How To Remove Oil Stains From Concrete With Coke: Keeping Concrete Floor Stain-Free

It’s common to see oil spills on your garage floor or concrete driveway. However, it’s unsightly if it remains there and doesn’t go off. It can even become an ugly stain over time.

It’s best to have quick fixes for such stains. And who says you have to spend a lot of money on commercial cleaners to do that. Just head to your refrigerator for a can of coke, and you’re good to go.

If you’re still wondering how to use coke to get rid of the oil stain, then you’re in the right place.

This article will give you a step-by-step process on how to use coke to remove oil stains. And what’s more, you’ll learn other means to get rid of oil stains from concrete. Let’s dive right in!

How To Remove Oil Stains From Concrete With Coke

Coke is a popular soft drink. But it’s also great for cleaning oil from concrete. Three key ingredients make it possible. They include citric acid, carbonated water, and phosphoric acid. Seems surprising! But, it’s very effective.

Here are the steps to do this.

Step#1: Get rid of spill or puddle

The first thing to do is to remove the excess oil by cleaning off the spill. You can use cat litter to do this.

Pour cat litter on the puddle. Then allow it to sit for a few minutes to soak it up. After that, shovel it up into a substantial garbage bag.

You can skip this step if the oil stain is older or dried.

Step#2: Pour the coke

The next step is to pour a can of coke into the stained area. The amount you need depends on the size of the stain.

Let it sit for about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the extent of the stain.

Step#3: Scrub and rinse

After that, scrub the area with a brush. Please don’t use a wire brush to avoid visible scratches on the surface.

The stain should leave after scrubbing, depending on its extent. If it does, rinse with water and wipe it off. However, if the stain persists, pour more coke on it. Then repeat the process.

Other Ways To Remove Oil Stains From Concrete

Cat litter:

You can use cat litter to remove the oil stain. It’s very effective for a fresh spill, as it gets rid of excess oil quickly.

To use cat litter, you have to sprinkle a large amount of it to cover the fresh oil. Then, grind it into the stain. You can do that with your feet. Next, leave it for some hours. After that, scoop it up with a shovel and dispose of it properly. You can choose to reuse it next time.

If it’s a very heavy stain, leave the kitty litter overnight. Then use a shovel to scoop it up. After that, wash the area with a detergent and stiff nylon brush and rinse it off. You can repeat the process till it’s spotless.

Baking soda:

Another great way to clean off oil stains from concrete is with baking soda. However, before you use it, it’s best to clean off excess oil for fresh stains.

First, clean off excess oil with an old bath towel or with a bit of cat litter. Then sprinkle baking soda on the remaining stain. Leave it for about 15 minutes. Next, spray a dishwashing liquid like dawn and add some water to make a paste.

Use a brush to scrub the poultice in a circular motion for some time. And then rinse with water. You can repeat the process if the stain doesn’t go off completely.

Powdered detergent:

You can remove oil stains from concrete with a powdered detergent. All you have to do is cover the entire area with it. Then add some water to make it a paste. Now scrub it with a brush in circular motions and leave it for about an hour or two.

Finally, rinse it out. You can repeat the process if the stain persists.

WD-40:

You can use WD-40 to remove oil stains. However, it’s more effective for newer spots.

Start by spraying it on the stain. Then leave it for about 30 minutes. After that, scrub it with a brush. You can use cat litter to soak it up and dispose of it.

Bio-remediates:

Another way to get rid of oil stain from concrete is by using bio-remediates. It involves the use of hydrocarbon-eating bacteria to get rid of the spill. They eat up the oil, leaving behind carbon dioxide and water as residue.

The good thing about this method is that you don’t need to wash it. All you do is pour the powdered cleaner over the stain. Then let it sit for a couple of days, depending on the extent. It may also take up to a week or more.

The microbes need water and can draw it naturally from the environment. But you can spray some water manually to speed up the process.

The method is very safe for the environment and doesn’t require any protective equipment. It also doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals.

An example of bio-remediates is the Terminator-HSD.

Degreaser:

You can use a degreaser to get rid of oil stains from concrete within a couple of minutes to an hour. It’ll emulsify (break up) the spot and make it easy to clean off.

You’ll need hot water and an alkaline degreaser for this.

First, pour hot water on the oil stain and leave it for about 30 to 60 seconds. That’ll help loosen it up, especially when it’s old or dried up. Next, apply the degreaser on it and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes. Now, rinse or wipe it off.

If you notice the stain is remaining, apply the degreaser again. Repeat the process till the oil goes off totally.

Diatomaceous earth (DE):

It’s an effective way to get rid of oil stains from concrete. It also sucks up oil and grease quickly.

Cover the oil spill with a thick layer of diatomaceous earth. Let it sit for about 2 to 24 hours so it can absorb the oil. Then sweep it into a dustpan and dispose of it. Use soapy hot water to scrub any stain that remains. It should be easier to clean off after using DE.

Another way to use it is to add a liquid like water or degreaser to diatomaceous earth to make a poultice. Then spread the paste over the oil stain. After that, cover it with a trash bag. That’ll ensure it doesn’t dry out fast.

The oil will leave the concrete and soak into the poultice as the liquid evaporates. Sweep it up and dispose of it once it dries properly. You can try it a few times till the stain goes completely.

Liquid contact cleaner:

Another substance that cleans off oil stains real quick is the liquid contact cleaner.

You can get any type from your local store. But it’s best to go for a highly flammable one, as it’s very effective for old stains. You want to keep it away from your pets or children while you clean.

All you do is spray it on the stained spot or area. Then wipe it up immediately. It evaporates quickly, so you have to work fast.

If the stain is old, you can brush it a little once you spray the contact cleaner on it. Then pour it again and wipe it off with a cloth. You can do it several times till there’s no stain.

Oil-dry:

One of your sure bets for a new oil stain is the oil-dry. It’s an absorbent material. It also comes in handy whenever you notice an oil puddle, leak, or spill on concrete.

Apply oil-dry granules to the oil puddle once you notice it. It will soak it up immediately. After that, use a brush or broom to move them around the spill. That’ll ensure it soak up more oil.

Now, sweep it aside and apply more granules till it soaks up the oil completely. Dispose of the residue.

Carburetor cleaner:

You can use a carburetor or brake cleaner to remove oil stains on concrete. You can do that in a few minutes.

All you do is spray it on the oil stain and use a broom or brush to scrub it a bit. Then pour cat litter on the area. Use the broom to spread it properly. Finally, sweep it onto a dustpan and dispose of it.

Trisodium phosphate (TSP or TSP-PF):

If you can’t use home remedies to get the stain off, you can try using TSP. However, you have to wear goggles and gloves when using this method.

First, mix one cup of TSP with a gallon of hot water in a container. Then, pour the mixture on the oil stain and leave it for about 30 minutes. After that, use a stiff brush to scrub the area in circular motions for a few minutes. And finally, rinse it off.

You can repeat the process as needed.

Conclusion

You don’t have to spend so much money to remove oil stains from concrete. A can of coke can do the trick. All you have to do is get rid of the spill or puddle and pour the coke on the surface. Then scrub and rinse it off.

If you don’t have a can of coke at home, you can try other simple remedies. Materials like kitty cleaner, baking soda, and carburetor cleaner can remove such stains.