Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.
Hi everyone,
I’m dealing with a frustrating issue in my garage where oil stains and grime are building up on my concrete floor, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to clean and protect it. The stains aren’t fresh, so basic soap and water haven’t really done much. I know pressure washers can help, but I want to make sure I’m using the right tools and methods to avoid damaging the concrete.
Here’s the situation: The floor was sealed a few years ago, but over time, the sealer has worn off in some areas, making it harder to keep clean. I’ve seen mixed advice on whether a degreaser, acid wash, or power washing is the best approach. Also, I’m wondering if I should reseal the concrete after cleaning to prevent future stains.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has dealt with this before.
What products or tools have worked best for you? Are there specific cleaners or techniques that help lift deep oil stains without damaging the surface? Also, if I do decide to reseal the concrete, what type of sealer is best for a garage that sees heavy use?
Looking forward to your advice!
KevinWhite wrote:
22 hours ago, KevinWhite said:Hi everyone,
I’m dealing with a frustrating issue in my garage where oil stains and grime are building up on my concrete floor, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to clean and protect it. The stains aren’t fresh, so basic soap and water haven’t really done much. I know pressure washers can help, but I want to make sure I’m using the right tools and methods to avoid damaging the concrete.
Here’s the situation: The floor was sealed a few years ago, but over time, the sealer has worn off in some areas, making it harder to keep clean. I’ve seen mixed advice on whether a degreaser, acid wash, or power washing is the best approach. Also, I’m wondering if I should reseal the concrete after cleaning to prevent future stains.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has dealt with this before.
What products or tools have worked best for you? Are there specific cleaners or techniques that help lift deep oil stains without damaging the surface? Also, if I do decide to reseal the concrete, what type of sealer is best for a garage that sees heavy use?
Looking forward to your advice!
I Also Contacted With The Professionals And They Recommend Me : https://www.concretesrichmondva.com/
I’ve also struggled with keeping oil stains and grime off concrete surfaces, and I’ve found that some cleaning methods work better than others. Have you tried using a high-quality degreaser before pressure washing? Sometimes, just blasting the stains with water doesn’t fully remove them, especially if they’ve seeped into the concrete over time.
Also, regarding sealing—once you get the surface cleaned, applying a penetrating concrete sealer might help prevent future stains from soaking in. I’d love to hear what others have tried and what’s worked best for them.
Welcome to the forum.
My experience is that oil stains can be improved but will not revert to fresh concrete appearance, regardless of cleaning method. The best option is to repair the vehicles to stop dripping fluids.
My 4,000 psi / 3.5 gpm pressure washer w/ my high speed rotating turbo nozzle would be the first step I would use to clean the floor. This will remove almost everything.
The second step I would use is muriatic acid, like I use for my swimming pool. NOTE: this is DANGEROUS stuff!!! I ALWAYS wear breathing and eye protection, just when adding to the pool and additionally wear long gauntlet acid gloves when using for off label stuff like treating stains.
One advantage of using acid on the floor is that it opens the pores, enabling surface coatings to grab better.
KevinWhite wrote:
21 hours ago, KevinWhite said:Hi everyone,
I’m dealing with a frustrating issue in my garage where oil stains and grime are building up on my concrete floor, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to clean and protect it. The stains aren’t fresh, so basic soap and water haven’t really done much. I know pressure washers can help, but I want to make sure I’m using the right tools and methods to avoid damaging the concrete.
Here’s the situation: The floor was sealed a few years ago, but over time, the sealer has worn off in some areas, making it harder to keep clean. I’ve seen mixed advice on whether a degreaser, acid wash, or power washing is the best approach. Also, I’m wondering if I should reseal the concrete after cleaning to prevent future stains.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has dealt with this before.
What products or tools have worked best for you? Are there specific cleaners or techniques that help lift deep oil stains without damaging the surface? Also, if I do decide to reseal the concrete, what type of sealer is best for a garage that sees heavy use? I contacted this website to get suggestions but they don’t have experience in it.
Looking forward to your advice!
I’ve had success using a degreaser specifically made for concrete to break down oil stains. Apply it, scrub with a stiff brush, and then use a pressure washer (I use a 3,000 PSI model) to rinse everything off without damaging the surface.
After cleaning, resealing with a penetrating concrete sealer is key to preventing future stains. It soaks into the concrete for protection without making the surface slippery, which is perfect for my garage.
I’ve had success with this product. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pour-N-Restore-32-oz-Oil-Stain-Remover-PNR32OZ/206943580 You can get it at an auto parts store too.
If you are bothered with that, why don’t you do tiling on top of that?! It might be cheaper at the end if you are going to spend lots of time trying different products and not get results you want.
Or you can do a resincoat garage floor paint similar to the one you see in IKEA floors