How to Remove a Cooking Oil Stain from Concrete
It’s not too far of a stretch for the mind to imagine how cooking oil could end up on concrete and leave an ugly stain. The grocery bag could rip as groceries were being carried in the house and a bottle of olive oil land on porous concrete (step, walkway, porch, etc.), splitting the bottle and spilling it’s contents. Spilled cooking oil is quickly absorbed by porous concrete, leaving nothing but an unwanted discoloration in it’s wake. That’s how it happened at my house and I had the cooking oil stain to prove it. Should that spilled oil scenario or a similar one happen at your house, here are two quick methods to remove cooking oil stains from any type of concrete. And when all else fails, also included is an easy way to camouflage the oil stain.
Baking Soda and Dish Soap
Use paper towel and blot up any traces of the cooking oil from the concrete surface, then cover the oil stain with a thick layer of baking soda. Squirt a grease cutting dish soap on top of the baking soda, completely covering it, then scrub in the baking soda and dish soap with a nylon or plastic scrub brush (don’t use a wire brush, you’ll risk scratching the concrete’s surface). Let set overnight, rinse and have a look-see. It may take several applications and scrubs before all traces of the cooking oil is gone. Twice was the charm for me.
Kitty Litter and Auto Degreaser
If kitty litter and auto degreaser is something you have on hand, pour a thick layer of kitty litter on top of the cooking oil to absorb it and let it set overnight. Sweep up kitty litter then use an automotive degreaser according to manufacturer’s directions. The degreaser treatment may have to used several times to remove all of the oil stain.
If You Can’t Beat Them….
If the baking soda and dish soap trick does not remove the oil stain and the kitty litter and auto degreaser failed too, it’s time to give up and try a new approach. If you can’t beat the stain, enlarge it. Take a clean paint brush and brush whatever type of cooking oil was originally spilled all over the concrete area. Let oil set overnight, wash with soapy water and rinse. The concrete area should all be the same color without a noticeable cooking oil stain.
Source: My Own Experience
