What Cleans Oil From Concrete?
Do you have concrete surfaces at your Chicago, IL property? The answer is almost assuredly yes. This is because concrete is used to create a wide variety of structures, including sidewalks, retaining walls, patios, and perhaps most prominently driveways and parking lots. When you park your vehicle, it’s almost always on some sort of concrete surface. However, this also means that when oil leaks from your automobile, it’s absorbed by your concrete. This will make you wonder—what cleans oil from concrete anyway?
In this blog, we’ll teach you the best ways to prevent oil stains, as well as how to tackle them if you’re already stuck with them. We are Chicagoland Pressure Washing, and it is our pleasure to teach you. Of course, if you ever need professionals to clean your concrete, we’re just a phone call away.
What Makes Oil So Hard to Remove?
Oil is extremely difficult to remove from concrete, but why? There are a few key reasons for this. First and foremost, oil naturally resists water. This makes it more resilient against traditional cleaning methods. Secondly, oil creates chemical bonds with concrete, effectively “gluing” it in place. Finally, oil soaks into the pores of your concrete over time. The deeper oil penetrates your concrete, the harder it will be to get it out.
In the event of an oil spill on your concrete, take immediate action. The less time oil has to soak into concrete, the easier it will be to remove. However, even deep oil stains can be brightened or removed with the correct techniques.
Soak Up Recently Spilled Oil
Let’s say that you just parked your car, stepped outside, and discovered that the vehicle is leaking oil. And that oil is quickly making a massive puddle. If you shrug your shoulders and ignore this problem, you will certainly wind up with a massive oil stain on your concrete. Don’t let this happen. Instead, take preventative action—that way, you can mitigate if not completely avoid the possibility of permanent oil stains.
The key to controlling recently spilled oil is cat litter. By applying a generous helping of this substance to the oil, you will quickly soak it up, stopping it from penetrating your concrete. Don’t have cat litter on hand? There are many alternatives that you can use, including baking soda, corn starch, sand, and diatomaceous earth. It’s likely that you have at least one of these substances at your property already.
Choosing a Cleaning Solution
Do you need to remove an oil stain that has already been on your concrete for a while? If so, expect a challenge. That’s because oil has deeply penetrated and formed chemical bonds with your concrete at this point. That doesn’t mean the situation is helpless, though. With cleaning solutions, you’ll be able to weaken tough oil stains so they can be more easily removed.
When choosing a cleaning solution, you’ll want to keep the severity of the stain in mind. So, what cleans oil from concrete? Light stains can be tackled with something as gentle as dish soap and water. However, tougher stains need more effective chemical cleaners. For example, alkaline and oxidizing degreasers shatter the chemical bonds between oil molecules and your concrete so it can be more effectively removed. So, don’t be afraid to invest in strong cleaning solutions. It will pay off later.
Other Preparations For Concrete Cleaning
What other ways should you prepare for concrete cleaning? We highly recommend that you purchase pressure washing equipment. That’s because pressure washing is one of the best ways to remove oil stains from concrete. Pressurized water is powerful enough to pierce through the pores in concrete, making it easier to “shake loose” oil molecules. Don’t forget to use safety equipment (such as goggles, gloves, and closed-toe shoes) when pressure washing.
Additionally, don’t forget to give yourself enough time for the work. Removing oil stains from concrete will likely require a few hours of your day. Finally, remember to clear off your concrete surface before attempting to clean it. This means that you’ll need to relocate any cars, furniture, or decorations to a separate location.
Removing Oil Stains From Concrete
Now that all the preparations are out of the way, let’s take what we’ve learned about what cleans oil from concrete and put it to good use. Begin by taking your cleaning solution of choice and applying a thin layer of it to the afflicted area. We recommend that you wait ten to fifteen minutes for the oil stain to be weakened. After this time has passed, you can progress into the pressure washing stage of the work. Set your pressure washer to a water pressure of 3,000 to 3,500 PSI, aim at the oil stain, and start spraying!
The quality of the results depends on the age of your oil stain. Older oil stains that have penetrated your concrete deeply are less likely to go away. Newer stains, on the other hand, might be lifted entirely. Either way, you can expect oil stains to at least be brightened by the pressure washing process. It certainly beats having jet-black blemishes on your driveway, parking lot, or other concrete surfaces.
Professional Concrete Cleaning Near You
Learning what cleans oil from concrete is one thing. Actually applying that knowledge to a DIY project is another. This work requires time, energy, and if you don’t have the correct equipment already, money. Because of this, you might not feel encouraged to remove oil stains from your concrete on your own.
Looking for an easier alternative? By scheduling an appointment with Chicagoland Pressure Washing, you’ll avoid this hard work by letting a team of professionals handle it for you. It is always our pleasure to serve our community, and we’ll do whatever it takes to lift those oil stains from your concrete. Contact us online and let us know how we can help you today! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible with a free cost estimate.
