Removing Home Heating Oil Spill Stains And Odors From Concrete
Posted on: 24 March 2018
If you've had a heating oil spill and are struggling to remove the odors and stains that it's left behind, don't fret – you can remove both the odor and the stains from concrete surfaces. It takes a little work and some know-how, but it is a task that can be accomplished. Here, you'll learn how to remove heating oil spills from concrete surfaces.
Act Fast
It's always best to act quickly when you notice a spill. The longer the oil has to soak into the concrete, the harder it will be to remove the stain. Immediately cover the spill with fresh kitty litter. The litter will absorb the oil. Let it sit for at least a half hour, then sweep it up and put it in a box or bag. If the oil remains, repeat the process until the liquid has been absorbed fully.
Note – Don't just throw the oil-soaked kitty litter in your trash. It should be taken to your local waste company and disposed of properly.
Clean the Stain
The trick to getting home heating oil stains and odors out of concrete is using trisodium phosphate paste. Measure five cups of warm water with five ounces of trisodium phosphate. Mix in a little bit of diatomaceous earth little by little until the mixture has the consistency of peanut butter.
Apply the paste to the oil spill using a putty knife. Cover the paste with plastic wrap and let it sit for a few days. As it dries, the mixture will absorb the odors and lift the stain out of the concrete. Once the paste has dried, remove the plastic wrap and use the putty knife to scrape the mixture off of the concrete. If the odor or spot remains, repeat the process.
Seal the Concrete
After the spill is cleaned up, you want to seal the concrete to lock in any odors that may remain and make the next clean-up a little easier. You can seal just the area in which you've just cleaned, or you can do the entire surface to make sure that it is all sealed tightly to protect it from future spills.
This process may actually take a few days to complete, but in reality, you'll have very little time invested in getting it done. If you have any questions about cleaning up home heating oil spills, talk with your local oil delivery services.
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