Concrete is the most common material used for sidewalks, driveways, and patios. As we all park our vehicles in-house, oil or grease stains will inevitably appear on our concrete.
The answer will depend on the state of your car or the length of time it has been waiting. Yet apart from cars, there are countless reasons oil or grease could stain your paver. For example, during the building process, oil or grease from different tools or equipment can easily fall on them.
It is important to get rid of and clean grease stains from concrete surfaces, whether they are on a driveway, a sidewalk, or the patio of an outdoor kitchen or grill. As a result, these hard surfaces will be easier to keep clean and functional as long as possible.
Some oil stains are minor spills or patches, while others are more highly damaged concrete surfaces. The size and age of the oil stain will indicate how tough it will be to remove. But if you use the right chemicals, it’s easy to get rid of grease stains on concrete, no matter how bad they are or how deep they are.
Nothing beats the savory aroma of sizzling bacon on the grill or in a cast iron skillet. But that delightful smell can quickly turn disastrous when hot bacon grease drips, splatters, or spills onto outdoor concrete surfaces Greasy stains not only look unsightly, but they can create a slippery hazard. Thankfully, bacon grease stains can be removed from concrete with a bit of elbow grease and the right cleaning solutions.
Here is a step-by-step guide to getting bacon grease stains out of concrete driveways, patios, sidewalks, and other surfaces. With the proper grease-cutting cleaners and removal techniques, you can erase even the most stubborn bacon splatters from concrete.
Step 1: Blot Up Excess Hot Grease
When fresh bacon grease spills on concrete it’s important to act quickly while it is still warm and liquid. Use rags or paper towels to soak up as much excess grease as possible before it cools and solidifies.
Remove any thick blobs of solid bacon fat with a plastic or wooden spatula. Scrape gently to avoid scratching or gouging the concrete surface.
Step 2: Apply a Degreasing Cleaner and Let Sit
Next, spray a liberal amount of degreasing cleaner directly onto the grease stained area. Good options include dish soap, laundry detergent, or purpose-made concrete and driveway degreasers.
Let the cleaner soak for 20-30 minutes, which gives the detergent time to break down the fatty oils. Reapply more cleaner if it starts to dry out.
Avoid using hot water, as it can cook the grease residues further into the concrete. Cool or lukewarm water works best.
Step 3: Scrub Vigorously with a Stiff Brush
After letting the degreaser sit, come back and scrub vigorously with a stiff bristle brush or broom to work the cleaner deep into the concrete pores. This abrasive action helps loosen and dissolve the stain.
Focus on scrubbing in different directions to remove all traces. A hard bristle driveway brush or deck scrub brush works very well.
Add a little extra water if needed to create a liquid solution while scrubbing. Rinse the bristles periodically to avoid just spreading grease around.
Step 4: Pressure Wash for a Deep Clean
For severe bacon grease spills or stains that have set in over time, break out a pressure washer for extra cleaning power. Adjust to under 2000 psi and hold the nozzle at least a foot away to avoid damaging the concrete.
Pressure washing dislodges grime from deep in the concrete pores. Wear protective gear to avoid splashback. Completely rinse away all soap residue when finished.
Let the concrete dry fully before assessing if the stain has been fully removed. Several rounds of scrubbing and pressure washing may be needed.
Step 5: Use Baking Soda for a Gentle Clean
For mild stains or gentle concrete surfaces, try making a thick baking soda paste with just a bit of water. Spread this paste generously over the stain and let sit 1-2 hours before scrubbing and rinsing clean.
The natural degreasing properties of baking soda can lift some grease stains without harsh detergents. It creates satisfying foaming action when scrubbed.
You can boost cleaning power by mixing the paste with dish soap or vinegar. Avoid using baking soda on acid-stained concrete, as it may discolor.
Step 6: Apply Cat Litter for Stubborn Stains
For really stubborn bacon grease stains, try sprinkling a thick layer of unused cat litter, clay absorbent, or oil-dry absorbent directly onto the stain. Let it sit for 24 hours to absorb the grease.
The clay materials act as a poultice to draw out deeply set grease from pores in the concrete. After sitting, sweep away the absorbent and rinse the area.
Repeat as needed for difficult stains. Avoid grinding the clay powder into the concrete, as it can scratch the surface. Let fully dry between applications.
Helpful Grease Removal Tips
Keep these tips in mind when tackling bacon grease concrete stains:
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Act quickly before grease cools and hardens. Hot grease cleans up easier.
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Try a plastic putty knife or razor to remove any thick chunks.
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Rinsecleaned areas with hot water to remove grease and soap residue.
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Avoid harsh chemical cleaners that may discolor or etch concrete.
