Removing Concrete Oil Stains and Grease Stains

From leaky automobiles to dripping grills, concrete oil stains are nasty and unsightly. There are a few methods I've used and, although they work, I don't think anything can make oil and grease stains disappear completely.

If the stain is fresh and there is still unabsorbed oil on the surface, put down kitty litter or saw dust to soak it up. Clean that up after a few days.

Try houshold bleach first. Dilute it according to the instructions on the container. Pour it on the stain and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then scrub and rinse with water.

If that doesn't work, sprinkle dishwashing detergent on the stain and scrub with hot water. Repeat this a few times and see what happens. I also like to use degreasers such as Castrol Superclean that you can find at auto parts stores.

A last resort for concrete oil stains is tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). This is a powder that is sold in most hardware and home improvement stores. Mix one cup with a gallon of hot water, pour it on the stain and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Then scrub with a stiff bristled brush and rinse with water. Repeat if necessary.

Most oil stains never come completely clean. If the TSP doesn't totally remove the stain, don't pull your hair out trying to find something that works. Just learn to live with it. It will fade over time.

There is another method for removing concrete oil stains that I have tried and it does work. After you soak up the oil with sawdust or kitty litter, spread some dry patching cement over the stain and let it sit for a few days. Then just sweep it up. The cement will draw some of the stain out of the concrete.

Maintaining a sealcoat will make cleaning oil stains much easier, but you need to get on it immediately. Motor oil will break down the sealer and find its way into the pores of the concrete in a short time.