, your driveway will not be stained by the WD-40.

If you can get WD-40, this could be a great low-cost cleaning alternative for you. Wait for half an hour before cleaning up the motor oil splatter with WD-40. Scrub the WD-40 into the cement with a nylon or steel brush.

Using a pressure washer or garden hose remove all remaining stains or chemical residues. Cover yourself from head to toe. Boiling water can also be used to remove any residual cleaning product from the area.

Remove Stains with Carbonated Drink

When it comes to getting rid of oil stains from concrete, fizzy drinks are another curiously effective cleaning solution. Spray the stain with a liter of fizzy drink. Allow it to rest for a few hours before scrubbing it clean.

After 24 hours, check out the area that was affected. Apply a small amount of soap and water and scrub it using a firm brush. After that, use boiling water to remove any leftover residue.

Final Verdict

This is an exhaustive guide on how to remove oil stains from concrete to help you out with the tedious job of removing oil stains from a concrete surface.

As you know that oil stain can be really stubborn and hard to get rid of when it is on the concrete, and out of desperation to get rid of the stain, many people opt for wrong ways like using inappropriate chemicals, not giving enough time to work it, not washing the entire area after chemical treatment and many more.

All these lead to a harmful effect on the concrete, and it can accelerate its decay. Also, many novice people get into an accident while trying DIY to remove oil stains.

The reason is the lack of using protective gear. Keeping all these in mind, we prepared this guide for you so that you can follow the DIY in the right way and fulfill your purposes without hurting neither you nor your concrete structure.

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