Perhaps you were going through a DIY phase, tried to change your oil at home, and ended up dribbling oil across the driveway. Or, maybe an engine gasket sprang a nasty oil leak, turning a little "drip drip" into a major "drop everything and head to the nearest shop!" Whatever the case, an oil leak can lead to an unsightly oil stain in your garage, driveway, or parking spot. Get that oil leak repaired at your local Firestone Complete Auto Care and learn how to clean up the stain it leaves behind in three simple steps. Please note that this method of cleaning up motor oil is specifically for concrete surfaces.
Step #1: Gear up and get ready.
This method doesn't require anything in the way of special tools or solvents. In fact, there’s a good chance you already have everything you need, especially if you have a cat!
- Clay-based kitty litter
- A brick
- Bucket of water and dish detergent
- Scrubbing brush
- Broom and dustpan
- An airtight metal coffee can with lid
- Garden hose (optional)
Step #2: Attack and attract the oil.
When it comes to staining concrete, motor oil doesn't bat an eye. Concrete is porous, meaning that it has small holes or spaces that oil can easily seep into. While this characteristic means it's pretty easy for oil to stain concrete, it also means there’s a good chance you can also get the oil out of the concrete. In this step, you're going to "attack" the stain with kitty litter, which will help "attract" or pull the motor oil up and out of the concrete.
Removing the ground-up kitty litter will reveal an improved patch of concrete. Even under the best of circumstances, though, there’s likely to be a slight discoloration left behind...which means it’s time for our final step: wet and wash!
Step #3: Wet and wash.
To wrap up your clean-up, have your bucket of water and scrub brush ready.
When it comes to oil stains, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or should we say, a pound of kitty litter? Thankfully, our experienced technicians at your local Firestone Complete Auto Care offer some of the best preventative car care around, like fast oil change services and comprehensive oil leak repairs. Visit your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care today and help make sure you never have to clean up an oil leak or stain again!
