How to Remove Oil and Grease Stains From Garage Floors 

Introduction:

Oil and grease stains don't just make a garage floor look dirty they can also be the cause of falls causing injuries. Oil and grease stains can ruin your shoes and be tracked into the house where the oil and grease can ruin carpets. 

If you plan on painting or sealing the garage floor it’s essential to get rid of all oil and grease deposits or the paint will not bond to the floor. Petroleum based solvent removers are not always effective and are harmful to the environment. Cat litter, sawdust and other absorbent materials remove standing oil but do little for removing oily stains. Commercial and household detergents are somewhat effective but require a lot of scrubbing and can leave behind residue or discolor the concrete.

Tips on how to remove oil and grease stains from garage floors: 

1.    Remove any standing oil or grease using a stiff plastic scraper or putty knife. Sweep the area clean.

2.    Provide good ventilation and wear eye protection, gloves and a dust mask.

3.    Make a mixture of tap water and muriatic acid. An ideal mixture is 20% muriatic acid and water. Pour the acid into the water. Never pour the water into the acid or a violent reaction may result.

4.    Muriatic is relatively safe if you use reasonable precaution. It is used extensively to clean concrete and stone masonry. Always wear gloves and eye protection before working with muriatic acid regardless of how weak the mixture is mixed.

5.    Use a rag mop to scrub the oil and grease spot and go over the area several times.

6.    Let the floor thoroughly dry.  The acid mixture will strip all the oil and grease from the concrete leaving it looking like it has been bleached.

7.    Sweep any residue from the surface.

There are other products that can remove oil and grease stains form concrete garage floors but they are not as effective as muriatic acid and water. Muriatic acid is a hydrochloric acid consisting of hydrogen chloride and water. It is highly corrosive but is a very strong and effective cleaner.

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