If you have a new concrete driveway, there’s nothing worse than having a large oil stain on it. Those oil stains don’t look very nice for one. Oil is not the best substance to have on concrete either. It can damage concrete over time.　There are of course a number of different ways to remove oil stains from concrete.
One of these ways is by using a basic household item, Coke, or Coca-Cola.
How to Remove Oil Stains from Concrete with Coke
In case you are wondering how Coca-Cola removes oil stains from concrete, this is because it does in fact have grease-fighting capabilities. Coca-Cola contains a good deal of phosphoric acid, which is well known for being able to break down grease. The good thing about using Coke to remove oil stains from concrete is that it is a very cheap thing. A single can of Coke is about $1. If you buy a dozen cans at once, you’re looking at an even much lower price.
There is also the fact that Coke doesn’t really contain any chemicals that are harmful to the environment like some other oil-removing products might contain. It’s also something that you probably just have laying around your house. Let’s face it, most of us have a can or two around.
Furthermore, using Coca-Cola to remove oil stains from concrete is also exceedingly simple. Let’s go over a quick tutorial on how to remove oil stains from concrete with Coke. This is a very simple process, so there are only a few steps:
- Sweep the affected area so there is no dust or debris present.
- Before you get started, make sure that the Coca-Cola is room temperature. It should not be freezing cold. Pour the Coca-Cola onto the oil stain on the concrete. Make sure to completely cover and saturate the oil stain.
- Leave the Coca Cola on the oil stain overnight, or for at least eight hours. If the oil stain is very severe, it may take 12 to 14 hours or even longer for the Coca-Cola to work.
- You should then be able to scrub the oil away using a stiff bristle brush, and then wipe away the residue with any kind of rag or towel. You may even be able to just rinse it away with a hose.
Mistakes to Avoid, Tips & Tricks
If the above method did not work, there are some additional things that you can do to try and improve the results. It’s not a different process necessarily, but you will be adding some steps.
Use Kitty Litter or Baking Soda
Once you have let the Coca-Cola soak in, before you start scrubbing it with a brush, you may want to put some kind of powder onto it. One thing that works very well here is Kitty litter. Kitty litter is very absorbent and can absorb that oil. The same thing goes for some basic baking soda. Pour this onto the area while it is still wet, and then commence scrubbing.
Use Boiling Water and Dishwasher Detergent
If this still does not work, there is another thing that you can do. Once you have scrubbed the area with Kitty litter, take some boiling hot water and pour it onto the area. You now also want to add a good deal of dishwasher detergent. You can now use that same stiff brush to scrub it again. The oil should now no longer be on the concrete.
On a side note, never try to put water on the oil stain before the Coca-Cola. The only thing you will accomplish by doing this is to put a barrier between the oil and Coca-Cola.
4 Alternative Ways of Removing Oil Stains from Concrete
In case you don’t have any Coca-Cola, or if the Coca-Cola method did not work for you, there are some alternatives for removing oil stains from concrete.
- Using Dish Soap: Dish soap works through an emulsification process. This means that when it comes into contact with oil, it lifts the oil up off the surface and combines with it. You can use dish soap and hot water to scrub the oil stain thoroughly and then rinse it away with water.
- Using Powder Laundry Detergent: You can also cover the oil stain with powdered laundry detergent. Then, slightly wet the laundry detergent. Then, use a stiff bristle brush to scrub it away.
- Using Baking Soda and Water: Covering the oil stain in a combination of baking soda and water may also be able to remove the stain, as baking soda does have stain removing capabilities.
- Chemical Oil Stain Remover Products: You then also have a variety of chemical oil stain remover products that you can purchase.
Summary
You should now know everything you need to know about how to remove oil stains from concrete. While, as described in this article, using Coca-Cola is a great option, there are some alternatives too.