removing oil stains?

[750Y]

what is the best way to get oil off concrete?

[Mooch]

Bit of kero on a rag , does a reasonable job.

[Paul in NZ]

Bit of kero on a rag , does a reasonable job.

Ooops! Sorry, I'll park the Guzzi on the road next time Mooch!

Depends, Concrete is porous so if its a really old stain you could be buggered BUT as well as kero, petrol is good and my personal fave - brake cleaner 'cos it's easy in a spray can! Spray on, wipe off...

[WildBoarMouse]

Standard household detergent works wonders as well... but usually better if it's fairly fresh (within a few days). Squirt it on, scrub it in a bit with a bristle brush and a little water, squirt a bit more on... and leave overnight. Bit more water, little more scrubbing... spray off with the hose. It sounds labour intensive, but isn't really. All up you're looking at about 5-10 minutes work. Hey, if they use the same stuff to clean up oil spills at sea it's got to be a good idea! :)

Or, you can buy that as-seen-on-tv stuff that works better still. :) Costs more though too

[ManDownUnder]

Sprinkle Ajax powder on the stian - it takes a while but soaks it up and bleaches it out at the same time... sprinkle more on as needed.

Not as fast as other solutions, but cheap and reasonably good

[Mooch]

Ooops! Sorry, I'll park the Guzzi on the road next time Mooch!

Depends, Concrete is porous so if its a really old stain you could be buggered BUT as well as kero, petrol is good and my personal fave - brake cleaner 'cos it's easy in a spray can! Spray on, wipe off...

It would only be a problem if you wanted to park it under the Mini , Still leaks oil after sitting for a few years. :weird:

[Ixion]

Caustic soda does a pretty good job.
Buy it at your local farm supply store an leave it on a while.
Use gloves!!

Do PLEASE use GOOD gloves. Preferably chemical grade. A caustic burn is the nastiest thing out. Worse than acid . It just eats flesh. Do PLEASE be careful if you use this method, it really is nasty stuff . Effective, but

[MacD]

A somewhat safer alternative to caustic soda is Sugar Soap (http://www.selleys.co.nz/products/live/308/244.asp). It's still caustic (ph 11) so use gloves and eye protection :cool: (alkalis cause far worse eye injuries than common acids).

Otherwise a $3 can of degreaser from Supercheap Auto works well!

[ajturbo]

sell house:weird:

[Pixie]

Get a Kango :devil2:

[scumdog]

Keep Jackrat away from your drive!! :motu:

[Devil]

We use Dishwasher power. Cover oil stain well and just leave it.

As mentioned, if you have porous concrete, you're screwed.

[Motu]

Do PLEASE use GOOD gloves. Preferably chemical grade. A caustic burn is the nastiest thing out. Worse than acid . It just eats flesh. Do PLEASE be careful if you use this method, it really is nasty stuff . Effective, but

I think I'm dead and only exist in cyberspace - apart from getting many lungsfull of zinc fumes from welding....we used to clean our workshop floor when I was an apprentice with caustic soda,just sprinkle it on,wet it down and scrub in with the broom,then wash off with the fire hose.It ate our nice smooth floor and made it rough.

[Ixion]

I think I'm dead and only exist in cyberspace - apart from getting many lungsfull of zinc fumes from welding....we used to clean our workshop floor when I was an apprentice with caustic soda,just sprinkle it on,wet it down and scrub in with the broom,then wash off with the fire hose.It ate our nice smooth floor and made it rough.

Ah well, everyone knows that apprentices are a special case. Besides you were probably so covered in oil and grease it would have taken the caustic half an hour to reach flesh. :devil2: :motu:

[Jabez]

We use Dishwasher power. Cover oil stain well and just leave it.

As mentioned, if you have porous concrete, you're screwed.

This has worked for me & you don't need any elbow grease... :yes:

[crashe]

Hey guys will any of these ideas work on really old oil stains...
The floor of my garage I call it "Ewing Oil" (as in Dallas) :rofl: :rofl:

Someone did a oil change in there and spilt the oil everywhere...
Garage floor reasonably smoothish.
Driveway, has been waterblasted.. lifted some but not all.

I also have some down my driveway.... under my car.

[froggyfrenchman]

I think I'm dead and only exist in cyberspace - apart from getting many lungsfull of zinc fumes from welding....we used to clean our workshop floor when I was an apprentice with caustic soda,just sprinkle it on,wet it down and scrub in with the broom,then wash off with the fire hose.It ate our nice smooth floor and made it rough.

What a man! :clap:

[Ixion]

Hey come on guys,the stuff you buy from the local dairy Co' isn't full strength.
The stuff my Mrs uses for soap making is but,an yes you don't mess with that.I used to use dairy Co' caustic for scubing down cow sheds,it takes your finger prints off after about 1/2 an hour but it's pretty mild compered to the real thing.

Ah, the stuff I've used was pure NaOH. Sodium Hydroxide Pearl.

[googles]. Hm, appears that dairy cleaners for CIP are 1% strength. So , yeah, it's not full strength. Still would recommend gloveses though.

[MacD]

Ah, the stuff I've used was pure NaOH. Sodium Hydroxide Pearl.



Hmmm, me too. Good for dissolving flesh off bones.

[ManDownUnder]

Hmmm, me too. Good for dissolving flesh off bones.

Like a spray on weight loss program? Might hurt but then I've seen crazier things???

[texmo]

Drain cleaner from you supermarket usally works a treat.