# How do I remove all this motor oil?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-all-this-motor-oil/489687>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 16, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-all-this-motor-oil/489687 "2009-03-16T23:05:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-all-this-motor-oil/489687/1 "2009-03-16T23:05:41Z")

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I had a 5-quart container of motor oil in the car trunk and the top came loose. Most of it leaked out the bottom of the trunk, but I still have an oil soaked tire compartment cover. It is hatchback with a lower compartment for the spare tire. I have removed the cover and scrubbed it with laundry detergent, which helped a little. I next tried baby powder, not really the trick for this amount of oil. Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-all-this-motor-oil/489687/2 "2009-03-16T23:10:10Z")

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Cat litter. Not the clumping or scoopable kind.

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-all-this-motor-oil/489687/3 "2009-03-16T23:34:48Z")

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Yes, kitty litter/fuller’s earth/oil absorbent/dried clay granules (same thing) will pick up the vast majority of it. Smush it in to where the oil is, and give it a day to do its thing. Then clean out the stuff and inspect to see if a second application is called for (one or two applications should do). After that, you can wash off the oily residue with Dawn dishwashing detergent.

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**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-all-this-motor-oil/489687/4 "2009-03-16T23:36:38Z")

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> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Cat litter. Not the clumping or scoopable kind.

(DEFINITELY not the scoopable kind. You will have a scented kitty-litter/oil rock in your trunk. Or a kitty litter/oil/trunk rock. Use cheap clay kitty litter)

Try hand-washing dish soap to remove the residue; stuff is designed to lift oils.

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**Author:** ![bat312](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bat312](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bat312)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-all-this-motor-oil/489687/5 "2009-03-16T23:54:41Z")

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Cat litter it is. Hope I can keep the cats from pooping on it! Tomorrows thread; how to I get cat filth out of my car trunk? Thanks all!

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-remove-all-this-motor-oil/489687/6 "2009-03-17T00:19:43Z")

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Most cars have a hole in the spare wheel well, covered with a plastic cap. You can remove the cap and use a hose and soap. The water will drain from the hole to the ground. When it is dry remember to put the cap back.