Driveways & decks · 3 min read
How to remove oil stains from a concrete driveway
How to deal with fresh and old oil stains on concrete driveways, what you can do yourself, and what to expect from a professional clean.
- Act fast on fresh spills: soak up oil before it sets in
- Older stains need a degreaser and scrubbing
- Very old stains may fade rather than disappear
Oil stains are one of the most common driveway problems. How well they come out depends mostly on how fresh they are.
Fresh spills
- Soak up as much oil as possible with an absorbent like cat litter or sawdust
- Leave it for a few hours, then sweep it up
- Scrub the area with a concrete degreaser and a stiff brush
- Rinse thoroughly
Older stains
Oil that has soaked into concrete needs a stronger degreaser and some dwell time to draw it out. Professional pre-treatment followed by a hot or high-pressure clean lifts most moderate stains.
Setting expectations
Concrete is porous. Very old stains that have soaked in deeply may lighten a lot rather than disappear completely. A good contractor will tell you what to expect before starting.
Keep oil and cleaning run-off out of stormwater drains. In Christchurch, stormwater flows to rivers and the sea untreated.
We pre-treat oil marks as part of every driveway pressure wash.
Frequently asked questions
Can a pressure washer alone remove oil stains?
Not usually. Water alone moves surface oil around. A degreaser is needed to break it down first.
Maidly looks after homes across Christchurch with eco-friendly methods and a 100% work guarantee on every service. Request a free quote.