I bought a dump truck for my business but it has an oil leak that I need to address. It left quite a stain on our concrete driveway so I wanted to test out different methods for getting rid of the stains.
Paint thinner works perfect,been using it for decades and it NEVER harmed my driveway! Cleans fast,use a scurb brush for a few minutes rinse it off,oil spots gone!
Sounds like that would etch the concrete and still leave a 'stain' of sorts. But I'll test it out on a small spot first and see how it goes. I'm also curious to try Go-Joe hand cleaner to see what effect it would have.
Thanks for actually doing a side by side test! There's a lot of (cheap) talk, and then there are people like you who actually put it to the test and look for evidence... it's more work but it actually gets you the truth!
Forget all these “cleaners”. In concrete repair we do it differently. Soak it down with carburetor cleaner and wire brush it. Rub the surface with a white rag. Then use a propane torch on it. Keep the torch moving so you don’t leave burn marks. Remember torching the oil makes it vaporize so the deep oil will just go away.
I purchased a foam cannon a couple of years ago and for grins, I loaded it with Super Clean to see what would happen. The oil stains on my driveway had been there for, I don't know at least about 8-10 years, and I'd never had any luck with anything even making much more than a dent in the set-in oil stains. I had tried all sorts of cleaners and hadn't had any luck. I don't have a very powerful pressure washer, 1700 psi electric, and I wasn't even sure that it would drive the foam cannon or the rotating surface cleaner. But it did and I was surprised with the results. I foamed the driveway down with the Super Clean (full strength in the foam cannon bottle) and let it sit for about 20 minutes while I hooked up the surface cleaner to the pressure. The Super Clean had gotten down and pulled up the oil from the concrete and the combination did a fine job of cleaning. The driveway looked like it had never had an oil stain at all. However, there were a few rust stains that didn't come up. I hadn't even seen them before due to the oil stains The combination cleaned so well that I ended up having to do the entire driveway so that the clean area didn't stick out like a sore thumb.
Good video, it's hard to pick the best cleaner because of the thousands of variations in mixtures of concrete, the finish on the concrete , any additives used ect. I've been working on cars/trucks for 50yrs+ and I've cleaned my share of shop floors and driveways. The key I think is to clean up the oils quickly, if it's allowed to soak in for days or months it's going to be work. Pressure washer and letting Purple Power, Zep or Simple Green soak in for an hour can raise up some of the oils to wash away again. Every stain is a new adventure but the longer it is there the more work. I use lots of cardboard and drip trays.
Good video and good test of products. Over the years I have had the best results from dry concrete sprinkled from a bag. I cover the oil stain, let it set for a short time, then scratch it in with a wire brush, then let that sit for a while. Then broom it off or use dust pan. There is something about the dry concrete powder that seems to draw the oil out. If the area is really bad I repeat and this time put a bit of water on the dry concrete and turn it into a paste, let it dry then scratch it into the oil. Broom it off or use dust pan. I usually get a pretty good result and don't spend much money because a bag of concrete is only about $5-$8 and lasts for months or years.
I used to use this stuff in the early 1980's and it worked great. The method seemed to dissappear off the face of the earth. So glad to see a post from someone else who remembers it.
The best I’ve ever seen was to wipe up any liquid oil and scrape off oil and dirt build up. Then spread cheap kitty litter on and use a tamper to crush the clay into the stain. A power tamping machine is worth renting if you have large, several spaces to do. Let sit for 5-7 days. You can sweep any loose dust off if you want. Then pressure wash clean. Looks brand new!
Good review, the goof off did do best but it also had the smallest oil spill too. Not saying it would be different results but just noting. The overall from looking outside seems they all did pretty good.
I’ve used degreaser with dawn blue dish detergent. Works great especially after you scrub it on and let it sit under the hot sunlight for a few hours. 👍🏻
I was going to say just about the same think. I put Dawn dish washing liquid on the spots, scrub it in with a hand scrubber and let it sit until the rain washes it off. Has worked every time.
Plain cat litter. Put some over the stain, grind in with your shoe, then sweep it up. Then store the litter for the next spill. You can use it multiple times until it’s saturated
Dawn Powerwash Dishsoap worked really well for me. I figured people use Dawn to clean oil off animals… so why not try it? Superficial stains came out on the first try, caked on stains took 2-3x to clear, but I only let it sit for ~10-15 mins before scrubbing.
FYI, Dawn Powerwash is basically diluted Dawn dish soap with some isopropyl mixed in. At least for the Tide in this test, better results probably would have been achieved by using a diluted mixture to let it soak in better.
