Concrete pavers provide your home with a timeless appearance that’s both visually compelling and extremely long-lasting. Unlike concrete slabs, pavers will not develop long cracks and split into sections, and unlike asphalt, pavers will not need to be redone every few years. But there is one issue all driveway surfaces share, including pavers: oil stains. Which raises the question, what is the best method for removing oil stains from pavers? Bleach? Soapy water and elbow grease? Power washing? