OLD Oil Stains

[jeepinerdeep]

Guys,

I know ZEP powdered soap works pretty good on shop floors, I can buy a 5 gallon bucket reasonably not a problem.

I've got an area about 15 sq ft. that has accumulated oil staining from about 1975-2005. I'd like to start working at the stain each year before I pressure wash. In a few years I'd like to spray seal it with a cheap acrylic to cut down on the dust. No high expectations.

Any alternatives to the Zep powder? Simple Green doesn't make a dent.

So far, Krud Kutter is the runner up to ZEP in what I can read.

 

[Low50s]

I like to use Super Clean straight let it soak for a bit then use a broom or bush to scrub I am unsure how it works compared to ZEP but I like how it works for me.

 

[TE2]

Interested in this as well as I recently had a nice little oil spill on the driveway and garage.

 

[Motown]

I spilled some white vinegar on my garage floor, it surprisingly bleached the concrete. Might be worth a test.

 

[LXCam]

Get your hands one some caustic flake. It's an emulsifier and will draw the oil out of the substrate. Tide is a very heavily diluted version too. Also you could try quick Sorb oil dry. I regularly will leave that sitting in my worst areas under the lift and after a week, the concrete looks bleached.

 

[TE2]

Get your hands one some caustic flake. It's an emulsifier and will draw the oil out of the substrate. Tide is a very heavily diluted version too. Also you could try quick zorb clean sweep. I regular will leave that sitting in my worst areas under the lift and after a week, the concrete looks bleached.

I actually have caustic flake at work...stuff is extremely corrosive and requires some special handling or you'll get a pretty nasty burn. What was your application method to oil staining on concrete?

 

[LXCam]

I actually have caustic flake at work...stuff is extremely corrosive and requires some special handling or you'll get a pretty nasty burn. What was your application method to oil staining on concrete?

It's some of the knarliest stuff out there. Many many years ago I worked in the commercial coatings industry. We used it as the initial clean then muriatic acid for the final etch before coating the floors.

Application, toss it on a wet floor and use a floor scrubber to really work it in. Then thoroughly rinse and repeat as needed. And as you said you need to have your **** together for PPE. Rubber boots, gloves, eye protection and if you can't ventilate the area well, a canister mask with the proper filter.

Back then we only used rubber boots. Matter of fact my very first time using it I didn't know and had my regular work boots on. Well that **** not only ate up my boots but most of the first few layers of skin off my feet. It was a hell of a learning curve.

 

[kbs2244]

The hard thing to do with any oil stain is to wait and let the remover do it's job.
You have to let it soak down into the concrete.
Put it on before dinner and wait until morning to do any scrubbing.

 

[TE2]

It's some of the knarliest stuff out there. Many many years ago I worked in the commercial coatings industry. We used it as the initial clean then muriatic acid for the final etch before coating the floors.

Application, toss it on a wet floor and use a floor scrubber to really work it in. Then thoroughly rinse and repeat as needed. And as you said you need to have your **** together for PPE. Rubber boots, gloves, eye protection and if you can't ventilate the area well, a canister mask with the proper filter.

Back then we only used rubber boots. Matter of fact my very first time using it I didn't know and had my regular work boots on. Well that **** not only ate up my boots but most of the first few layers of skin off my feet. It was a hell of a learning curve.

Luckily we use it on a daily basis for cleaning applications and add it as a booster with detergents. I'll probably give the detergent w/ caustic mix a shot first. Kicking myself in the *** for not thinking of using caustic before.

 

[LXCam]

Btw I should add that I wouldn't normally just toss out the advice to use this stuff without the prerequisite of safety protocol. But it just so happen jeep and I BS periodically and if he was to go that route he'd have gotten a complete heads up.

 

[LXCam]

Luckily we use it on a daily basis for cleaning applications and add it as a booster with detergents. I'll probably give the detergent w/ caustic mix a shot first. Kicking myself in the *** for not thinking of using caustic before.

Ya it's used heavily in the commercial food processing industry for cleaning. I take it you're in that segment?

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Btw I should add that I wouldn't normally just toss out the advice to use this stuff without the prerequisite of safety protocol. But it just so happen jeep and I BS periodically and if he was to go that route he'd have gotten a complete heads up.

