Cleaning grease/oil spots off concrete

[BobT-47P15]

Just wondering what do you use to clean grease or oil dripping spots from

your driveway or garage floor? The wife's car just started dripping a bit

of something oily looking. We took it to the repair shop today to see if

they can tell from whence it comes.

I used to have a bottle of something called "garage floor cleaner", a kind

of clear liquid that did a good job. But I've looked in places like Lowe's

and Home Depot for a similar thing and can't seem to find anything.

Our cement is pretty new and I've been trying to keep it fairly clean.

Any hints would be appreciated.

[busycoupe]

I don't know about getting up the oil already dripped, but since your garage is new you may want to paint the floor with epoxy paint. I did my new garage floor in 2004 and it still looked great when I sold the house and garage in 2010. Spills simply wipe up. It keeps the dust down also.

Dave

[greg g]

most home improvment places and hardware store will have cleaners. Some dry drop on sweep in let sit deals and some detergents. you might try making a paste of dishwashing liquid and scrubbing it in with a stiff bristle brush if your spot is small. Make sure you have pleanty of clear water to rinse it with as most dishwasher stuff has some caustic agent which may slightly etch the surface. In the mean time till you get the leak located and stopped, go to Pet Smart or similar and get a package of puppy training pads. You can place this under the offending vehicle and they will suck up a lot of fluid, and hold it. Couple scraps of wood will keep it from blowing around from the engine fan.

[JBNeal]

When I worked at the Firestone service center, we used Zep industrial grade floor cleaner. Them orange granules, when wetted down with a garden hose, then scrubbed into the concrete with a stiff push broom, would clean up purt'near every speck of dirt, oil, grease, terbacky juice, etc. The trick is to scrub into the pores of the concrete, as wiping does not get the oils that have soaked in. On small spills, pour some fine sand or kitty litter (bentonite) on the spot to soak up & remove as much as possible. Then put the sand or bentonite on the spot on the concrete, step onto the spot with the toe or heel with your full weight, then do The Twist as long as you can stand it. That oughtta grind the granules into the pores to soak up more oils, making for a cleaner floor...it's quick, it's easy & it's fun

[Tom Skinner]

Kitty Litter and the Twist - with Chubby Checkers singing on the radio of course:rolleyes:

[alteredpilot]

if you can find oil absorbent (rice hull or the like) start with that. cover the spot and let it soak up. sweep that away and use a little powdered laundry detergent and a stiff bristled brush. done.

for general maintenance i use simple green straight out of the container. pour it out on the floor, lightly hose it down, scrub vigorously with a stiff nylon bristled broom (home depot). follow it up with a floor squeegee. works pretty good. having polished concrete helps.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Kitty Litter and the Twist - with Chubby Checkers singing on the radio of course:rolleyes:

the Kitty Litter and the twist is dead on for oil off concrete...you need standard clay litter and I prefer to use a 2x4 block and grind it into the area in question..instant relief...saw this at a Chevy dealership...it was a must for them cars...

[BobT-47P15]

Hmmm....sounds interesting and fun so far.

The spots are small and not many of them.

The 06 Infiniti just started leaking a couple days ago....a few little

places on the driveway. Today the shop guy says a transmission

line appears to be the culprit. So he will do whatever he thinks it

needs on Monday.

Thanks for the advice guys.

(Now, where's that Chubby Checker record?)