DIY: Remove motor oil from concrete

By on March 13, 2017


1. Wipe up dripped oil with a towel or cloth.
2. Pour some paint thinner on the spot, making sure to saturate the oil spot fully.
3. Shake an absorbent material all over the saturated spot: cat litter, sand, baking soda, talcum powder, cornmeal, sawdust. Let the material set overnight.
4. Use a heavy push broom with sturdy bristles to sweep up the absorbent material.
5. Pour a little laundry bleach, dry dishwasher detergent or a concrete-cleaning solution on the oil mark on the concrete. Let it sit for about an hour.
6. Rinse the area off with boiling water and scrub the area with a broom.

If the oil sat too long on the concrete, the stain may need up to a year to fade.
If the stain is in a garage and the concrete floor needs more than a scrub, consider painting and sealing it or adding a floor covering.

— Adapted from www.realtor.com and www.lowes.com