First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot or absorb. Don't wipe or rub.
- Cover the spill with cornmeal, sand, sawdust or Fuller's Earth.
- Ventilate, and keep flames and sparks away from oils and solvents.
Motor oil on concrete is an oil-based stain, and it sinks into the slab the longer it sits. Wiping only spreads it and drives it deeper, so your first job is soaking up as much as you can. Older spots need stronger methods with more risk of damage, so a stain-specific cleaner beats a homemade mix.
Removing car oil from concrete goes faster once the surface oil is gone and you add an oxygen bleach powder. Keep your pressure light, since hard scrubbing drives the oil deeper, and transmission fluid off concrete behaves the same way. If the spot still won't lift after a few rounds, call a professional rather than grinding at it.
Before you start
What this material can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Hot water
- Soaking
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
6 items
What you'll need
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- Cornmeal, sand, sawdust or Fuller's EarthSoaks up the free oil before any cleaning starts. (opens Amazon)
- Paper towels or absorbent clothsPick up free-standing oil without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- Liquid or powdered laundry detergentMakes the hot scrub for fresh spots. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff bristle brush or broomWorks the cleaner into the concrete. (opens Amazon)
- Trisodium phosphateUsed for the soak when the scrub is not enough. (opens Amazon)
- Mineral spirits or paint thinnerOnly for old oil that has soaked in. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5A few hours
Absorb the spilled oil
Spread cornmeal, sand, sawdust or Fuller's Earth over the stain while the oil is still fresh. Leave it on the spot for a few hours, then sweep or vacuum it up.
Tip. Press paper towels straight down onto any free-standing oil and lift them straight up.
Step 2 of 5
Scrub with hot laundry detergent
Make a strong solution of laundry detergent and hot water, then scrub the stain with a stiff brush. Rinse the area well with clean water once the oil has lifted.
Tip. Work from the outside edge of the stain toward the middle so the oil doesn't spread.
Careful. Use a stiff bristle brush only. Wire brushes can leave rusting particles on the concrete.
Step 3 of 515-20 minutes
Soak with trisodium phosphate
Dissolve 1 cup of trisodium phosphate in 1 gallon of hot water. Mop it over the spot or pour it on the stain, and let it soak for 15-20 minutes.
Tip. Work in a small area at a time so the solution stays wet on the concrete.
Step 4 of 5
Scrub and rinse thoroughly
Scrub the soaked area hard with a stiff brush or broom. Rinse thoroughly with clear water until the water runs clear.
Tip. If the rinse water still looks oily, scrub that spot again before you move on.
Step 5 of 5
Repeat if the stain remains
Once the concrete has dried, check whether the stain is still visible. If it is, repeat the trisodium phosphate soak and the scrub. For a spot that still won't lift, mix 1 part trisodium phosphate to 6 parts water into a paste and spread it over the stain.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for motor oil
Choose a proprietary stain-specific cleaner over a homemade mix when the stain is old. Look for one labeled for oil or grease on concrete.
OxiClean Versatile Stain Remover Powder
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on these surfaces, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Pick what it is on
Motor Oil on every material
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
The stain is gone when the spot dries to the same color as the concrete around it. A dark patch that stays dark after drying means oil is still in the pores, so the soak and scrub need another round.
What changes for yours
Adjust for where the stain is
Transmission fluid
Transmission fluid is an oil, so the motor oil steps apply without changes. Soak up the free fluid with cornmeal, sand or sawdust first, then move on to the detergent scrub and the trisodium phosphate soak.
Transmission fluid that has sat on the concrete for days behaves like set-in oil, so expect to need the longer treatment. If it has soaked into a carpet or rug in the garage, the Carpet & Rugs guide covers that surface.
Hydraulic fluid
Hydraulic oil is usually oil-based, so the motor oil steps are the place to start. Read the product label first, because some hydraulic fluids are synthetic or fire-resistant and may not respond the same way.
If the label names one of those types, test a small hidden patch with a single step before you scrub the whole spot. Soak up the free fluid with cornmeal, sand or sawdust first, the same as with motor oil.
Coolant or antifreeze
The oil steps aren't written for coolant or antifreeze, so don't assume they'll work the same way. Start by soaking up what you can with cornmeal, sand or sawdust.
