# Oil Spill on Concrete **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 19, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-spill-on-concrete/81835 "2013-10-19T06:35:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DanTuch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e8cbc/32.png) [@DanTuch](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DanTuch)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-spill-on-concrete/81835/1 "2013-10-19T06:35:15Z")
A neighbor, widowed way to early, has oil leaked on her concrete driveway, some years old. What is the best way to remove? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 6:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-spill-on-concrete/81835/2 "2013-10-19T06:43:48Z")
I always start with a pressure washer. If the stain is still there after two or three attempts then I turn to my old standby…muriatic acid. It’s dangerous so keep all kids and pets away and read the application directions very carefully. ---
**Author:** ![DrRocket](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/drrocket/32/2603_2.png) [@DrRocket](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DrRocket)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-spill-on-concrete/81835/3 "2013-10-19T06:44:41Z")
Pretty tough to do. I worked in the R & D dept for a sweeper company, and we had a machine that we tried on various concrete pads for gas stations, and even with a power steam head at 1,200 psi, the stains were still there. You’re probably out of luck on this one. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 7:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-spill-on-concrete/81835/4 "2013-10-19T07:16:24Z")
Outside of kitty liter and floor dry, one thing that works pretty good to absorb the oil, believe it or not, is plain old portland cement. Sprinkle it on and let it sit to absorb for a few days or so. Then sweep, scrape, reapply if necessay, and wash. On washing, nothing better than a good strong solution of Simple Green. Tri sodium phosphate used to work but hard to find now. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-spill-on-concrete/81835/5 "2013-10-19T20:32:49Z")
Get a couple of cans of brake parts cleaner and a small bag of Oil-Dri from a parts store. Soak the oil stain with brake parts cleaner and then cover with the Oil-Dri and let sit for five minutes. Sweep the Oil-Dri off the stain and repeat as required. Tester ---
**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-spill-on-concrete/81835/6 "2013-10-19T20:45:17Z")
> **[How to Remove Paint from Concrete and Other Stains](https://www.familyhandyman.com/garage/removing-oil-paint-and-other-concrete-stains/view-all/)** > > We’ll show you how to remove paint from concrete, along with rust and oil. The secret is to draw the stain out of the concrete. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-spill-on-concrete/81835/7 "2013-10-19T21:03:51Z")
Scrub with hot water and dishwasher detergent…let the detergent soak for an hour then pressure wash or just rinse with a garden hose…