I wouldn't use it for spot cleaning carpets 'cause of the dye in it. I use clear Ivory dishsoap to spot clean carpets, you can add a bit of white vinegar. I do get good results.
I used Bi carb soda on mine just this week. REALLY FANTASTIC RESULTS. Mid into a paste, rub it in, wait, high pressure hose off. Naught need two goes of it.
For really really tough spots i use an ounce or 2 of swimming pool acid (muriatic acid) its gunna make the spot you clean look like fresh poured concrete so u gotta keep some water nearby to dilute it once it gets near the shade you want.
Oil is flammable and seeps into the concrete crevasses, use a torch and propane bottle to completely remove it. Be careful not to hold the flame too close or in one spot too long or the concrete will pop.
ZEP has great gallon cleaners. P.S. if you live by the oceans then you can get a massive ticket for washing engine degreasers into gutter and storm drains that flow to the ocean. Using a firmer deck scrubber works far better that a push broom
I have used the Zep orange degreaser along with the lightweight Zep powder absorbent. I put down the degreaser straight, scrub, then pick it all up with the absorbent.
I use cat litter, use the back side of the brush to kinda grind it into the concrete, brush it off after a few minutes, spray some carb cleaner over whats left, and then some more cat litter.
back in the day we used a few ounces of 87 octane pour directly on oil spot then pour oil dry or cat litter on top and grind it in with your feet wait 30 min. then sweep it up into open barrel fuel tends to evaporate in moments leaves no residue just bright white cement. but these days we pour purple power on oil scrub with hard bristle cement brush then carefully pour boiling water over the top if needed pressure wash.
Use Dawn dish soap. Cover the spot. Let it sit for a half or so, then use a brush to remove the oil stain. Spray off the soap. I figured if their removing oil on ducks, why not driveways.
Years ago when I owned a service station - - - Tide powder did the job and over time in penetrated the concrete and made easy clean up partly because of phosphates.
@@ryantourney2879 You can do either, but and the end of each day, wet down the concrete sprinkle tide broom it in, let it sit 5 minutes, rinse squeegee dry. Over a period of time Tide was in the concrete pours and you could wipe up a spill and it wouldn't penetrate into the concrete. Did the same at the pump block. Keep in mind Tide today is not the same it has no phosphates.
I have always been curious if coke or Dawn dish soap would do it. Coke will eat anything! and Dawn used to have an ingredient they used to use to clean oil spills in the ocean. I don't know if they still use the same thing.
I've been using straight Dawn dishwashing soap for years. I brush it on and let it sit. I used to do it when it was supposed to rain the next day. The oil was gone after it rained.
Interesting, I’ve used many different methods but powered mixes seem to help add some abrasive properties. I’ve been doing it for decades without a pressure washer.
Clothes and dish washing detergent mostly use TSP as the active ingredient. I tried to clean the garage floor. I used the powder straight out of the box and wet it lightly. Then waited an hour and pressure washed it. Did a decent job. My stains were years old and not maintained by the previous owner of the house. Three attempts made it acceptable. Best I could do.
I've found oil absorbent granules to be pretty effective and much less labor intensive, just gotta be patient, let it work for a few days and maybe do it over a couple times. Also probably more cost effective as well. But good video! 🙂
Use straight dawn dish washing liquid pour a glass of water on your dawn and let it sit until the next day and wash it off works great especially if you have fresh spots on your driveway
I’m terrible about leaving them for too long but I did recently spill a bunch of gear oil and was able to prevent a stain by using the suggestion another commenter made. I ground in cat litter with my boot and let it sit over night.
Dawn will work better if you use it correctly however Tide is a way better Surfactant. Surfactants like Tide work with water, preferably hot water and scrubbing then rinsing. Pouring full strength with no water is doing virtually nothing. Even better, while everything is still dry, first work in a layer of DE diatomaceous earth with a push-broom or scrub brush (dry) let set a few hours to absorb and draw the oil out of the concrete. After several hours sweep up the DE and then wash with hot water and Tide.
Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)! Make a paste, scrap the excess, spread the paste on oil spill with a putty knife, wait a little bit and pressure wash it off!! TSP is about $8 a box at Home Depot!
I use a propane torch. It brings it to the top and burns it away. You can’t stay in one spot for more than a few seconds or you will pop the cement. Very fast
I used something similar to the Goof Off remover, and it didn't work. Could it be because of the concrete being inside the garage and not exposed to the sun?
70 year old stains on my garage took three products: 1st was a concrete cleaner, which only removed the surface grease and most recent stains. Then Dawn dish detergent, only took a bit more off. Then I used acetone and a metal brush which removed about 90% of the remaining stain. But that even took three more applications. No free lunch. It requires a lot of elbow work.
