How to Effortlessly Remove Oil & Grease Stains from a Garage Floor

Every garage floor stain is ugly. Oil on your garage floor is no exception. The good news is you have several options in regard to removing this type of stain. The method you choose is up to you and most are quite affordable. However, they do require a certain amount of "elbow grease" on your part.

The worst thing about an oil stain on a concrete driveway is the fact that concrete is very porous. It acts as a sponge, soaking up liquid. This is why an excessive amount of scrubbing is required, no matter what type of cleaning solution you use.

The time required to get rid of the stain is dependent on how big of a spot you’re attempting to remove.

Laundry Soap Solvents

Powdered laundry soap works best on a fresh or recent spill. Many people recommend using laundry soap, for best results. Professional race car associations such as NASCAR have been relying on this for years.

Before you use the soap solvent, blot up all of the oil you can. Failure to do so will result in a secondary stain.

Mix a large amount of laundry soap into a bucket of warm water, so that the solution is extremely soapy. Pour the soapy water onto the stain. Next, pour extra detergent (right from the box) directly on the stain. Let it set for a few minutes.

Using a nylon brush, with stiff bristles, scrub the stain. When you’re finished, hose everything off with a garden hose. The higher your water pressure, the better.

Eco‑friendly Degreasers

You can always opt for an eco‑friendly degreaser to get rid of a garage floor stain. This type of cleaner typically contains a citrus‑based degreaser in a non‑leaching absorbent.

Blot up any excess oil. Sweep the area, to remove any small pieces of debris. Spread the degreaser on the stain with a trowel. Allow it to dry into a powdered state, which usually takes up to eight hours.

Next, sweep up the powder. It may take several days for the moisture underneath to dry. Once that happens, the oil stain should be gone.

Industrial Grade Degreasers

Industrial grade degreasers are generally applied and work in the same manner as the eco‑friendly version. Depending on the size of the oil stain, these products may work faster because they’re stronger. They are usually more expensive as well.

Always wear rubber gloves and some type of eye protection, when working with industrial grade products. Whatever method you choose, always make sure your garage is properly ventilated while you’re cleaning.

Homemade Solutions

There are many homemade solutions, when it comes to removing oil from your garage floor. Many people report success using things like kitty litter, WD‑40 and mixing a paste of sawdust and paint thinner.

You might also try pouring mineral spirits on the stain. Let it sit for three minutes and scrub with a stiff‑bristled nylon brush. Next, lay newspaper over the area and allow it to dry. Once dry, wash the stain with one cup of bleach and one of laundry detergent, mixed into one gallon of warm water.

These are just a few ways to get rid of a garage floor stain. There’s no need to panic, if you happen to get oil on your garage floor. Accidents are unavoidable, so don’t be hard on yourself. Pick up a brush, choose your favorite cleaning method and get scrubbing. It’s that simple!

Please note, the sooner you clean up an oil stain, the easier it will be. This is due to the fact that the oil has less of a chance to soak in.

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