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Best thing to remove stains from the driveway?

handloader90

Building!
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I used some Zep concrete cleaner in conjunction with my 2800 PSI pressure washer and it didn't get up as much as I thought it would.

Just watched a video where someone used some Coke and let it sit then scrubbed it and it looked like it worked pretty good.

Any proven ways that you guys have?
 
In my experience,no matter what you use,you only get some of the oil or grease off--the rest sinks into the asphalt or cement and stays there for a long time...be careful with a pressure washer--I know on asphalt they can cut right down to gravel REAL fast!..:eek:..

Eventually years of rain,sun,and wind will erase all traces of it though--the spot where my '72 K5 left gear oil deposits where I parked it back in the 80's was a thorn in my dads side,so I rented a pressure washer and got some "TSP" (Tri-sodium-phosphate) from a paint store and scrubbed the area good and when I blasted it with the pressure washer,it removed some of the top layer of asphalt...:eek:..

I failed to get much of the stains out,and decided to just let things lie..now,some 25 years later,you cant detect any sign of stain at all...not sure if the oil sinks all the way through the asphalt,or simply gets washed away over time..
I never had much luck using "Gunk" or oven cleaner on tar or concrete,and most of the other stuff I tried like Greased Lightning or Simple Green,Castrol Super Clean,did remove some of it,but not all..

They used to sell some kind of powdered bacteria stuff to clean oil off concrete years ago--we used it in trade school,all it took was a small amount sprinkled over the stain,you wet it a little and let it sit a day or two,then washed it off,and it did do a remarkable job--supposedly the bacteria eats the oil ...cant recall the name of it now..
 
https://www.amazon.com/Pour-N-Restore-Oil-stain-Remover-32/dp/B000CCIESG

This stuff works awesome, but is quite pricey. I have tried powdered detergent, cola, cat litter, etc, and none work as good as the above. It has cleaned gallons of oil, transmission fluid, etc out of rentals, base housing, etc. If you let it dry all the way, I have had success with set in stains being un-noticeable.
 
Disclaimer: It's been over ten years since I've had a paved driveway...

I used to have tremendous luck with a product called Revive A Drive, available (back then) at any hardware store. Follow the directions exactly. I would say that on an oil change gone wrong, it would remove 95% of the stain.
 
https://www.amazon.com/Pour-N-Restore-Oil-stain-Remover-32/dp/B000CCIESG

This stuff works awesome, but is quite pricey. I have tried powdered detergent, cola, cat litter, etc, and none work as good as the above. It has cleaned gallons of oil, transmission fluid, etc out of rentals, base housing, etc. If you let it dry all the way, I have had success with set in stains being un-noticeable.
The Lowe's 2 mins. from mine has them in stock for a fair price.

I'll pickup a bottle tomorrow and see how it does.

Screenshot_20170514-202725.png
 
I've had pretty good success with Dawn liquid detergent. Squirt it around then spread it with a floor broom after hitting it with a light spray from a hose. Let it sit and let the rain wash it off. Depending on when I do it, it might stay for several weeks.
 
Your truck is marking its territory, totally natural and nothing to worry about!
 
I always use starting fluid works great for small spots never really tried on big spots that have been there awhile.
 
Brake cleaner or carb cleaner works pretty good if you keep up with your oil stains, I spray it on and walk away, rain will do the rest.
 
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