Technical > Home Improvement > Cleaning oil off of concrete

reply to aurgathor

Re: Cleaning oil off of concrete

reply to stev32k
I've had good luck with Zep Concrete and Masonry Cleaner....

»www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ···Id=10051

and for really nasty concrete staining, Zep Industrial Purple Degreaser...

»www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ecodZ···Id=10051
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Zach

reply to tcope

reply to stev32k
Cat litter absolutely works wonders for fresh stains.

reply to stev32k
Thanks for all the suggestions. A big problem is the age of the stains. Some are several years old. I have a 3,000 psi pressure washer so think I'll try that in combination with some of the cleaners recommended here.

It's going to be a pretty good size job because there is a lot of stuff to be moved before I can put water on the floor.

Muriatic Acid might work. That is the main ingredient of concrete etching products. The problem is it will etch the top of the concrete and if you don't do every square inch it looks bad.

A citric acid paste might work. That stuff is a very effective degreaser. The problem with that is I don't think I can buy it locally and it would have to be ordered online.

I'll try a couple of the bottled degreaser products from Lowes. I suspect the stains are too old for cat litter or portland cement to work.

Try the pressure washer first with some normal degreaser before starting to think of complicated alternatives.

3000 PSI is mighty powerful.

reply to aurgathor

reply to stev32k
Acid solutions will not dissolve oils. It will dissolve the concrete, however.

Make a hot solution of Dawn detergent and baking soda to dissolve the oil. Use a stiff brush.

reply to stev32k
Another for portland cement. Clean it up before it rains.

reply to stev32k
There are many ways to successfully cleaning oil off of concrete. Unfortunately in many cases a clearly visible stain can be left behind. A real problem if on the outside driveway in a home located in development with a Nazi HOA.

Often the only way to get rid of the stain involves using acid. There are acid products for removing oil stains. It will not harm the concrete and no its not like blood of an "Alien" ala "Alien", "Aliens" from the movies of the same name or the sequels.

Please note I distinguished between oil cleaning as opposed to cleaning the oil stain that is often left behind.

Do your own Googling if you're genuinely interested in finding a specific product.

If I could remember the name of the product I successfully used after a traditional cleaning product and that is acid based and is specifically made for removing oil stains I would post it here.

Also, please note effecting or interacting with the concrete is not the same as "harm" any more than successful surgery to correct an ailment is harming your body.

Otherwise try a search engine of your choice.

Thank you.

I could Google all night, but I still would not find an acid cleaner designed to remove oil stains from anything because acid does not act on oil. You made the statement -- back it up.

reply to stev32k
I've always heard using Murattic Acid fed into a pressure washer's chemical injection system works well.
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CompTIA Network+ Certified

reply to robbin
Dear troll. It is oil stains--or more accurately stains left behind by oil and the deposits or substances contained in oil are what I have twice now referenced.

I'll give you an hint. Go out and get your hand all greasy and covered with dirty oil. Really a mess isn't it. It can at times takes some real scrubbing with traditional cleaning agents like soaps or other such products.

However, open a new can of HD motor oil. Pour into and on your hands. Why it cleans your hands off all most instantly with a with little friction between the palms/hands. All that is left is some fine clean oil that easily washes of with warm water and soap.

Typical "Oil stains" are not the kind of Oil that comes out your unopened HD Motor Oil container. They are oil mixed up with all sorts of "dirt." Some really tough to clean "dirt" and more so because of the porousness of the concrete.

So after using all of the best non-acid products and you have cleaned off the oil but not the stain the dirty oil left behind. Get it--the stain not the oil? You do know the difference between a stain and the substance that can cause a stain either directly from the substance itself or a chemical reaction to a substance?

Also, you do realize I can stick my arm up to the elbow in "acid" and have anything from nothing more than a mild tinkling and very minor 24 hour irritation or have it horribly burned with massive tissue destruction.

Why how is that possible? Could it be there are different types of acid and more relevantly acids or acid based products to be even more specific can have differing levels of strength or acidity.

Now if you want an answer, (which IMO you don't), go do your own research or googling.

You're the one making the claim. You are the plaintiff. You are the accuser. You are the "prosecution." It is up to you to prove your case which in this instance alleges: I am lying about my successful use of acid products designed specifically to clean up oil stains and that no such products exist or has ever existed and finally that the acid will harm the concrete to a degree of relevance.

Good luck on doing your duty and fulfilling your responsibility.

Ah time for some Netflix. Something much more important than writing this post.

Of course any genuinely interested person that posts in this thread posts in response to the OP and tries to offer advice to assist them.

Unfortunately there all ways some others that go off topic to what the OP is seeking and are simply looking to start a "fight."

So your tolling toward me ends here and I will not get into a flame war with you.

reply to TheTechGuru
Nonsense! You need to listen to the poster "robbin," he says acid is completely ineffective against oil and or oil stains.

reply to Blogger
Oil attracts dirt. Acid removes dirt. Acid etches concrete. Etching concrete damages concrete. Acid does not remove an oil stain but it may remove the dirt attracted to it while at the same time etching and damaging the concrete.

The proper way to attack an oil stain is to attack the oil. Acid will not do that.

Oh, and you seem to have approved of a suggestion to run muratic acid through the pump of a pressure washer. Hydrochloric acid dissolves metal. Now we are not only damaging the concrete but also the pressure washer. Wow

reply to stev32k
Acid is not a solution for removing oil stains.
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The talented hawk speaks French.

reply to stev32k
Use detergent concoctions to remove the worst of the oil stain, acid to etch the concrete, and paint the damn floor with a good concrete enamel.

reply to stev32k
Google: How to remove oil stains from Concrete

The information you need is there.