what do you use to clean up oil stains on the garage floor?

[casadejohnson]

So what have you done that has worked well? I have used kitty litter to clean it with limited success but the soaked in stains remain. I got a lot of power steering fluid and ATF under the Bronco during my multiple power steering pump changes. This evening I put down several things on various stained areas. I used laundry detergent, Borax and dish detergent. I decided to leave it all down overnight and I'll hit it with the pressure washer tomorrow. Just curious what tricks you all have found that work well.

 

[mcknight77]

WD-40 then spray off with the hose.

 

[TwoDalesDad]

Zep 505....home depot $15.00....this stuff will lift your finger prints....wear gloves....its great under the hood to...

 

[Casey835]

PPG shopline solvent. Little bit goes long way

 

[casadejohnson]

I have also used that purple degreaser that they sell at Sam's club. It does a good job cleaning the surface but the stain does not go away. Probably similar to the Zep 505. It will take off a layer of skin if you don't wear gloves.

 

[Broncitis]

lacquer thinner usually. It gets the oil up, but the stain is often still there. My shop has so many stains now I really do not worry about them.

A couple years ago before I hosted a club even there, I pulled everything out of my shop and put industrial cleaners on and soaked and scrubbed it and pressure washed it with an industrial 3000 PSI diesel fired hot pressure washer, and stains still remained.

One day I hope to so that again, and then epoxy coat it....someday

 

[ilovemaui]

More oil.

 

[ehumaui]

Cat litter, grind in with foot or hammer.

Rc

 

[blubuckaroo]

I use Coleman fuel for solvent to clean parts and oil spots. To really make it oil-free, TSP (trisodium phosphate) and water cleans oil up really well.

 

[Viperwolf1]

My shirts work pretty well.

 

[Buldozer]

I find most of it is gone after I lay on it working a while!

 

[inthmtns]

110+ octane race fuel, leave it on for a minute, broom it around, then a liberal dose of floor dry...

The high octane stuff evaporates easy and should take the stain out without leaving any oily mess.

Regular pump gas will make a bigger stain so don't use it!!!!

 

[fla67]

X2 cat litter. Grind it in with foot- stain gone

 

[hankjr]

Oil stain?

I don't know what the old lady uses

 

[bronconut73]

Google it. I remember something fairly new came out a few years ago that did a damn good job.
I also seem to remember that the Ospho (acid) I was using as a rust eater/converter would really leave a clean spot on the garage floor where it dripped.

 

[myclsic69]

Super Purple from Advance Auto and Wear Gloves.

 

[airbur]

A paper towel. I got tired of the mess on my garage floor and epoxy coated but. Now anything wipes up with a dry paper towel.

 

[Broncobowsher]

ran out of oil dry once, picked up some kitty litter, that stuff was worthless. Don't confuse oil dry and kitty litter, they may look the same but oil dry is what you really want.

Oil dry and pour a little gasoline on top. was taught that by a guy running a mini-storage facility. People would store an old car in a 20' bay and it would leak. Next guy wants a spotless unit. oil dry and gasoline would take up years old nasty oil stains. I used it on a brand new driveway that a had an engine tip over in a trailer and dump several quarts of nasty oil. came up perfect.

Laundry soap and a pressure washer are for general cleaning of the garage, they won't get the oil stains. That is my traditional floor cleaning tools.

 

[BRONCOBERT]

So far this is the best stuff I have tried, seems to go down into the cement to lift the oil out.

 

[garberz]

Brake clean, carb cleaner or starting fluid.