# How to remove oil stains from driveway? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432 "2006-01-11T03:22:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pace)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/1 "2006-01-11T03:22:13Z")
i’ve tried bleach, ajax and various other cleansers, plus Catlitter… but nothing seems to diminish the stains… oh sure the rest of the area looks brighter but now the oil stains really stick out! Uuuggghhh, HELP!! ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/2 "2006-01-11T03:36:41Z")
> [@pace](#): > > i’ve tried bleach, ajax and various other cleansers, plus Catlitter… but nothing seems to diminish the stains… oh sure the rest of the area looks brighter but now the oil stains really stick out! > > Uuuggghhh, HELP!! concrete or asphalt?? ---
**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:** [January 11, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/3 "2006-01-11T03:47:22Z")
Go to a Carquest auto parts store. Step one: Get the oil-dry product made with diatomaceous earth. Sprinkle it onto the stains enough to completely cover them, then walk on it to grind it into them (you don’t have to mash it to a powder, just a good once-over walk. Let sit overnight. Step two: Get the high-powered liquid detergent (purple color). Pour some onto the stains. Work it in vigourously with a stiff-bristled push broom or scrub brush. Add a little water and repeat. Add more water and repeat. Rinse thoroughly with water, let dry. If it’s getting better but still needs improvement, start over with step one. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/4 "2006-01-11T03:48:04Z")
One of the ads says: How do I get oil out of my driveway? Use EOS Oil-X-Out to remove the oil that has soiled your concrete. Oil-X-Out will penetrate your concrete and lift it to the surface to be hosed away. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/5 "2006-01-11T03:49:59Z")
I assumed concrete/cement. With oil stains on asphalt, I’d get more oil and stain the whole thing evenly. 😃 ---
**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:** [January 11, 2006, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/6 "2006-01-11T03:51:40Z")
To clarify: after step one, sweep it up and determine if step two is called for. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/7 "2006-01-11T03:57:04Z")
I have had some luck sprinkling dry concrete powder (“Quickcrete” or similar) over the stain, rubbing it in a bit and letting it sit for a few days. It seems to draw out some of the oil and will definitely make the stain less noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/8 "2006-01-11T04:08:57Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > One of the ads says: > > How do I get oil out of my driveway? > > Use EOS Oil-X-Out to remove the oil that has soiled your concrete. Oil-X-Out will penetrate your concrete and lift it to the surface to be hosed away. I went [here](http://www.concretesealants.com/oilxout_cleaner.htm) and it says it’s $200 for 5 gallons! Holy Crap! ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/9 "2006-01-11T04:16:52Z")
> [@Gary T](#): > > Go to a Carquest auto parts store. > > Step one: Get the oil-dry product made with diatomaceous earth. Sprinkle it onto the stains enough to completely cover them, then walk on it to grind it into them (you don’t have to mash it to a powder, just a good once-over walk. Let sit overnight. Or get some good catbox litter at your local supermarket. I use Johnny Cat but any good stuff will do. I don’t even let it sit overnight on smooth concrete. Just sprinkle it on the stain and scrub it real good with a stiff bristled brush and sweep it up. _Voilà_. The stain is gone. On rough concrete letting it sit awhile after working it as **Gary T** suggested might be needed. I’ve got some stains on the driveway and I’ll try it out tomorrow and see what happens. I’ve never found Step Two necessary. However, if the above doesn’t do the job, **Gary T** has the experience and I’m sure Step Two will finish off that old stain. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/10 "2006-01-11T04:21:43Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Or get some good catbox litter at your local supermarket. Apparently he’s tried some cat litter. I’ve found the diatomaceous earth product to work especially well with oil. I doubt it’s used in stuff sold as cat litter, and it’s not used in all oil-dry products (hence cat litter is essentially the same as some brands), but it is used in the Carquest product. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/11 "2006-01-11T04:26:51Z")
[Some more good ideas.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=155230) ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/12 "2006-01-11T04:47:16Z")
Back in the day we used to clean the floors in the gas station with good ole powdered Tide. Wet the floor sprinkle Tide all over it, and scrub with a stiff broom. Rinse. Done. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/13 "2006-01-11T09:57:34Z")
- - - In the other (linked) thread I mentioned the gasoline+clay litter way (kerosene can substitute for the gasoline). Not ecologically sound, but does work damn good. …for _asphalt_ drives, I have no idea. The problem is that the oil soaks down into the asphalt and then sweats back up through over time, and there’s really no quick way to “get it out” aside from chipping up the soaked asphalt and replacing it with new. Once I had a beater truck for a couple years that leaked oil onto the asphalt driveway. Then I got rid of the beater truck and got a vehicle that doesn’t leak at all. …But over two years later, and after the driveway had been recoated twice–there is _still_ oil sweating up through the asphalt surface where the old truck leaked on it all the time. So if you have an asphalt driveway, you almost have to just prevent it from happening in the first place. ~ ---
**Author:** ![pace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pace)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/14 "2006-01-11T15:38:21Z")
these are all good suggestions, thanks!! BTW my driveway is concrete. Cat Litter: I did try that, it didn’t seem to work but I’ll try again and walk over it a little, as suggested, and let it set longer this time. If this doesn’t work this time, I’ll visit a shop like Carquest… I’m sure there must be one nearby. Someone mentioned dry cement powder… interesting as that seems to be what is spread on a neighbor’s driveway… they have an ancient BMW (withlots of problems), after walking my dog this a.m., I noticed the powder (I’m assuming) is still there. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/15 "2006-01-11T16:12:27Z")
Here’s the classic cure. **Tri-sodium phosphate.** It’s a very serious cleaner used for paint prep. It’s cheap, and you can get it at a paint or hardware store. Make a cake-batter-like paste with TSP and water, and spread it over the stain. Scrub it in just a little, and let it sit overnight. Hose it off. It may take another treatment. By the way, for those with **asphalt (blacktop) driveways, do not use gasoline!** It will dissolve the asphalt and make a hole in the drive. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2006, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/16 "2006-01-11T22:36:30Z")
> [@pace](#): > > i’ve tried bleach, ajax and various other cleansers, plus Catlitter… but nothing seems to diminish the stains… oh sure the rest of the area looks brighter but now the oil stains really stick out! > > Uuuggghhh, HELP!! I’m back with an example after playing golf. [Here are the results](http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dwsimm2000/detail?.dir=8cf7&.dnm=3771.jpg&.src=ph) from scrubbing oil stains on my driveway with Johnny Cat. It took about 3 minutes each time and there was about a 3 hour lapse between the two scrubls. I’m puzzled as to why your Catlitter didn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-oil-stains-from-driveway/339432/17 "2006-01-12T16:47:54Z")
I use mineral spirits (paint thinner). Pour it on untill it puddles. Then add kitty litter and work it in with a stiff broom. Let sit. Sweep. Repeat. You can even use the same kitty litter the second or third or as many times as you need to as long as it is not saturated with grease.