How to Remove Oil Stains from a Driveway

[Paulbstockton6@hotmail.co]

J-C-C and Oil Pan 4,

I'm sure you missed the point of Eximo. You sprinkle it on, sweep it in, and let Eximo do its work. Simple. You can start with an oil stained area of concrete. Sprinkle on some Eximo and sweep it in. There are two wonders of the product.

1. Initial "sweeping it in" covers the stain with the product so the product blends in with the color of concrete.....the stain is still there but the Eximo hides it.

2. its not like watching paint dry....The enzymes work slowly and eats away at the petroleum product. Some people will watch it for a couple of days and then add some more....that's OK but usually just re-sweeping the product to redistribute it into the oil stain area works just fine. Left in place, the Eximo product continues to do it's job. If you want to further apply to a stain because "Karen the nasty HOA president" is coming over after sending you threatening letters to inspect your driveway, just reapply.

I have found a strong detergent and a good work-place mop and bucket wringer is well work the effort...old formula TSP would work well in a mop bucket. ( dirty mop bucket water goes down the toilet...sounds wrong, but it does not go down the gutter/storm drain or dumped on soils, which is the problem with pressure washers.

But that's the thing, the Eximo eats petroleum...there is no hazardous waste, per say...other than dust and you do not want to wear your new black slacks or black tennis shoes...the dust when sweeping is ever-present.

On the use of lacquer thinners, white gas, gasoline...not a good idea in an enclosed space or in a garage built onto a house. I did that once...never again. What happens is you soak, say a 2sqFt area with a volatile agent, let it sit a minute, and light it off.... .It only takes the first time to understand that the invisible fumes have spread and sunk to an 100sqft area and will flash...its pretty scary for a few seconds...then when you realize what a fool you were, you try to find something to smother the "concrete candle, which is now 6sqft in size" fire and end up fanning fresh air to the fuel. At least the flames will be relatively low temperature, with every attempt to smother, the flames jump higher. A witnessing neighbor will call the fire department and then run to your aid....he'll see you trying to smother the concrete candle and wont help...he'll wonder why you don't run out...no need for a fire truck, but the paramedic will provide ibuterol to slow your heartbeat.
Using a rag soaked in a volatile fluid and scrubbing is only slightly safer, unless you forget to place the rag in a steel can or set it out to dry.

C-n-n, I don't know where you got..."prior treatments will diminish the effect of Eximo", but you didn't hear that from me. I don't think you got that from the manufactures' website, either.

Cheers.

[oil pan 4]

I'll do a before and after. I got some oil stands, good old motor oil on concrete.
The stain has been there 2 weeks.
See what the hot gx390 powered pressure washer can do to it.

[j-c-c]

Originally Posted by Paulbstockton6@hotmail.co

J-C-C and Oil Pan 4,

I'm sure you missed the point of Eximo. You sprinkle it on, sweep it in, and let Eximo do its work. Simple. .

Then I believe you surely missed my point, let me quote my opening comment;
"I would think the enzyme solution would be most effective, requires time and likely reapplication. Left over minute amounts of previous cleaners might unintentionally thwart that process."

Referring to left over previous cleaners deep soaked into the concrete, I suspect used strong cleaners might remain at the oil/stain interface and negate or handicap an enzyme cleaner getting past said cleaner, like chorine for example.

I did make a lame assumption here, my bad. in anyone would be foolish and/or arrogant enough to use a highly flammable solvent indoors, especially at their house, and then ignite it.

[ChopStix]

I use oil dry / kitty litter and a 2x4. You simply spread the KL on the spot and grind it to powder with the 2x4 under your foot. The oil stain is completely gone in seconds.

[j-c-c]

Really?

Sounds like makeup for concrete with a touch of cognitive bias, but I might be wrong.

[oil pan 4]

Here is the before, it wasn't dry till after dark so I'll get another pic today.
That's 2 weeks o baking in the sun.

[j-c-c]

I think one aspect seldom mentioned here is oil hard stains I suspect are largely made up of the solids/particles carried in the oil, not the oil itself, just removing residue oil does not always remove the solid contaminates left behind after the oil is removed. The oil that has seeped into the microstructure of concrete often carries with it those particles. I am uncertain how susceptible they are to enzyme destruction.

[Paulbstockton6@hotmail.co]

J-C-C, absolutely misread your post in a fit of anger and anxiety regarding other issues not related to oil stains.

And, here's a link to the product in a practical quanity that could treat an average size oil covered garage twice. For spots like Oil Pan pictured, perhaps a tablespoon brushed on with a paintbrush would noticeably decline in two days and possibly disappear in two weeks. (Edit))...cannot post link due to insufficient number of posts.

GOOGLE: "AMAZON EXIMO 12 OUNCE"....$23USD

[j-c-c]

No Problem, its behind us.

[Xist]

I have used lots of kitty litter on lots of stains.

I'm a messy boy.

I don't think that it has ever picked up all of the oil, let alone what soaked into the concrete.

The rental has an epoxied garage floor, but I still need to pick up the oil Mom leaked when she borrowed Crisis.