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How can I remove oil stains from my driveway or garage floor?
Oil stains are a common symptom of classic car ownership. They’re also an unsightly blot on an asphalt or paved driveway, and a recent spillage can be dangerously slippery.
Unfortunately, cleaning them up is incredibly difficult. Oil stains are notoriously stubborn and can seem impossible to scrub off. The most obvious - and effective - course of action is to hire a specialist cleaner to clear your driveway up - or indeed, to take preventative measures in the first place by putting a tray of sawdust or cat litter underneath the car to catch drips or when filling up.
But if you want to have a go yourself, there are a few tricks of the trade you can try first. These methods are rumoured to be great for removing oil spills, and though we can't guarantee meaningful results, you might find they lessen the stain or remove it to a point you're happy with. Either way, we'd advise against ploughing straight in and covering the stain with them right away; it makes sense to test them on a discreet corner of your driveway first, just in case they damage the surface. And remember: if all else fails, call in the experts.
How to deal with oil stains
1. Coca-cola
Often adequate for small stains on a drive or garage floor, cola is a good place to start. Pour the beverage onto the affected area and leave overnight, before rinsing it off with water. The effectiveness of this method will be greatly reduced on a sloping drive, and it really won’t work with large spillages, but if you’ve recently left a dribble of 10W40 on the drive and have a can or two of coke in the fridge, this could be a passable short-term fix.
2. WD-40
Using a similar method, spray copious amounts of WD-40 onto the affected area and then leave it overnight. Once you’ve rinsed away the ensuing mess the following morning, you should find that the WD-40 has cleared up most - if not all - of the oil. This will also work on oil stains in your clothes, though only clothes you don’t care about.
3. Detergent
While commercial detergents might seem like an obvious answer, the real solution here is in the scrubbing. A good brush with hard bristles should help lift the worst of the stain when combined with a frothy, ideally warm, mixture of soap and water. Depending on how delicate the affected surface is, a wire brush might be more effective.
4. Oven cleaner
Apply as much oven cleaner as you can spare to the oil spill, then wait at least 15 minutes for it to do its job. After scrubbing the area very hard using a steel or hard-bristled brush, you should find that most of the oil stain has been cleaned. Remember that oil stains have a habit of reappearing, so you might have to do this twice.
If after trying all of these methods you still have an oily smear on your drive, it’s time to get serious and call a driveway cleaning specialist.
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