Yep I'm square thanks Cam

FWIW the Zep powder is just a touch behind extremely caustic, at PH12, so no matter what I'll be real careful. Maybe that's why it works good? haha. Looks like the Zep, being designed for this purpose is a good way to go.

 

[6768rogues]

Back before the environment was a concern, a gas station I worked for used to dump all the old car batteries out on the floor. Then they scrubbed it with a broom and hosed it off. The greasy oily floor would come out white. I suppose that diluted the acid would be ok to wash away.

 

[LXCam]

Tell ya what bud, get a tub of the quick sorb and just give it a lite coating and let it sit for a few days before sweeping it up, I think you'll be amazed. You can order it thru pep boys for a decent price if no one carries it locally.

 

[TE2]

Ya it's used heavily in the commercial food processing industry for cleaning. I take it you're in that segment?

Yes sir! Terminal manager at an industrial cleaning facility. We use all types of exotic cleaning solutions/detergents/solvents but good old caustic has always been tried and true on any hydrocarbon based products (hence why I'm kicking myself in the *** for not considering that earlier).

 

[Spareparts]

I have used mineral spirits on heavenly oil stained floors, spray it on and work in with a broom, cover with floor dry and let it dry. Sweep it up and store in a bucket for future use. Cleaned up some nasty shop floors with this method and always scrub the floor after with good old Tide, don't use the pods, makes the new generation want a snack.

 

[Schurkey]

The worst oil-spots I've dealt with vanished when I hit them with a propane torch.

I dance on Floor-Dry (Kitty Litter), grinding it in with my boots, then scrub with laundry detergent (Tide, Arm & Hammer...whatever) and hose off. I've used muriatic acid but not often. If all else fails...I get out the propane torch.

I suppose you could heat the concrete enough to spall or crack, I guess I don't get it that hot.

 

[BigSteve63]

I have used mineral spirits on heavenly oil stained floors, spray it on and work in with a broom, cover with floor dry and let it dry. Sweep it up and store in a bucket for future use. Cleaned up some nasty shop floors with this method and always scrub the floor after with good old Tide, don't use the pods, makes the new generation want a snack.

This is what we do if we have a spill at our shop or at customer site - mop good with stiff broom, then cover with oil dri.

You might also check in your area for a product called Chemoil-Away. We sold this for a while; it is outstandingly absorbent and, when used with the solvent (thinner), will pull the stain up and out of the concrete. Also encapsulates the oil, making it safe to landfill (per manufacturer). Can be ordered with screen and storage container; you keep sifting and reusing the dry stuff.

Made in good old Birch Tree, MO!

Steve

 

[PoorOwner]

this stuff will use bacteria to eat the oil should get most of it. bacteria is smaller than what cleaner etc can penetrate into the concrete.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OAVXPAM/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[unslow1]

I removed oil stains and buildup from at least 25 years on my garage floor. The key was to put stuff around it to hold the liquid on it overnight. Then I laid rags over it and soaked those. Then again let it sit overnight. Most of it wiped off the next day. I don't think the cleaner you use is nearly as important as letting it soak.

 

[rtz]

My Dad had a 77 Chevy truck. The rear main seal leaked for 20 years. Driveway looked like an offshore oil spill. Seemed like it was always going to be that way. Tried everything. Only 1 thing worked. Problems were no one knew it worked so well and the name of the product I'm sure didn't help it sell. And it used to be sold at walmart and autozone/oreillys at the time!

Now imagine an oil stain on concrete 20 years in the making. Now imagine the concrete being clean, white, concrete.

Stuff works. Spray or pour it on. Let it soak(work) at least overnight. Blast it off with high pressure hose. Wait for it to dry. Soak it again. Yes; it will take a few applications. But it WILL eventually be clean concrete.

Key is to find any cleaner that is basically enzymes that "eat" the oil. This stuff smelled like soap or detergent and looked like water.

Wish they still made it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00068PST4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rustyjames]

I've had great success just grinding in oil dry/cat litter in with my footware or garden hoe.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Thanks fellas. Some products mentioned here that I got to research thanks to the suggestions. The most effective appear to be the caustics, which turns out, is what I was looking at anyway. My bucket o Zep came today.

I'll hope for the best this time around, and re-evaluate next round.

Never gonna see me bring oil dri, kitty litter or sweeping compounds in though.

