How to Remove a Permanent Oil Stain in a Driveway

Oil stains are par for the course if you grill or do auto repairs on your driveway. These greasy stains are notorious for being difficult to remove. The key to removing a fresh or old oil stain is knowing that your driveway surface is porous and you must draw the stain out after it's absorbed. Cleaning the surface alone isn't enough to get rid of the discoloration. When you use effective cleaning procedures and supplies, you can remove an old oil stain from your driveway.

Hose
1 tbsp. dishwashing detergent
Nonmetallic scrub brush
Talcum powder
Plastic wrap
Plastic scraper
Bucket
1 oz. muriatic acid
Rubber gloves
Sawdust
Broom
Dustpan
Trash bag

Instructions

- 1
  
  Detergent emulsifies on your driveway, pushing the oil stain out.
  
  Wet the oil stain on your driveway with water from the garden hose. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of dishwashing detergent over the stain.
- 2
  Scrub the dishwashing detergent with a nonmetallic scrub brush until you create a foamy froth that covers the entire oil stain.
- 3
  
  Talcum powder helps make a poultice to draw out the oil stain.
  
  Cover the detergent with talcum powder. Lay a piece of plastic wrap over the powder and detergent combination and press down. Leave the plastic wrap on the driveway surface until the combination dries completely.
- 4
  Remove and discard the plastic wrap. Scrape the dried powder and detergent off the driveway with a plastic scraper. Wet the scrub brush with water and wash the residue off the driveway.
- 5
  Treat any remaining oil stain on the driveway with diluted muriatic acid. Pour 10 ounces of water into a bucket, then add 1 ounce of muriatic acid.
- 6
  Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin. Dip the scrub brush into the diluted acid and scrub the remaining oil stain.
- 7
  Cover the muriatic acid solution with sawdust to absorb the mixture. Let the sawdust soak up the solution for 20 minutes.
- 8
  Sweep up the sawdust and muriatic acid solution with a broom and dustpan. Wash the driveway surface with 2 or 3 drops of dishwashing detergent. Rinse the driveway with the hose and allow the surface to air dry.

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