Pesky grease stains making you feel depressed every time you enter the driveway? They can be stubborn, but there are ways to get them out. We’ve listed some methods below. Not that you’ll have the best luck with any of these methods if you don’t act soon after the spill happens.
Spread some kitty litter over the oil spot and it will get absorbed. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, or for a few hours or overnight if it was a large spill. Once it has sat for a while, crush and scrub the litter into the oil with a shoe, then sweep it up and throw it away. Image from The Art of Removing Stuff. This won’t necessarily remove the stain, but it will help absorb the excess oil.
After you have absorbed the oil with the kitty litter, use a scrub brush and concentrated detergent on the spill. Rinse the detergent off with water, and scrub again if necessary. Image found here.
If detergent didn’t do the trick, try spraying oven cleaner on the spot after using kitty litter. I found this one at Dollar Tree.
Use a commercial stain removal product. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use it. This one is from Pour-N-Restore for only $8.99.
Rent a pressure washer and clean your entire driveway. Image from CCM Rental.
Be aware that even after you’ve made your best effort, a mark may still remain. Be comforted by the fact that it will likely FADE over time. A little sunshine does some good all around, so just be patient with those pesky stains that you couldn’t get rid of.
In order to prevent stains from occurring, keep your car in good condition so it doesn’t leak. Another idea is to have a large piece of plywood under where the car is parked so if a spill occurs, it hits the plywood—NOT your driveway. Image from Bob Vila.
Caution: some people suggest using gasoline or other flammable materials to clean the spot.
That is very dangerous—just don’t do it.
Spray on brake cleaner, found at any good auto parts store, works better than anything else that I’ve tried.