I found using cement Mortar or Portland cement. You don't need a lot if you just doing small stains. It's so dry if you put it on the stain and all I did was use my work boots and just twist in my foot back and forth over the stain and use the fine brush to sweep it up and it's a lot easier
Also first using a cardboard rag to lay it flat stomp on n let it soak up , in a sunny day , then rubbed it off wiped it off, then the washing can began , some people use dry dirt on concrete mix to let soak up the oil , then it becomes stain of that material
I've used dry cat litter but haven't had that many grease/oil stains. If someone has a lot of oil stains . . . your vehicle is trying to get your attention for some maintenance.
The problem I see is that you're driving the oil back down into the concrete. What you have to do is DRAW it out of the concrete. The best method I have found is to get some volcanic gravel from your local landscaping supply or barbeque store or home depot and crush it up into a powder. Add your degreaser to the crushed rock to the consistency of let's say runny oatmeal and pour it on the oil stain and cover it with plastic. The reason for the plastic is to keep it wet longer. Give it 24 hours and remove it. This may take 2 or 3 times. When done do the last step with bleach and DE. (Diatomaceous Earth). This is what you call a poltice.
Cheapest kitty litter you can buy. The plain gray kind. Pour a thin layer and grind it into the stain with your boot. Sweep it up and use it again later. Chemicals can damage the finish on your concrete. Dish detergent would be better.
Best method, use oil adsorbent (or cat liter) and rub into concrete with a brick or block of wood, turns into a dusty powder, let it sit for a day and sweep or wash. Good as new.
I used oven cleaner, still required a bit of dawn and scrubbing. I did this within 2 days of a 2" circular drip leak My son says Purple Power driveway cleaner.
I've always used tide powder not the liquid and used a little water and a push broom to work it in then was it off its worked good for me but now i use dawn dish soap and tide powder
Years and years ago I worked at a Derby Station in Wichita,I had a female Boss who was a Stickler on the Islands Oil Spots and you’d be amazed how many cars leaked Oil,anyways the Old bag made me clean them everyday,she had a hefty supply of Oil dry /Kitty litter and a big supply of cardboard Pop Trays from deliveries anyhow this is what I had to do Spread oil dry over spots take a Cardboard box insert foot and scratch till spot is removed,well damn I kept that Island clean even though my Sneakers were smoking from the Friction, but damn it worked
In the 70-80s…when I was a kid working on my bike, TIDE only came in powder. But DANG if it wasn’t the best at getting grease and oil off your hands. Tree-huggers made them take out some of the cleaners after a while but…just sprinkle the powder on it next time. Why use watered down powder?plus it’s cheaper…..and greener, as you aren’t shipping all that WAYER with your CLEANERS. Edit…after google search the answer is TSP or Tri-sodium phosphate. That’s the good stuff they took out.
Any advice for active wet oil? For example, I just moved my Chevy Suburban and it looks like I just poured out a quart of motor oil on the driveway. I tried using some paper towels but didn't help me out much. Also, thank you so much for taking the time to post, love your videos.
Another commenter on this video recommended spreading cat litter and grinding it in with your boot. I tried that after this video and it worked great. Just use an old broom and sweep the litter into a dustpan.
The absolute best way is as follows. Get a piece of scrap drywall. Get a hammer and smash the white gypsum into a powder. Pour a tiny bit of gasoline on the oil and sprinkle the gypsum powder on it. The next day brush it off and rinse with a hose. I had some that was on concrete for over 15 years. Took it off. Best wishes, Kevin
Thanks bro ! I’m a new hvac student and I got oil everywhere removing a unit boss man said I better figure it out and thanks to you I did that goof off worked great #subscribed
Should have wet the concrete first, get the oil to rise a bit and chemically the ingredients in a lot of the cleaners need water to properly react and attach themselves to the oil molecules. Without water your essentially just pouring more stuff into of the oil and not doing anything to lift it out until you add the water.
I use Simple Green and it works great, smells good, and isn't toxic. Spray it on, scrub it in, wait for 5-10 minutes , scrub it again, rise off and you're good to go !!! And it's cheap...........
Two ways better then what your using. Get oil dry from auto parts store or cat litter. Spread it on the stains and grind it in to powder with a brick. The powder will soak up the oil The 2nd and easiest is a can of brake clean. It thins the oil and evaporates. No scrubbing or anything. Keep applying till the oil is gone.
During soak, Cover with a plastic sheet (using wood etc. strips to keep the sheet off the stains) to prevent drying out to keep the cleaning product 'active' ?????? It would 'seem' that the enhanced longer 'active' soak would be beneficial - IMO.
