Q: How do you get oil stains off a concrete driveway? I used Gunk to scrub the oil itself off, but I still have a stain. The driveway is two years old and was never sealed.
A: Use a big pile of cat litter scattered over the stain to pull the oils out of the concrete. Cover the cat litter with newsprint and leave overnight. Then remove the litter, and lightly cover the stain with a non-bleaching powdered laundry detergent. Dampen the detergent just enough to make a paste and again cover and leave overnight.
The next day remove the detergent leaving just a thin layer of the detergent paste. Add water and use a heavy wire brush to scrub the area. Push the brush in small circles, adding water and more of the paste as needed. Scrub some of the area just outside of the stain so that the unaffected concrete and the stained area have a similar shade.
You will be able to see some of the stain for a short time after the area has dried, but the remaining discoloration should fade away with time. Once the stain has disappeared, power wash the entire concrete driveway, then seal the concrete with an outdoor sealer.
Choose a sealer that does not break down under the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Your paint dealer or concrete supplier should be able to assist you in choosing a clear concrete sealer or a concrete stain. Just remember that exterior sealers and stains are similar to exterior paints in that the concrete will have to be resealed or restained as part of your home maintenance program.
(Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home-improvement questions at PO Box 268, Evansville, IN 47702 or send him e-mail at d.barnett@insightbb.com.)
Resources American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
To locate an American Society of Home Inspectors inspector near you, call or visit the website of ASHI.
American Society of Home Inspectors
Website:
www.ashi.org
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