Leave Your Driveway Stain Free With These Simple DIY Methods

The driveway is vulnerable to get a lot of stains, whether from a car lea, or gasoline spill, or wine spills. Some of these stains are stubborn to come off, leaving the driveway looking old and neglected. To avoid that, you need some DIY methods of cleaning removing the stains.

Oils Stains

Oil stains are the most common types of stains on the driveway and the most stubborn. They leave a dark, unpleasant spot on the ground.

If the oils pill is wet, cover it with an absorbent material like baking soda, kitty litter, cornmeal, or sand. That helps absorb the excess oil before it is absorbed into the ground.
Once the excess oil is drained, sweep off the absorbent material and wet the stain with water.
Have a mixture of Tri-Sodium Phosphate or baking soda and water. Scrub it onto the stain with a stiff brush and let it sit for about thirty minutes, then wash it off with water.

Some other methods to remove an oil stain include;

Scrubbing the stain with a commercial degreaser and rinse it off after some time. It helps break down the oil. Do not use degreasers with solvents as they will do more damage to the driveway.
Covering the stain using spray lubricant, then rinsing it off with water.
Covering the stain with a mixture of water and laundry detergent and scrubbing it off with a stiff brush after some time of letting it sit.
Scrubbing the stain using a grease-cutting dishwasher using a stiff brush or broom.
Spraying a microbial stain remover on the stain and later washing it off using soap and water.

Gasoline Stains

Gasoline spills not only leave an unpleasant stain on the driveway floor, but they also leave an unpleasant smell that needs to be neutralized. If the spill is fresh;

Use an absorbent material like cat litter to cover the spill and wait for a few hours for it to absorb the excess gasoline.
Once the excess gasoline has been absorbed, scoop up the absorbent material and dispose of it according to the waste management requirements.
Make a thick mixture of Tri-Sodium Phosphate and a moisture absorbent powder like diatomaceous or cornstarch. Ensure to have protective gear on.
Spread the mixture on the stain, and with a stiff brush, scrub it to ensure it is absorbed into the concrete.
Spread another layer of paste on the stain and wait till it is completely dry.
Using a putty knife, scrape off the dried mixture and rinse the spot with a hose.
If the stain is old, repeat the process until it comes off.

Transmission Fluid Stain

Transmission fluid leaks or spills often stain the light-colored driveway floor with a bright red stain. The stain is easy to spot, and it makes the driveway look unpleasant. To remove it;

Spray oven cleaner on the stain and leave it for 5-15 minutes.
Use a stiff brush or broom to scrub the stain and rinse it off with high-pressure water from a hose.
Repeat the process if the stain does not come off.

There are other ways to remove other types of stains.

Soap, bleach, and water

Mix a cup of laundry detergent, a cup of bleach, and sixteen cups of warm or hot water, and pour the mixture on the stained spot.

To work it into the concrete, use a hard bristled brush or stiff broom and leave it for around 20 minutes, and wash it off with high water pressure from your hose. A bleach exclusively meant for outdoor use will work better than common household or laundry bleach.

Cat litter poultice

Cat litter poultice is a paste-like solution made with cat litter as the main ingredient. Old fashioned cat litter is more effective because it is clay-based, making it more effective to absorb dirt and grease.

Spread the cat litter on the stain and add enough water to make a thick paste. Scrub the paste with a stiff brush and leave it to dry. The drying process allows the poultice to draw the grease or dirt out of the concrete. After it dries, rinse it off with high-pressure water from your hose.

Lime and turpentine

Mix two parts of mineral turpentine with one part of lime and spread the mixture on the stained area. Leave the mixture to sit for 24 hours, after which you can add some powdered laundry detergent and rinse off with high-pressure water from your hose.

If the stains do not get off after these DIY methods, consider calling in some professionals to help. Bam window cleaning Melbourne is a cleaning company that provides high-quality cleaning services all over Melbourne.

Autobiography

Jim Pulman has extensive knowledge and experience in Home Building, Construction, and Design. He writes articles in his free time and partners with content creators to share his expertise with the online community