You walk outside and see it. A dark, greasy stain spreading across your concrete. It came from a leaking vehicle, an oil change or an accident. Either way, the longer you wait, the worse it gets.
Concrete is porous. Oil soaks in fast. Act within the first hour and you have a real chance at full removal. Wait a week and you are looking at a permanent stain.
What to Do in the First Hour
- Stop the source. If the vehicle is still leaking, move it off the driveway now.
- Absorb the excess. Pour cat litter, baking soda or cornstarch on the fresh spill. Press it down and let it sit 30 to 60 minutes. This pulls the oil up before it soaks deeper.
- Sweep it up. Bag the used material and seal it. Do not hose it down. Water spreads the oil and pushes it further into the surface.
- Scrub with dish soap. Apply a degreasing dish soap to the stain, scrub with a stiff brush and rinse with hot water.
That handles fresh spills. Once oil sets in, that method will not cut it.
Why Set-In Oil Stains Need a Pro
Set-in oil needs a professional-grade degreaser and the right dwell time. The chemical has to soak into the concrete and break the oil down. Rush it or use the wrong product and you get a shadow stain left behind.
We use degreasers made for oil and petroleum stains on concrete and asphalt. The process breaks the oil down and pulls it out of the pores. Pressure washing alone will not do that. Dish soap alone will not do that either. Product choice and application are what matter.
We hear this all the time: “I scrubbed it myself and it barely faded.” Most store-bought degreasers are watered down and not built for petroleum on concrete. What we use is not what sits on the shelf at the hardware store.
Got a stain that will not budge? Stop grinding at it. One professional driveway and concrete cleaning gets it done right the first time.
Get Your Driveway Back
3G Pressure Pro serves Bryan / College Station and the Brazos Valley. Call or text 979-946-2056 or get a free quote online. Do not let an oil stain become a permanent part of your driveway.
