How to Remove Oil Stains from Concrete (DIY Methods)

Last Updated on October 19, 2025 by Thomas Smith

That Dreaded Driveway Blotch: Conquering Concrete Oil Stains for Good

You pull into the driveway after a long day, and there it is. That dark, ugly splotch staring back at you from the concrete. It’s a badge of dishonor for any homeowner or car enthusiast. Maybe it’s from your own leaky sedan, or perhaps it’s the ghost of oil changes past. Whatever the source, that stain feels permanent. Like it’s part of the family now.

Trust me, I’ve been there. I once spent an entire Saturday trying to scrub a transmission fluid stain off my garage floor with nothing but soap and a whole lot of frustration. I ended up with a sore back and a slightly lighter, but still very present, stain. It was a lesson in futility.

But here’s the kicker: it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right approach, you can make that stain vanish. And you don’t need a pressure washer or a chemistry degree to do it. This is your nononsense, beeninthetrenches guide to getting your concrete back to its original, clean self.

Why Oil Stains are Such a Stubborn Pain

Before we dive into the fixes, let’s understand the enemy. Concrete might look solid, but it’s actually incredibly porous. Think of it like a hard sponge. When oil drips onto it, it doesn’t just sit on the surface. It gets sucked down into all those tiny holes and passages.

Waterbased cleaners? They mostly just clean the very top. The oil deep down remains, slowly wicking its way back to the surface over time. That’s why so many quick fixes fail. You’re just dealing with the symptom, not the cause.

The goal, then, is to either pull the oil out of the concrete or break it down on a molecular level. The methods we’ll cover do one or the other. Sometimes both.

Your DIY Arsenal: What You’ll Need

You probably have most of this stuff in your house right now. No need for a fancy trip to the home improvement store. Here’s the typical lineup:

• Absorbents: Cat litter (the clay, nonclumping kind is best), baking soda, or cornstarch.
• Degreasers & Solvents: Dish soap (Dawn is the classic for a reason), WD40, rubbing alcohol, or a commercial concrete degreaser.
• Biological Cleaners: Powdered laundry detergent or a dedicated enzymatic cleaner.
• The Heavy Hitter: Trisodium phosphate (TSP), but handle with care.
• Tools: A stiffbristled brush (a wire brush for tough jobs, a nylon brush for lighter ones), a putty knife, and a garden hose.

Safety first, folks. Always wear gloves and safety glasses. Some of these substances are no joke.

The StepbyStep Battle Plan: From Simple to Supercharged

We’re going to start with the easiest, least aggressive methods and work our way up. Always try the simplest solution first. You might be surprised.

Method 1: The Immediate SoakUp (For Fresh Stains)

If you catch the drip within a few hours, you’re in luck. Your job is mostly about containment.

1. Soak it Up. Immediately cover the fresh oil with a thick layer of cat litter, baking soda, or cornstarch. Don’t be shy. You want to completely bury it.
2. Let it Sit. Give it at least an hour, but longer is better. Overnight is ideal. The absorbent material will literally pull the oil up and out of the concrete.
3. Scrape and Sweep. Use a putty knife to scrape up the nowoily gunk. Sweep it into a dustpan and dispose of it properly.
4. The Final Touch. There will likely be a faint shadow left. Make a paste of dish soap and water, scrub it in with your brush, and rinse. For most fresh stains, that’s all it takes.

Funny story: My neighbor once saw a fresh oil spot under his classic Mustang and panicked. He ran to his kitchen, grabbed a bag of cornstarch he used for frying chicken, and dumped it on the stain. The next day, he swept it up and the spot was 90% gone. A little dish soap took care of the rest. Sometimes the simplest hacks are the most effective.

Method 2: The Degreaser DoubleTap (For SetIn Stains)

This is for the stains that have been there for weeks, months, or even years. The ones that have become a permanent part of your garage’s aesthetic.

Option A: The Dish Soap Scrub

1. PreSoak. Wet the stained area with a little water.
2. Lather Up. Squirt a generous amount of dish soap directly onto the stain. Dawn Platinum is a powerhouse here. Add a sprinkle of baking soda for extra grit and cleaning power.
3. Elbow Grease Time. Scrub vigorously with your stiffbristled brush. Really work it in. You want to create a thick lather that penetrates the pores.
4. Let it Dwell. Walk away for 1530 minutes. Let the degreasing agents do their work.
5. Rinse and Repeat. Rinse thoroughly with a hose. If a shadow remains, don’t get discouraged. Repeat the process. It often takes a couple of rounds.

Option B: The Laundry Detergent Soak

Here’s a pro tip from my own experience with a stubborn engine oil stain. Powdered laundry detergent is designed to break down organic oils and greases. It’s a fantastic, cheap option.

1. Sprinkle a heavy layer of powdered detergent over the dry stain.
2. Add just enough hot water to create a thick, spreadable paste.
3. Scrub it in and let it sit for a few hours, or even overnight if the stain is really bad.
4. Scrub again and rinse. The stain should be significantly lighter, if not gone entirely.

