There’s no denying that oil stains are a pain, whether they appear on clothes, driveways or patios.
Whilst a bit of dirt is generally accepted here and there, oil stains prove to be a whole different kettle of fish.
Not only are they an eyesore, but they can also cause damage to the driveway – and sadly, your garden hose simply won’t cut it.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom removing oil stains isn’t an impossible feat by any means in fact, some household items can do just the trick, vouch the experts at Terraform Driveways.
They believe that laundry detergent “works the best” when it comes to vanquishing oil stains because it “contains surfactants and often a mild alkali”.
These molecules enhance the capability of water and other substances to blend, thereby making it “effective at dissolving dirt as well as oil quickly”.
They explained further: “Remember that oil is hydrophobic so a surfactant can help to lift it even when it wouldn’t naturally.”
Tricks for those using powdered laundry detergent include mixing it with warm water to conjure up a paste which can then be applied to the oil stain.
Allow this to sit for 30 minutes and then give it a good scrub with a stiff wire or nylon brush to get rid of any lingering residue.
For those who prefer liquid laundry detergent, it’s even simpler. Simply pour the solution directly onto the stain and follow the same scrubbing process using a bristle brush.
Finally, they should rinse the excess oil and laundry detergent with a hose. Once it’s dry, they’ll be able to see if there is any oil residue left and whether they need to treat the oil stain again.
A second household staple the experts recommend using is baking soda as it has “ultra-absorbent” properties. This method will prove more effective for “oil leaks that are still wet”.
Baking soda is a go-to for getting rid of oil stains from clothing but it can also be an “effective method” of removing oil from a concrete surface.
The first thing that you need to do is create a paste of baking soda and warm water and apply it to the oil stain. Leave it for 30 minutes or let it sit overnight if it is a particularly large stain, then get in there with a stiff brush and some dish soap or even laundry detergent and scrub it.
Households may need to put in some elbow grease in to remove the stains from their driveway but if they do catch it soon enough and it’s a fresh stain, it “shouldn’t be too difficult”. Finally, rinse with clean water.
