Cleaning Concrete Driveways

When we are called to do wet basement repairs we are often asked about stains on concrete driveways.

Spreading kitty litter on an oil stain is a commonly used method to remove grease and oil stains from concrete driveways. Kitty litter will draw out oil and grease, and will be the most effective if the stain is recent. If you use cat litter let it sit for about 2 days, and then sweep it up. This may remove all surface oils but deeper oil stains in the concrete may need something else. Try sprinkling a layer of dry concrete powder over the stain and let it sit for a day or two. Here is a tip, don’t do it in the rain or if you are expecting rain.

Older stains may require the help of a commercial cleaner. One degreaser is named Gunk another one is called Swab. Castro also makes a product called Super Clean. After a stain is removed, make sure you take out the hose and wash away any residue.

More aggressive cleaning chooses could involve the use of abrasive acids, but exhaust you’re cleaning opportunities first. Before using more aggressive techniques consider having your concrete looked at by a professional as some of the more aggressive techniques require precautionary measures. If you tackle this approach on your own make sure you follow all manufacturer guidelines.