Tips on How to Clean Up Spilled Engine Oil

Engine oil inevitably ends up on the floor beneath your vehicle. It drips from your car’s engine, especially if you own an older vehicle with worn-out gaskets and seals.  You might also accidentally spill oil during a DIY engine repair job.

Whatever its origin, spilled engine oil creates an unsightly mess on the ground. Oil stains don’t just detract from the garage’s overall appearance–they can also put you in danger of slipping when you step on them. You want to remove spilled engine oil immediately. Fortunately, you can make your work easier by following these tips on how to clean up engine oil spills.

Tips on How to Clean Up Spilled Engine Oil

You can divide the process of cleaning up engine oil stains into three parts: Absorbing, saturating, and scrubbing.

Absorb the Spilled Engine Oil

Cover the spilled oil with absorbent material. Give the material one to two days to soak up the lubricant. Once the material has absorbed as much engine oil as possible, dispose of the oil-soaked absorbent.

If there’s still engine oil on the floor, apply fresh material and wait another 24-48 hours. Repeat the process until almost all of the oil is gone.

Gather the oil-soaked absorbent material and temporarily store it in a disposable waterproof container. After cleaning up the oil spill, dispose of the spent material according to your city’s regulations on household hazardous waste.

You can choose from various absorbent materials to soak up engine oil spills, many of which are common household products. Here are some examples:

Kitty Litter

Clay kitty litter is great for oil spills. Use a cat litter product that doesn’t clump. Non-clumping material is more effective at absorbing engine oil.

Other Household Products

Alternative absorbent materials include coconut husks and sawdust. There are also commercial oil absorbents that can soak up engine oil, but they cost more than household products.

If you don’t have suitable absorbent material, you can put paper towels on the floor to temporarily stop the spill from spreading. The towels can soak up engine oil while you go out to get what you need. Dirt and sand are also possible alternatives to dedicated absorbent material.

You can skip this part if the spilled engine oil has dried into a stain.

Saturate the Oil Stain

The next step is saturating the oil-stained area with a cleaning solution. You must blot up as much oil as possible before this step.

Apply the cleaning solution to the oil stain. Let the treated area sit for one hour and wait for the cleaner to break down the lubricant.

Similar to oil-absorbent materials, you have an abundance of cleaning solutions to choose from. Each solution offers advantages that might better suit your particular requirements. Here are some examples:

Powdered Laundry Soap

One of the most popular, effective, and accessible cleaning solutions for saturating oil stains is powdered laundry soap. It is highly effective on new or recent engine oil spills.

Fill a bucket with warm water and add plenty of powdered laundry detergent to ensure it turns out soapy. Pour the soapy water over the stain before adding more detergent to the treated area. Let it stand alone for several minutes.

Mineral Spirits

Do you keep mineral spirits at home? The organic solvent can remove paint, so you can use it to remove grease.

Pour mineral spirits on the stain and wait three minutes before scrubbing it. You can also mix mineral spirits with the oil absorbent to create a degreasing paste, speeding up the process.

Cover the area with newspapers and wait for it to dry. Mix a cup of bleach and a cup of laundry detergent into a gallon of warm water and use the mixture to wash the dried oil stain.

Other Homemade Degreasers

Other household products that can serve as effective homemade degreasers include acetone and lacquer thinner. Furthermore, you can mix these alternative solvents with the absorbent material.

Do you know what else you can use as a makeshift degreaser? Coca-Cola. The phosphorus in the popular soft drink is great at breaking down grease. Before pouring Coke over the oil stain, remember that the soda leaves a distinct stain. Fortunately, you can remove the new stain with baking soda or a dry cleanser.

Eco-Friendly Commercial Degreasers

Eco-friendly products use an active ingredient derived from citrus and an absorbent material that doesn’t leach toxic substances.

Use a trowel to spread the degreaser over the stain. Wait for eight hours or until the cleaner dries itself into a powdery form. Clean up the residue and let the treated location dry. You might have to wait a few days, but the oil stain will eventually disappear.

Industrial-Grade Commercial Degreasers

Industrial-grade degreasers use more powerful active ingredients that break down engine oil and other grease types faster than eco-friendly ones. Unfortunately, industrial-grade degreaser costs more and has harsher side effects when it comes into contact with unprotected body parts.

Protective wear is a must when you use an industrial-grade degreaser. Put on rubber gloves and sturdy eye protectors. Apply the degreaser in the same way as its eco-friendly counterpart.

Scrub and Wash the Engine Oil Stain

After the degreaser does its job, it’s time to scrub the oil stain. You can use dish soap, WD-40, or a bleach-and-water mixture. Use a nylon brush or broom with stiff bristles for this task. Afterward, rinse the floor with a hose. If the stain stubbornly remains, scrub and rinse it until it disappears. Let it air dry.

After applying degreaser to an oil spill, you can use a dish soap, WD-40, or a mixture of water and bleach to scrub the oil stain.

–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

If the oil stain has set into the floor, spray it with water first. Mix baking soda and water into a paste and apply it to the old stain.

Find Compatible Replacement Engine Parts For Your Car

While your vehicle will often drip engine oil, there might be something wrong if you constantly clean up large spills. Check parts like the oil filter, oil pan, and oil pan gasket for damage or excessive wear. If you need a new oil filter, oil pan, or oil pan gasket, a suitable replacement is only several clicks away at CarParts.com.

At CarParts.com, finding the right oil filter, oil pan, or oil gasket for your vehicle is easy. Plug your car’s details into our website’s built-in vehicle selector and browse our products that meet your requirements. Our knowledgeable customer service team is available 24/7 to answer your questions about our products, such as compatibility and pricing. We source our products from trusted brands, ensuring that you get the performance you deserve from your new parts.

What are you waiting for? Order a high-quality oil filter, oil pan, or oil pan gasket from CarParts.com today and quickly get your vehicle back on the road!