What's the best way to remove oil stains?

"Racescort666" (Racescort666)
08/09/2015 at 11:41 • Filed to: None

Ok Oppo, I need your help. Well, rather your feedback. I know that there are dedicated cleaners but I could do some of the home remedies without having to go to the store. I’m particularly fond of dishsoap and coca-cola since I have both of those things. I’d like to try one of both of them before it rains today too.

What are your thoughts? Buck up and buy something or try the coke and/or dish soap?

DISCUSSION (13)

Master Cylinder > Racescort666
08/09/2015 at 11:49

I have had decent results with Dawn dish soap and a stiff-bristled scrub brush. It won’t completely remove the stain, but it will significantly reduce its appearance. Simple Green works OK, too. There’s nothing that I’ve tried that will make it completely disappear, but I haven’t tried any of the dedicated products, either.

Racescort666 > Master Cylinder
08/09/2015 at 11:53

I’m not totally worried about completely disappeared. I got a note from the HOA (a whole other discussion) so I think as long as it looks like I tried, I should be fine.

DogonCrook > Racescort666
08/09/2015 at 11:59

Gas or varsol works pretty well

desertdog5051 > Racescort666
08/09/2015 at 12:10

Depending on the smoothness of the surface, you can take kitty litter and rub it in well with your foot/shoe (as in turn it to powder) and it will absorb most of the oil. I do that in my driveway and garage floor but they are concrete.

I hate HOA. I had to deal with one a while back. I hated their shit.

Racescort666 > desertdog5051
08/09/2015 at 12:13

I feel like they’ve been pretty good considering that it’s been like this for months.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Racescort666
08/09/2015 at 12:19

leave it cause more will leak out. its the way of my driveway.

smobgirl > Racescort666
08/09/2015 at 12:35

I’d go that route. Most of the dedicated cleaners leave their own stains anyway. Might as well use what you’ve got.

Your HOA would have a field day in my neighborhood. One of my neighbors has an Escalade that's just hemorrhaging oil, and the guy is just playing ignorant.

JGrabowMSt > smobgirl
08/09/2015 at 12:44

I hope I never move to an area with a HOA. Fuck that. No other way to put it.

Racescort666 > smobgirl
08/09/2015 at 13:07

Yeah, I ended up using a combination of Dawn dish soap and Bar Keeper’s Friend. We’ll see how it goes.

j369 > desertdog5051
08/09/2015 at 13:10

Cat litter works amazingly well. Pour some out and hit/flatten the little pieces into a powder with an object.

wafflesnfalafel > Racescort666
08/09/2015 at 13:10

Dang - hadn’t heard of an HOA getting po’d about a few oil drips. Maybe they are worried about slip/fall exposure... Simple Green over kitty litter.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Racescort666
08/09/2015 at 13:37

Purple power

NoneOfYourBiz > Racescort666
08/09/2015 at 16:48

Yes, Dawn dish soap could work. Give it a shot.

Pro-tip though: ZEP Heavy Duty Citrus Degreaser, $10-12/gallon at Home Depot.

Use it full strength to strip oil and grease.

Dilute 4:1 as an All-Purpose-Cleaner (APC) for your car or home; the stuff if a FRACTION of the cost of Windex multipurpose and does a better job.

Dilute 10:1 and it can be used, with caution, to clean car interior plastics. (heck, 4:1 works but don’t over saturate or let it sit)

This gets a lot of talk over in the sub-Reddit /r/AutoDetailing.