Cleaning concrete driveway

firecadet613 · March 25, 2004

I picked up some concrete cleaner at Menards yesterday, but it didn't work to well. Oil and tranny fluid is what I'm trying to get out. Some of the oil spots are old, they were here when my brother bought his house. The stuff I have you put on when its dry, scrub it in, let it sit for 10 minutes and rinse. I have scrubbed a ton and it helped a little, but it's still there. There was something I picked up in Denver that worked great but I forget the name of it. Anyone have any good product recommendations?

Thanks!

Joe

chevy4x4trucks · March 25, 2004

cover the whole driveway w/ oil and tranny fluid

Jug · March 25, 2004

The problem with oil seepage on concrete is that oil seeps into the pores of the concrete and no matter how hard you try there will always be a shadow of a stain.

I recommend renting/borrowing a 3000-4000 psi cold water pressure washer and getting the 0° rotating tip. What that will do is create a concentrated pencil thin stream of high pressure water that will rotate in the nozzle to create about a 4-6 inch wide cleaning path. This stream is poweful enough to remove the top layer off the concrete including any stains, etc. Just be careful as small bits of concrete will be removed and splatter. Wear your goggles, gloves, boots, etc.

Machine · March 25, 2004

The additional problem with using a 0% stream is if you do a bad job the concrete will look real bad. Proceed with caution, and depending on the size of the driveway, get ready to spend several hours doing it.

blackburb · March 25, 2004

The "best" concrete cleaner is Tidy. Yes the laundry detergint. Wet the concrete real good. Sprinkle the powdered Tide on the concrete. Using a push broom scrub the Tide into the concrete. Make sure you keep it moist at all times. DO NOT let it dry. Let it set undisturbed for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then hose it off. Results are an almost new looking driveway. This is an old shop trick. This is how we cleaned our bays in the tranny and raditor shop years ago. I still use this on my current driveway today when someone parks a leaking vehicle on my clean concrete.

Wingnut · March 25, 2004

Muratic acid is what I have used in the past, as well as a pressure washer....Those are about your best choices.

Just be careful with the pressure washer, it can really mess up the concrete if it's a good one.

blackburb · March 25, 2004

The problem with using muratic acid is that is etches the concrete, making it more porous than when you started. Anything that drips on it after will soak in faster and further. Muratic acid is great if you are going to paint right after. don't do it!

Rookie · March 25, 2004

simple green

99silveradoz71 · March 25, 2004

I've used the pressure washer and Behr concrete cleaner or such from Home Depot in the past. The older stains are tough to get out unless you really narrow that spray. Dishwashing liquid will do well on fresh stains, but that's not the case here unfortunately.