 

[Rewind97]

Thanks fellas. Some products mentioned here that I got to research thanks to the suggestions. The most effective appear to be the caustics, which turns out, is what I was looking at anyway. My bucket o Zep came today.

I'll hope for the best this time around, and re-evaluate next round.

Never gonna see me bring oil dri, kitty litter or sweeping compounds in though.

Please let us know how well this works. I've got a driveway in need of some good cleaning.

 

[foolio]

Before and after shots would be nice!

 

[ReggieR]

Red Devil lye straight up. Be careful with the stuff

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have had good luck with both DriveUp and Greased Lightening. In the shade or early evening, apply it straight, no dilution. Scrub in lightly with a push broom. Let sit over night then hose off. It might take 2 or 3 application. Let the surface dry completely before re-applying.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Please let us know how well this works. I've got a driveway in need of some good cleaning.

Before and after shots would be nice!

I found a few nice spots to try while sweeping up. I think one of them is cutting oil. I think the other is diesel motor oil (soot). They might be good before and afters. I know the stuff works well, as I used it in a garage I worked at in HS. I just don't remember HOW WELL.

Might be a good project to do on the 4th, if not I may take some time off towards the end of the week.

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

I have used plain old Coca cola with good results

 

[koditten]

Starting fluid sprayed on the stain and lay and old cotton towel on it before it evaporated. Capillary action pulls the stain right up.

You can thank me later.

 

[James-W]

I have not tried this, but I have heard dishwashing soap left on the stain for several hours and then using a buffer with a stiff brush will remove oil stains.

 

[93fs]

any updates? im about to pull the trigger on the zep bucket, but dont want to throw money away if i can avoid it. found some on amazon for like $42.00 shipped.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

any updates? im about to pull the trigger on the zep bucket, but dont want to throw money away if i can avoid it. found some on amazon for like $42.00 shipped.

Well I don't think I'd trip over myself to buy it, and there are several different buckets, this one is the powdered stuff. I paid $65 shipped from Zoro.

Works great on recent ( last 6 months ) stains and accumulation. This is kind of what I remembered from the garage I worked at years ago.

On the old stains, which are thicker, it works to lighten it, but no better than any home store degreaser and pressure washer. Not bad, not awesome.

There is enough in the bucket for 2 more shop cleanings, at which time I will be satisfied with the results for my expectations, but they are nothing instant and fantastic.

 

[LXCam]

I'm telling ya bud, leave the sorb on for a week and occasionally walk all over it so the fine granules get worked in and I bet your surprised. I'd mail you a baggy but we might end up having a conversation with the man

 

[jeepinerdeep]

I'm telling ya bud, leave the sorb on for a week and occasionally walk all over it so the fine granules get worked in and I bet your surprised. I'd mail you a baggy but we might end up having a conversation with the man

I'm checked out till next year ! Haha. Floor gets pressure washed annually.

 

[jagwinn]

I have had success with a brick and a handful of sand.
Put sand on the stain
Use the brick flat side down and move in circles.
The resulting forces will grind the concrete and the brick and crush the sand.
The sand will ball up with the oil.
Sweep up and you will see a circle of clean bright concrete. All the stain will be in the sand.

 

[fivespdcat]

I have not tried this, but I have heard dishwashing soap left on the stain for several hours and then using a buffer with a stiff brush will remove oil stains.

This. Plain old dawn dishwashing soap scrubbed in to a paste. Let bake for a couple hours then hit it with the hose. Last time I used it to pull up some ATF in my driveway from a friends leaky trans.

 

[lakelandcat]

Dawn dishwashing soap and a stiff brush, also have had good luck with purple power. When all that won't clean power wash the )*&% out of it.

 

[rtz]

Power washing:

Tap water or hot water setup?

Just water or some sort of cleaning solution in the tank?

What type of PSI for results?

I saw a neat truck mount setup for washing off the paint stripes on the road to repaint the street!

 

[jimindm]

I use super clean straight out of the bottle. Wet it down a little with water and spray SC.

I bought a floor polisher at a garage sale years ago and I get the brown pads. They are not the coursest, but a step or two above that. Last time I bought them, I bought some that wear open packs, that they made me a great deal on.

I would say if those are before and after pics, then you got pretty good results. Not sure if that is good enough for what ever you want to do.

Those look like pretty small spots really. I would just try some muriatic acid and wash it down with plenty of water.