How to Clean Grease and Oil Off of Concrete for Painting

Painted concrete alters the look of an indoor or outdoor area and can breathe new life into its appearance. For paint to adhere to the concrete, the surface must be clean. You can prepare your concrete for painting by cleaning grease and oil off the surface. Use supplies commonly found around the home, coupled with effective stain removal methods, and get greasy stains off the concrete.

Cat litter
Broom
Dustpan
Powdered detergent
Nonmetallic scrub brush
Talcum powder
Plastic wrap
Plastic scraper
Clean cloths
Towel

Instructions

- 1
  Pour cat litter over fresh grease or oil stains on concrete. Leave the litter on the concrete for 30 minutes to absorb the oil. Sweep up the litter with a broom and dustpan.
- 2
  Wet the concrete surface with water. Sprinkle powdered detergent over the stained area. Use a nonmetallic scrub brush to work the detergent into a lather.
- 3
  Apply a layer of talcum powder to the suds-covered concrete. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap. Allow the soap and talcum powder combination to dry on the concrete surface. As the mixture dries, it draws grease and oil out of the concrete.
- 4
  Scrape the dried talcum powder mixture off the floor.
- 5
  Dampen a clean cloth with water. Wipe the concrete surface to remove soap and powder residue.
- 6
  Dry the concrete with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Allow the concrete to air-dry completely before you start painting.

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