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Wipe up new spills immediately before they seep in and become stains.
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Keep a grease stain cleaning kit ready with scrub brushes, cleaners, rags, and absorptions.
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Test cleaners in an inconspicuous spot first to check for discoloration.
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Be patient! Removing set-in grease stains may take several cleaning sessions.
With consistent cleaning using the right grease-fighting agents, even the most horrendous bacon grease concrete stains can be gently lifted. Take care to properly rinse and neutralize cleaned areas when done.
Grease Prevention Tips
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of grease stain cure. Here are some proactive ways to avoid stains in the first place:
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Cover surfaces below cooking areas with absorbent mats or trays.
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Wipe up spills immediately as they occur, before grease seeps in.
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Use fryer screens or splatter guards when cooking bacon.
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Cook over non-concrete surfaces like trays or griddles when possible.
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Apply a concrete sealer which makes cleaning stains easier. Reseal annually.
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Install a cleaning station or slop sink outside for easy grease disposal.
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Aggregate or exposed concrete resists stains better than smooth troweled finishes.
With proper prevention habits, you can enjoy cooking delicious bacon outdoors without worrying about mess and stains!
Have any great tips for removing bacon grease stains from concrete? Share your secrets in the comments below!
How to Get Rid of Fresh Grease or Oil Stains From Concrete?
If you want to stain, seal, or refinish your concrete, you need to get rid of any oil stains that you see. Getting rid of the oil the right way will ruin your cosmetic treatment because the oil will leak back through. Thus, remove the oil stains from your concrete to avoid this problem in the future.
Are you worried that you don’t know how to get grease or oil stains off of concrete? Don’t be! We will show you how and what product will work best in this case:
When you see an oil stain on concrete, the first thing you should do is get some towels or any other rough material that can soak up the oil.
To quickly neutralize fresh oil stains, the granular that we recommend you to use is Spillfix or Oil-Dri Granular.
Make sure to have all of these supplies collected before you start the procedure. If the stain is brand new, soak up the extra oil on the surface with rags or paper towels. This will make it dry and ready to be treated. But be careful that you’re not supposed to scrape the stain in.
Then you will need to spray an oil cleaner or any other cleaning agent, such as laundry detergent or liquid dish soap, to wash away fresh stains. We would suggest Cleanser Degreaser by Oil Eater or Chomp Pull It Out Oil/Stain Remover for Concrete as an oil cleaner.
Pour the cleaner on the stain and let it rest for 20-30 minutes. After the time given is up, get a nylon bristle brush and scrub the area with it while the stain is still being worked on. Before you rinse the area with hot water, you should scrub it some more. Do this as many times as you need to until the stain is gone.
If the oil stain is pretty dry when you find it, leave the granular material on top of it for six hours instead of twenty to thirty minutes. After that, there is a good chance the stain will vanish or at least fade away.
If the stain is still visible then sweep the material up and follow the cleaning process described above. If you want to do this, make sure you don’t have anything else on your list for the day before you start. It might take a little time and work on your part.
The sooner you treat a grease stain on concrete, the easier it may be to remove. Then again, nothing is impossible, and there are ways to get rid of grease stains that have been there for a long time.
Here is a list of the best products and how to use them to get rid of old and deep grease or oil stains on concrete:
Liquid cleaners tackle with:
- Grease stains on natural stone pavers, brick, grout
- Stains covering a small area
- Best for immediate use
We would recommend you Simple Green Industrial Cleaner & Degreaser and Cleaner/Degreaser if you are looking for a good cleaner, less time-consuming.
Surface cleansers like Prosoco’s Cleaner/Degreaser, however, are very effective at removing grease stains.
Powdered cleaners work well on:
- Large stains on concrete, asphalt, driveways, pavers, and patios
- They are eco-friendly
- Require low effort while cleaning
But the downside is that they don’t work well in hot places; they need extra care to be used in those conditions.
Among powder-based cleaners available in the market, we would suggest you purchase Terminator-HSD Concrete cleaner. To use it you just need to spread the powder on the stain and spray it in water. The oil is broken down and dissolved by Terminator HSD. However, other solutions may remove the oil, but the oil gets washed down the drain.
Using Poultice cleaning agents to clean your concrete surface is very effective, as they:
- Removes the stubborn stain in just one go.
- Good on all kinds of floors, like pavers, tile, brick, and stone
- Are low effort agents
- Are eco-friendly
- Less messy
How to remove big oil stains from concrete with one product//It actually works!
FAQ
How to get bacon grease off a patio?
Does Dawn dish soap remove oil from concrete?
How do you remove cooking oil from a concrete driveway?