How To Get Oil Off A Driveway

As every homeowner will know, driveways can be extremely handy.

They provide a safe place for people to park their vehicles, enhance convenience and offer an aesthetic and practical appeal that in some cases can even increase property value. As well as this, many insurance providers will often offer cheaper premiums for people who have a driveway, as it is deemed safer and more secure than parking on the street.

With all of these benefits in mind, it’s important that driveways are kept in a good condition and are well maintained. One of the biggest problems people who own driveways often notice is driveway stains that appear as a result of oil or other automotive fluids. 

If, for whatever reason, a car has an oil or fluid leak, it can drip onto the driveway causing unsightly stains that can damage the paving and become a slip hazard. With this in mind, removing oil stains as quickly as possible is essential.

In this article, we’ll explain how to get oil stains off a driveway, providing you with an array of helpful tips to ensure you can perform the task effectively. 

How Does Oil Get On A Driveway?

Before we provide you with the various different methods you can attempt to get oil off a driveway, let’s first take a look at how it gets there in the first place. 

As previously mentioned, both oil and other fluids can sometimes leak onto driveways from your vehicle and the most common instances of this happening include:

• Petrol or diesel leaks – If you drive a fuel car (that is powered by petrol or diesel) then this fuel is actually a type of crude oil. These types of leaks suggest that there is a problem with the vehicle, and it’s important you get this addressed as soon as possible. Not only does this problem impact your car’s ability to drive, but losing fuel can also cost you money as you’ll find yourself having to fill up more regularly. 
• Transmission fluid – Another common leak that can appear on driveways is transmission fluid. This is another important automotive fluid as it can help to lubricate the many metal moving parts and components that make up a vehicle. A leak in this area can be a cause of concern because it can impact the power your car has and make changing gears more difficult. Usually, a transmission fluid leak will leave a red-coloured oil stain on your driveway as opposed to the usual black colour you will see with normal oil.
• Motor oil – One of the most common oil stains you’ll spot on driveways comes from motor oil. This is oil that has leaked directly from your car’s engine and is a sign you should get your car looked at by a professional. While frustrating, motor oil is fairly easy to clean if you know how.    

How To Get Oil Off A Driveway 

Oil stains on your driveway can be unsightly and damaging, so it’s important to clean it up as soon as you notice it. – In this section, we’ll look at how to get oil off a driveway. 

Before you begin, you should decide what method to use. While there are several different ways you can get oil off a driveway, you should first assess the type of driveway you have. If your driveway is made from asphalt you should use soap based products rather than solvents. 

If you’re working on a driveway that is on an incline, you should always begin at the highest point and work your way downwards. This way dirty water will not flow over areas that you’ve already cleaned and cause you to have to go over it again. 

There are a whole host of different methods you can try to clean an oil stain including the following:

Use Soap and Water

Sometimes the most obvious solutions are the best, and before you try any innovative options it’s always worth just giving the stain a good scrub with soap and water to see if that makes a difference. 

If the oil stain has not yet fully dried, soak up any excess using an absorbent cloth. Then, soak the stain with warm water. Using a stiff brush, give the stain a thorough scrub before hosing it down. 

Use Baking Soda

Alternatively, you can use baking soda to tackle the stain.

Baking soda features a number of chemical properties that make it an excellent solution for handling all kinds of grease and oil stains. It’s often used as a domestic cleaner, but can also be applied to oil stains on driveways. 

The reason it tends to be favoured is because it is abrasive without causing additional damage to surfaces where it is deployed. 

Create a paste like substance by combining the baking soda with water before scrubbing the stain. 

Use WD-40

While it might seem counterproductive to use another lubricant on an oil stain, WD-40 has also been known to help.

Many of its ingredients are able to penetrate oil stains, and for this method, you should spray the affected area with the WD-40. Once you’ve done this, wait 20 minutes to half an hour before wiping the area clean with a damp sponge. 

Repeat the process if you need to. 

Use Cat Litter 

It might seem strange, but cat litter can also help with oil stains. 

Using clay-based litter, sprinkle it across the stain and wait for it to absorb. 

Then, sweep up the litter and you may find the oil stain has disappeared. This method is most effective to new stains that are yet to fully dry. 

Use Oven Cleaner 

Oven cleaner is another thing you can attempt with a driveway oil stain. Spray your chosen oven cleaner over the stain and leave for 15 minutes. Then, rub and scrub the affected area. 

Be careful if there are any plants close to the stain when using this method, as oven cleaner contains chemicals that could be harmful to them.