Test a small hidden patch with one step before scrubbing the whole spot. If a stain is still visible after that, have it sampled and sent to a testing laboratory before you try anything stronger.
Power steering fluid
Power steering fluid is usually an oil-based product, so the motor oil steps are the starting point. Check the label first, since some formulas are different and should be tested on a hidden patch before you scrub.
Absorb the free fluid with cornmeal, sand or sawdust before anything else. Then follow the detergent scrub and the trisodium phosphate soak.
Brake fluid
Brake fluid calls for a more cautious start than oil, so begin by testing a small hidden patch before you scrub anything. Soak up as much of the free fluid as you can with cornmeal, sand or sawdust first.
Wait for the test patch to dry before you judge the result. If the stain persists, a testing laboratory can take a sample and identify it.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old motor oil that has sunk deep into concrete and dried needs more than the basic steps. Saturate the area with mineral spirits or paint thinner, then cover the liquid with dry cement, talcum powder, cornstarch or kitty litter.
For a stain that has dried in, make a poultice from talc, whiting, Fuller's Earth or diatomaceous earth with the solvent. Spread it at least 1/8 inch thick, cover it with plastic for 24 hours, let it dry, then scrape or brush it off.
Repeat the poultice as needed, since old stains take more than one round. Older stains need stronger methods, and each one carries more risk of damage to the concrete, so stop and reassess if the surface starts to change.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on motor oil?
Many household products get suggested for oil stains. Some remedies are built into the cleanup, some only help a little, and others aren't worth the trouble.
Helps3Skip3
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Baking soda + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
OxiClean's label says not to mix it with other household chemicals.
If they mix by accident: Don't use or store the mixture and don't seal it in a bottle. Open windows and leave the room if you notice fumes, coughing, eye or throat irritation. Rinse it away with plenty of water once the area is ventilated. If anyone has symptoms or swallowed it, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or use poison.org.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use gasoline, lighter fluid or benzene
None of these is a spot remover, and benzene can ignite from friction or rubbing. The absorbents, the detergent scrub and the trisodium phosphate soak clean this stain without that risk.
Don't mix removers without rinsing
If you move from the trisodium phosphate soak to a solvent, rinse thoroughly with clear water between them. Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia, vinegar or alcohol.
Don't call the job done too early
Oil stains tend to reappear just when you think you've seen the last of them. Wait until the concrete is fully dry before you decide it's clean.
Don't add cooking oil to the spot
Unsaturated fats and oils don't help a stain. If they aren't completely removed, they age and form yellow stains.
Don't reach for muriatic acid
Unbuffered muriatic (hydrochloric) acid and hydrofluoric acid cause further stains and acid burns. They make the spot worse, so keep them off the concrete.
When to call a professional
If the concrete has a water repellent or another treatment on it, a professional can advise you before you scrub, because those coatings can interfere with cleaning. For a stain you can't identify, a testing laboratory can take a sample and tell you what it is.
Questions
Does coolant or antifreeze stain concrete?
Coolant and antifreeze need a different starting point than oil, so don't assume they'll behave like oil. Soak up what you can with cornmeal, sand or sawdust, then test a small hidden patch before you scrub the whole spot.
Do transmission, brake, hydraulic, or power steering fluid stain concrete?
Transmission, hydraulic and power steering fluids are usually oil-based, so they can leave an oil stain and the motor oil steps are the starting point. Brake fluid calls for a more cautious start, so test a small hidden patch before you scrub it.
Does motor oil, car oil, or engine oil stain concrete?
Yes. Motor oil is an oil-based stain, and wiping it spreads the oil and drives it deeper into the concrete. Absorb the spill first, then follow the detergent scrub and the trisodium phosphate soak.
Can you get car oil out of a concrete driveway?
Yes, and fresh spills are the easiest. Start with cornmeal, sand or sawdust while the oil is still fresh, then work through the detergent scrub and the trisodium phosphate soak.
Can I use dish soap instead of laundry detergent?
Yes. A plain liquid dish soap works as the detergent in a hot scrub, because its surfactants break down grease. Use the same method with hot water and a stiff brush.
How do you get old, dried motor oil out of concrete?
Old oil can come out, but it usually takes more than one round. Saturate the area with mineral spirits or paint thinner, cover it with dry cement, talcum powder, cornstarch or kitty litter, and repeat the poultice as needed.
Related
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.