A common sight on your driveway or garage floor is the presence of grease and oil stains. Many people like to work on their cars or change their oil. Many projects occur in the garage, so leaks and spills are bound to happen. Here are a few helpful tips we can share to handle those stains yourself. Grease stains can be stubborn, but they’re not impossible to remove. At Royal Blue Power Washing in Kansas City, MO, we know from experience that you can successfully remove difficult grease stains from the concrete on your property. It’s best to start with an absorbent to soak up any excess grease, then scrub with a degreaser and rinse the area. Here are the best ways to remove grease from concrete if you’re doing it yourself.
Use Baking Soda
A successful approach to combating stubborn grease stains would be to use baking soda because it is both an absorbent and a cleanser, making it perfect for treating those difficult, set-in stains. All you’ll need is baking soda, some dish soap, and a nylon brush for this approach. First, apply a thick layer of baking soda to the stain on your floor and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then wet the brush with water and soap, and scrub the spot until it’s gone. After that, rinse the area and allow it to dry. If the stain doesn’t come up entirely or you’re having difficulty removing it, you can try the other methods we suggest or consult our professionals. For truly stubborn stains, ask about our effective power washing services.
Use Regular Soda and Cat Litter
Another method to remove grease stains involves using regular soda. Though it seems odd, it can work quite well, though you will need several more items and a lot of “elbow grease” to remove your grease stain this way. The first step involves pouring a thin coating of kitty litter over the stain and grinding it in with the heel of your shoe. Next, sweep up the debris, pour three cans of cola over the spot, and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Then, rinse off the soda with your garden hose. Next, you’ll need to channel your inner chemist and mix some ingredients in a bucket. You will need the following:
- 1 cup of chlorine bleach
- 1 cup of powdered ammonia-free laundry detergent
- 1 gallon of hot water.
Use your brush to apply the solution to what remains of the stain and start scrubbing. When you’re satisfied that the stain is gone, rinse off your concrete area with the hose again.
Use Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
A beneficial substance for removing stains is an inorganic compound known as trisodium phosphate or TSP. When mixed with water, it produces an alkaline solution, which works well as a cleaning agent, degreaser, and stain remover. While effective, this method is a little more complicated and involves an overnight process, so be prepared when you start this approach.
First, check the weather forecast and make sure it’s not expected to rain. Next, dissolve the TSP into the water in a bucket and add an appropriate amount of sawdust to achieve a paste-like consistency similar to peanut butter. Spread this mix over the entire stain and allow it to sit overnight. In the morning, sweep away the dried remains, and the stain should be gone. If not, you can repeat the process as needed. Contact our team at Royal Blue Power Washing, Inc. for expert service and advice if this method isn’t working.
Use Vinegar
This last solution to your grease stain problem is a relatively simple one. This homemade cleaner is an excellent alternative to store-bought cleaning products. You’ll need some sawdust to get started and prepare the area by absorbing as much of the grease or oil as possible. Then, mix these ingredients in a large bucket:
- 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
- ½ cup of washing soda
- ¼ teaspoon of liquid dishwasher detergent
- 2 cups of water.
Pour the solution onto the stain and start scrubbing with your brush. It shouldn’t take too much effort to see the grease dissolve. When satisfied, you can rinse the area with water or keep repeating the process until you are happy with the results.
Of course, if none of these approaches works on your stubborn grease stain, you can call our Royal Blue Power Washing, Inc. professionals in Kansas City, MO, at 816.298.4649 to find out how we can help.