Method 3: The Solent Solution (For Truly Stubborn Stains)

When degreasers aren’t cutting it, it’s time to bring in the solvents. These work by dissolving the oil bonds.

The WD40 Trick

It seems counterintuitive—using an oilbased product to clean an oil stain. But it works. WD40 is a petroleumbased solvent that can break down the heavier oil molecules in the stain.

1. Spray a generous amount of WD40 directly onto the stain.
2. Let it sit for 510 minutes to penetrate.
3. Scrub with a wire brush to agitate the nowloosened oil.
4. Soak up the resulting sludge with cat litter or paper towels.
5. Now, you have to clean the WD40 residue. This is crucial. Use your dish soap or degreaser method to clean the area thoroughly. If you skip this step, you’ll just have a different kind of stain.

A Word on TSP (Trisodium Phosphate)

TSP is a powerful, heavyduty cleaner. You can find it in the paint prep aisle of any hardware store. It’s excellent, but you must respect it. Wear gloves and goggles, and follow the package directions to the letter. It’s a goto for many professional contractors, but for the DIYer, it’s a last resort before calling in the pros. The EPA has information on its use and regulation if you want to read up on it.

Method 4: The Biological Breakthrough (The “Set It and Forget It” Method)

This is the most fascinating method, in my opinion. It uses biology to do the hard work for you. Enzymatic cleaners, or even simple powdered laundry detergent, contain bacteria and enzymes that literally eat the oil, breaking it down into harmless byproducts like water and carbon dioxide.

I used this on an ancient stain on my patio that I thought was a lost cause.

1. Wet the stain.
2. Sprinkle on a thick layer of an enzymatic cleaner or biological powder detergent.
3. Add just a little more water to activate it.
4. Now, here’s the key: cover it with a plastic tarp or a piece of cardboard. This keeps it moist and allows the bacteria to thrive.
5. Wait. This isn’t a quick fix. Leave it for 4872 hours, keeping it damp.
6. After a few days, remove the cover, scrub the residue, and rinse. The stain should be dramatically reduced or completely gone.

It’s slow, but it’s incredibly effective and requires almost no scrubbing. The EPA even recognizes bioremediation as a valid method for cleaning up oil spills.

Prevention: The Ultimate Life Hack

The best way to deal with an oil stain is to never get one in the first place. I know, easier said than done. But a little prevention saves a whole lot of cleaning.

• Seal Your Concrete. This is the single best thing you can do. A highquality concrete sealer fills those pores, creating a protective barrier that makes future cleanups a breeze. It’s like putting a screen protector on your phone.
• Use a Drip Pan. If you have a leaky vehicle, keep a disposable aluminum roasting pan or a commercial drip pan under it until you can get it fixed.
• Lay Down Cardboard. In a pinch, a few layers of cardboard under the engine or transmission can save your floor.

The biggest mistake I see people make is waiting too long to address a leak. A small drip today is a giant, setin stain next month.

When to Throw in the Towel and Call a Pro

Look, I’m all for DIY. But sometimes, a stain is too big, too old, or you’ve simply run out of time and energy. If you’ve tried the methods above and that blotch is still mocking you, it might be time to call in a professional with a commercialgrade steam cleaner or pressure washer.

Professionals have access to industrialstrength solvents and equipment that can blast stains away without damaging the concrete. It’s a cost, for sure, but it can be worth it for your peace of mind. If you’re considering this route, look for a company that specializes in concrete or driveway cleaning.

Your Concrete Cleaning Questions, Answered

Will a pressure washer remove oil stains from concrete?

Sometimes, but not on its own. A pressure washer is fantastic for rinsing away the residue after you’ve used a degreaser or solvent to break the oil down. Blasting a dry, setin oil stain with highpressure water will just drive it deeper into the concrete or spread it around. Always pretreat.

What is the fastest way to remove an oil stain?

For a fresh stain, the cat litter soakup is shockingly fast and effective. For a setin stain, a combination of a solvent like WD40 followed immediately by a strong degreaser like dish soap is your quickest onetwo punch. It’s a bit more work, but it delivers results in under an hour.

Does baking soda and vinegar remove oil stains from concrete?

This is a classic DIY combo, but it’s not the best for oil. The fizzing action is satisfying, but vinegar is a mild acid, not a degreaser. Baking soda is a great mild abrasive and absorbent on its own, but the vinegar neutralizes its absorbency. You’re better off using baking soda with dish soap or just using a dedicated degreaser.

Can an oil stain be permanently removed from concrete?

In almost all cases, yes. “Permanent” is a strong word, but you can reduce it to the point where it’s virtually invisible to the naked eye. Very old, deeply saturated stains might leave a faint shadow, but even that can be minimized with repeated treatments or a professional cleaning. Don’t lose hope.

So, there you have it. That stain on your driveway or garage floor isn’t a life sentence. It’s a temporary nuisance. Grab some cat litter, your trusty bottle of Dawn, and a little bit of elbow grease. You’ve got this. Your clean, pristine concrete is waiting to make a comeback.