Remove Oil Stains From Pavers With An Unexpected Laundry Room Staple

It's not uncommon to end up with unsightly oil stains on your driveway or patio pavers. Vehicle oil leaks or stains around your grill can seem impossible to remove with standard outdoor cleaners. But what if the solution is already sitting in your laundry room? If you're looking for tips to clean your patio like a pro, consider using this unexpected laundry room staple: laundry detergent. While it's typically used to break down and lift stains out of fabrics, it can also be your secret weapon when it comes to removing oil stains from pavers.

What makes laundry detergent so beneficial in this situation is its grease-cutting properties. Laundry detergent is formulated with lipases, which are enzymes that break down lipids. This makes it ideal for tackling tough stains like those left by motor oil, cooking oil, or grease. Pavers are porous, meaning they are prone to staining. The surfactants in laundry detergent work by bonding with both dirt and water molecules, helping to lift away stubborn debris and ensure it remains in the water rather than soaking right back into the surface. Both liquid and powdered laundry detergents are effective options for this task, so you likely already have all you need on hand.

The first step to clean up oil stains in your driveway is to blot up as much excess oil as you can. You can use paper towels, an old rag, or even kitty litter to absorb the majority of the oil. Once you've soaked up as much as you can, mix a solution of warm water and a generous squirt or spoon of laundry detergent in a bucket. Use a stiff-bristled brush or a sponge to scrub the solution into the stain. The soap will get to work breaking down the oil, and the bristles of the brush will help lift the stain from the porous surface of the pavers. Make sure you give it a good scrub, focusing on the edges of the stain where oil may have seeped deeper.

After you've scrubbed the area thoroughly, rinse it with hot, clean water to wash away the soap and oil residue. For tougher stains, you might have to repeat the process a couple of times, but you'll likely see decent improvement after the first round. If the stain still won't go away, you could also pair this method with a quick rinse with a pressure washer to add some extra firepower. This simple, inexpensive method works wonders for removing oil stains from pavers without having to use harsh chemicals or expensive commercial cleaners.