There is nothing worse than discovering engine oil on your driveway. Not only does this signal a potential issue with your car, but it also means you need to remove the stains. Getting rid of these unsightly stains can be difficult, as one cleaning enthusiast discovered recently. After one failed attempt, Vannilla Logan posted on the Facebook group ‘Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips’ asking for advice on how to remove the unpleasant stains.
She asked: “I dropped motor oil on our driveway pavers. I already rinsed and washed/scrubbed. This is the result. Did anyone remove this kind of stain from pavers? And what did you use that really worked? Yes, I watched YouTube videos, but if I have a suggestion from someone who did it, I can just go and buy the exact product to clean it. Thanks all!”
The photo showed a large, dark patch of oil on the woman’s driveway. The post was inundated with comments from Mrs Hinch fans offering their advice. One of the most suggested solutions was to use full sugar cola to remove the stains.
Marilyn Jones said: “Coke straight on. Leave a while.”
Carole O’Malley replied: “Full-fat cola (not diet or Pepsi), cover it and leave for a while before washing it off with washing powder in hot water.”
Audrey Brook suggested: “I used cola on mine. Just the cheap one from Aldi and it worked a treat. Pour it on and leave it.”
Jill Smith agreed and wrote: “Really cheap cola. Lifts after a few weeks.”
Cola can remove engine oil from driveways because it contains acids such as phosphoric acid which can break down the molecules in oil. When the cola is left to sit on the stains, the acid breaks down the oil molecules, lifting them from the concrete.
For cola to work effectively, it must be left either overnight or for several hours.
Full-sugar cola can be bought from most local supermarkets and online. Aldi Vive Cola costs 49p for two litres, while Sainsbury’s own brand costs 75p for two litres.
Other suggestions from Mrs Hinch fans included using non-biological washing powder, WD40 and brick acid.
Nicola Barker said: “Brick acid is supposed to be fantastic.”
Jayne Marie Shankland replied: “Non-bio washing powder. Leave overnight and scrub off [the] next day.”
Amanda Elaine commented: “WD40 will release and remove. Then, scrub it with washing up liquid and a hard brush.
It removed old black engine oil from mine.”
