How to remove lubricant and oil spill stains from your garage or driveway

Whether your stain is new or old, these car cleaning tips will help remove it from your car driveway or motor garage in a few easy steps.

Let’s face it, our cars sometimes leave behind oil, transmission fluid and gasoline stains that can make  your driveway or garage floor look greasy or discolored.   Whether your stain is new or old, these car cleaning tips will help remove it from your car driveway or motor garage in a few easy steps.

Oil can leave a dark stain on pavement, but you may be able to clean even stubborn spots out of your car driveway. Good Housekeeping suggests following these steps to get oil stains out of your driveway or garage floor:

1. If the spill is still wet, cover the stain with clay sand, cornstarch or baking soda. This will help absorb the oil before it soaks into the cement.
2. If the spill has dried, sweep up the absorbent material. Then, wet the stain with water.
   • Use a stiff brush and hand-scrub the area with a paste made of baking soda and water.
   • Use a hose to rinse the pavement clean.
   • Let it air dry.

You can also try these tips from Reader’s Digest and BobVila.vom

1. Cover the stain with spray lubricant and then rinse it with water, says Reader’s Digest.
2. Putting a paste of powdered laundry detergent and water out the stain, says BobVila.com. After letting it sit, scrub it with a brush and rinse the spot with water.
3. For the environment-conscious, you can try scrubbing the oil spot with a microbial stain remover (courtesy of: The Spruce).  The stain remover is biodegradable, and you can later clean the area with soap and water.

How to Remove Transmission Fluid Stains
Transmission fluid spills or leaks may leave a bright red stain on light-colored concrete. Here are some suggested steps for removing the stain from Reader’s Digest:

1. Spray the stain with oven cleaner and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Use a stiff brush to scrub the spot. Then, rinse with a hose at its highest pressure.
3. If the stain is still there, repeat the process.