Oil stains ruin new driveway

Q: We’ve tried everything to remove an oil stain – left by a holiday guest’s car – from our new gray paver driveway. It is on one brick completely and slightly on three adjoining bricks. Help! — Dolores G., Toms River, N.J.

A: Unfortunately, it sounds like a pretty deep stain, and since it’s an oil drip from a vehicle — meaning the oil likely is “dirty” from running through the engine as opposed to “relatively clean” oil like that just purchased from a store — the stain may be permanent. This is because brick pavers — or any masonry for that matter — are quite porous and absorb liquids quickly.

You’ve been treating this stain without any improvement, so you may have to take the most drastic course, which is replacement of the stained paver. A do-it-yourselfer can loosen and lift out the paver, being careful to set the replacement so that it sits flush with the rest of the bricks. Paying attention to the level of the underlying material (sand, usually) is crucial, as is remembering that this material gradually settles under the weight of the paver. If you aren’t sure that you can make the replacement fit exactly, or if the pavers are prohibitively large, call in the contractor who installed the driveway to make repairs, or contact a driveway repair specialist.

Because of their makeup, treating oil drips as quickly as possible is essential. This means soaking up the spill, first by wiping away excess oil and then covering the stained bricks with an absorbent material. Household products like talcum powder, cornmeal or cornstarch are excellent for soaking up masonry stains. Powdered chalk, fuller’s earth and whiting are also very good absorbents, and cat litter is said to work well.

One recommended method is to mix mineral spirits and whiting into a thick paste, apply directly to the stain, and allow it to dry (about 24 hours). These powders can typically be brushed away, using a synthetic-bristle cleaning brush so the stain can be scrubbed a bit.

Bleach, vinegar and lemon juice do not work well on oil stains.

HOME TIP: Masonry sealer is a good way to protect concrete, brick or other material from most stains. However, the sealer must be reapplied every three to five years, and any stains should still be cleaned up as soon as they occur.