How To Remove Stains From Concrete Garage Floor And Driveway

Oil stains on the concrete driveways, patios and the garage floors look so patchy and give not so good impression to your customers. Even if you are planning to resurface your concrete, it is important to remove the oil stains before sealing.

Otherwise, the oil will eventually seep back through the surface and will again ruin your surface. The sooner the oil stain is cleaned better would be the results.

The difficulty of the task depends on several factors like:-

Old oil stains cleaning could be rocket science in comparison to the new ones. Try to lay down the old bedsheets or the cardboard while working with the oils to avoid such heavy contamination of the oil on your surface.

There are many different methods used for cleaning up the oil stains depending upon the availability of the material. Some of them are listed below:

Material required:

Use of strong detergent could be one of the best possible for small oil spills or spots.

Apply the detergent to the affected area and with the help of the brush or sponge, scribble the area. While scrubbing the floor, the stains will start getting lighter and eventually will get vanished. The process could be a bit more exhausting for the large spills or spots. Try to use it only on the small stains.

2. Use of concrete soap- for big stains

Material required:

Using concrete soap could be a good method only for the stains which are big and are new. Don’t use them on the old stains. As they require excessive man force.

Try to soak the excess oil if possible by simply keeping the paper towels or the rags on the stain and then apply the concentrated soap liquid-like Mrs Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-surface concentrate. A concrete soap has more power than any normal detergent as it is a concentrated alkaline soap.

Rub the surface with a stiff brush and later on rinse it using the garden hose. Use a garden hose with the nozzle which have a strong stream. Repeat the process for one or two times, and the stains will be washed away.

3. Use of Cat litter- for all kinds of stains

The use of cat litter as a concrete cleaner is one of the best and the most effective method which can be used to remove almost all the types of oil stains.

Material required:

This could be one of the inexpensive methods but the process takes a longer time than the other method.

The process starts up by simply sprinkling up the cat litter over the entire stain. Make sure the stain should be covered properly by the cat litter and then Crush and grind the litter into the oil stain with your feet. Put the cat litter on the rest for nearly one or two hours till the time, it completely soaks up the entire oil. Later on, sweep it up.

For bigger stains, the process stays the same only difference stays is litter is usually kept overnight or for more hours.

After sweeping it away, use soap or detergent or simple water over the stained area and rub it once with the help of a brush.

4. Use of TSP- for heavy or deep stains

Material required:

This method is one of the best, easy and effective methods for removing the old and heavily contaminated stains.

Add one cup of TSP(tri-sodium phosphate) usually called as “TSP-PF” into the hot gallon of water and mix it well. Pour the TSP solution over the stain very carefully and leave it for the next 20 to 30 minutes. Rub the surface with the stiff brush and later on, rinse it with the hose. Repeat the process according to the requirement as it depends upon the quality of the stain.

The process could be harmful. Avoid doing it bare eyes and hands. Use gloves and eyes glasses for your protection.

5. Use of microbial stain removers-most advanced way

Material required:

The process of removal using single-cell microorganisms thrives on crude oil and its derivatives, eating them up like candy.

Apply microbial stain removers like EATOILS BT200 or Terminator-HSD over the stain and let the solution rest on it for a while.

For the bigger stain, apply the solution with the pump sprayer and wait for the oil to eat up the oil stain. The solution may take up more time for the larger stains. If the stains are really old and deep inside the concrete floor, it can even take up to 24 hours.

After the solution is dissolved the stain, wash the concrete floor once with the help of water.

Working with the paint can sometimes be messier and can ruin your driveway. If the stains are new, fresh and small, they may not need much of the effort but old and larger, they may create havoc for you sometimes.

Stains of paints can be removed by using TSP (the process has been mentioned above). Try to use the eye and hand protection for your safety while working with any of the method mentioned below:

1. Use the paint strippers: For larger and old stains

Material required:

After some time, use the plastic paint scraper to remove the paste. If the paint stain isn’t removed completely, repeat the process again for the next 30 minutes. Rinse the area with the strong hose.

At first, mix the paint stripper with an absorbent material like baby powder, diatomaceous earth or the fine clay. Make sure the consistency of the mixtures should neither too thin nor too thick. Mix it well. Use a thick brush to apply it over the stain, and made it to rest for the next 20 to 30 minutes.

All the methods are effective and useful depending on the nature of the stains, choose the best possible method from the above-mentioned methods. Take care of your safety measure while using any of the methods.