How to Clean Concrete Driveway
What You'll Need
- 1/4 cup
- For oil stains
- 1
- 1
- For fresh oil
Step-by-Step Method
For fresh oil: cover with cat litter, stomp it in, let sit 4-8 hours, sweep up. For old oil stains: apply dish soap directly, let sit 30 minutes, scrub with a stiff brush.
Spray the entire driveway with a garden hose. This prevents cleaning solution from being absorbed into dry concrete.
Mix 1/4 cup dish soap in a bucket of hot water. Pour over sections and scrub with a stiff push broom. Work the entire driveway in sections.
Rinse with the garden hose spray nozzle on high pressure. Work from the top of the driveway toward the street so dirty water flows away from the house.
- Do not use bleach near grass or plants (kills vegetation)
- Do not pressure wash above 3000 PSI (can damage concrete surface)
- Do not let degreaser dry on the surface before scrubbing
- Seal your concrete driveway every 2-3 years. Sealed concrete resists oil stains and is much easier to clean.
- For algae and mold on shaded concrete: apply oxygen bleach solution, let sit 15 minutes, scrub, rinse.
- Annual pressure washing keeps a driveway looking new.
Frequently Asked Questions
For severe oil stains: apply a commercial concrete degreaser (like Purple Power), let soak 30 minutes, scrub with a stiff brush, and pressure wash. For extremely stubborn stains, a poultice of cat litter soaked in paint thinner left overnight can draw out deep oil. Wear gloves and work outdoors.
Sources & Methodology
Concrete cleaning methods from Portland Cement Association maintenance guidelines.
Last reviewed: March 20, 2026