By Bennett's Concrete and Excavation, Norwich, NY. Updated October 2026.
The short answer
- Blot up any liquid oil right away.
- Cover the spot with an absorbent like cat litter and leave it about a day.
- Scrub what's left with a degreaser or detergent and a stiff brush, then rinse.
- For old, set-in stains, use a poultice that draws the oil out as it dries.
- Once it's clean and dry, seal the concrete so the next spill doesn't soak in.
The Portland Cement Association notes that degreasers handle oil, and that dry methods like grinding may be needed if a stain has soaked deep into the concrete.
Fresh spills
The U.S. General Services Administration's procedure for oil stains on concrete starts the same way you would in a garage:
- Blot excess oil with clean, dry rags. Don't rub, which spreads it.
- Dust a dry absorbent over the stain. GSA lists cat litter, diatomaceous earth, fuller's earth, talc, cornmeal and cornstarch.
- Leave it about a day, then sweep it up. Repeat with fresh absorbent if it's still pulling oil.
- Scrape off any hardened oil with a wood or plastic scraper.
Scrubbing out what's left
For grease stains, GSA's procedure is to scrape off the excess, then scrub with scouring powder, sodium orthophosphate (trisodium phosphate) or a detergent following the maker's directions, using a stiff bristle brush, and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Commercial concrete degreasers work the same way. Let it dry fully before you judge the result, because wet concrete always looks darker.
Poultices for old stains
A poultice is a paste that holds a cleaner against the stain and then, as it dries, pulls the dissolved oil up into itself. GSA describes a paste of whiting and trisodium phosphate:
- Mix to a thick paste.
- Spread it 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick over the stain and a little beyond.
- Let it dry completely.
- Scrape it off with a wood or plastic spatula and rinse.
- Repeat as needed.
For larger driveway stains, GSA describes soaking the area plus about 6 inches past the stain edges with mineral spirits, covering it with absorbent powder and leaving it about 24 hours before sweeping up and rinsing.
Safety and what to avoid
- Work outside or with plenty of fresh air when using solvents. GSA stresses ventilation and rubber gloves with mineral spirits.
- Never mix cleaners together, and rinse one product off before trying another.
- Skip harsh solvents like trichloroethylene, which GSA flags as highly toxic and able to form dangerous gases on contact with fresh concrete.
- Don't wash oily rinse water into a storm drain or ditch. Soak it up and dispose of it with the used absorbent.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, especially on colored or stamped concrete.
When the stain won't come out
Some old stains leave a shadow no matter what. At that point the options are living with it, grinding or blasting the surface as PCA mentions, or covering it. Grinding changes the texture and look of the surface, so it's usually saved for garage floors and work areas.
Other garage and driveway stains
- Rust from tools, furniture legs or fertilizer: PCA points to acid-based cleaners for rust. Test first, because acid etches concrete.
- Tire marks: usually a degreaser or detergent scrub.
- White haze: often efflorescence or salt residue, which needs a different approach. See our efflorescence guide.
- Unknown stains: start with water and detergent and step up slowly. GSA's procedures all say to try the mildest cleaner first.
Sealing makes the next spill easy
Unsealed concrete is porous and drinks oil. A sealed surface holds a spill on top long enough to wipe it up. County Materials' driveway FAQ recommends periodic sealing to protect against water and chemical absorption. Our sealing guide covers how often. Drip pans under older vehicles and a mat under the lawn tractor help too.
Our concrete sealing work starts with washing and degreasing, then resealing, including salt-repellent sealer on driveway aprons. If a garage floor is stained, cracked and pitted beyond cleaning, see our garage floor replacement guide. For other surface problems, read white stains on concrete.
