how to remove oil stain from concrete garage floor
Tips & Tricks

How To Clean Oil Off Concrete Garage Floor

Garage floors often take a beating; dirty cars are parked there, heavy tools are dropped, and many things spill on them. It is pretty challenging to keep them looking new. One of the hardest things to clean off a concrete garage floor is oil.

Oil on the garage floor can come from DIY engine repairs, a leaking car engine, or filling up the mower. If your concrete garage floor or driveway has unsightly oil stains, it’s best to remove them before resurfacing or sealing your concrete. If you do not remove the oil, it may eventually seep back through the new surface and ruin your new decorative treatment.

Cleaning oil off a concrete garage is not a simple task; the size and age of the oil stain often determine how difficult it will be to remove it. That is why you should be keen when changing oil or greasing components to keep spills off the floor. You may have to do some trial and error before finding the best cleaning technique for your situation.

Read on to learn how you can clean oil off a concrete garage floor using some of the most reliable techniques:

How to Remove Oil Stains From Concrete With Coke and Baking Soda

Several oil removers are readily available for your concrete garage floor. However, before spending a lot of cash on commercial oil stain remover, you should exploit some oil cleaning concoctions that you can easily find at home.

Coke and baking soda can help you eliminate oil stains from your concrete garage floor. Here is how to do it:

How to Remove Oil Stains From Concrete Garage Floor With Coke

People have been using Coca-Cola as a stain remover and cleaner for ages. It is also effective as an oil stain cleaner or remover. If you’re on a tight budget, Coke might be the easiest and least expensive solution. Here is how you can use it:

  • Pour at least two cans of Coke onto the oil stain.
  • Leave it for at least 24 hours for it to perform its magic.
  • Use a brush to scrub in circular motions.
  • Wash off with a hose, and eliminate the stain.
  • If the stain doesn’t disappear, pour more Coke cans and wait for another 24 hours.
  • Repeat the process as needed

Will Baking Soda Remove Oil From Concrete?

Baking soda must be on your list if you are searching for affordable ways of eliminating oil from the concrete garage floor. Here is how to use it:

  • Sprinkle baking soda on the oil stain and wait for 20 to 30 minutes. You might need a whole box if you have a big stain.
  • Scrub with a brush in circular motions for several minutes.
  • Use a hose to rinse the area.
  • If the above doesn’t work, sprinkle more baking soda on the stain, and wait for 30 minutes.
  • Use a stiff brush to scrub the area, and then spray it clean with water.

Does Vinegar Remove Oil Stains From Concrete?

Vinegar is a powerful astringent with the ability to remove oil. Adding vinegar to an oil stain on your concrete garage floor can remove it. The best news is that distilled white vinegar is easy to find and quite affordable. You can buy a big bottle online or from your local grocery store.

Here is what you need to do to clean oil off your concrete garage floor using vinegar:

What You Need

  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Scrub brush
  • Baking soda
  • Detergent

Procedure

  • Mix 2 tablespoons of vinegar, ¼ tablespoon detergent, and ½ tablespoon baking soda with 2 cups of water.
  • Pour the mixture over the stain and cover it.
  • Scrub the area vigorously.
  • Rinse with cold water and repeat as needed to ensure that the spot is clean.

Will WD-40 Remove Oil Stains From Concrete?

Most American families have a can of WD-40 in their garage. WD-40 is a powerful solvent that can break down any greasy residue. It can penetrate porous concrete and lift oil from the surface; therefore, removing old oil stains on concrete.

You can find WD-40 at most hardware stores, online retailers, and some grocery stores. It will help if you use WD-40 in a properly ventilated area because it may cause dizziness or nausea if used in improperly ventilated spaces. You may have to open your overhead door when working with larger quantities of the product.

What You Need

  • Rag
  • Can of WD-40

Procedure

  • Spray sufficient WD-40 on the oil stain and cover it completely.
  • Allow the spray to sit for 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Wipe away the liquid using a rag.
  • Repeat the process as needed to eliminate the oil stain.

Does Dawn Dish Soap Remove Oil From Concrete?

Using Dawn dish soap is another easy and cheap way of cleaning oil stains off your concrete garage floor. The compounds found in the dish soap can bind and lift grease from most surfaces, including concrete. Like how dish soap removes chicken fat from your baking dish, it can also remove motor oil from concrete.

The best thing is that you can access the product easily at any supermarket, online, and most convenience stores. Here is how you can use it to clean oil off your concrete garage floor:

What You Need

  • Dawn dish soap
  • Water
  • Paper towels
  • Brush

Procedure

  • Cover the entire oil stain with dish soap.
  • Allow the soap to sit for at least an hour.
  • Wipe off any excess dish soap using paper towels.
  • Use a brush to agitate the paste and scrub it into the stain. You can use a brush wheel on a drill or a sander to make the scrubbing easier
  • Rinse the area with clean water.
  • Repeat the above procedure as needed to eliminate oil stains.

What Is the Best Product to Remove Oil Stains From Concrete?

If you are looking for a commercial oil stain remover, you could try the following:

Oil Eater AOD1G35437 Original 1 Gallon Cleaner/Degreaser

The Oil Eater AOD1G35437 Original 1 Gallon Cleaner/Degreaser is a perfect solution for cleaning oil off your concrete garage floor because of the following:

  • It safely dissolves grease and oils on almost everything.
  • It contains no acids, abrasive, or petroleum solvents and is water-based and biodegradable, so safe for all uses, even in septic systems.
  • It is suitable for both household and industrial use.

Terminator-HSD

The Terminator-HSD cleans oil stains on concrete. It is ideal because of the following features:

  • It’s eco-friendly, breaks down, and dissolves the oil into naturally occurring by-products of CO2 and water.
  • It can easily be spread on large oil stains.
  • It’s easy to use, and no scrubbing is required for it to work.

Krud Kutter OG326 OG32 Grabber Oil Stain Remover, 32-Ounce

Krud Kutter OG326 OG32 Grabber Oil Stain Remover, 32-Ounce is an efficient oil stain remover. It does the following:

  • It lifts and absorbs embedded oil stains, anti-freeze, brake fluid, diesel grease, transmission fluids, and more.
  • Removes oil stains from concrete before painting or staining.

Removing oil stains from your concrete garage floor can be challenging; however, the tips above will get you started. You can try any that fits your cleaning style.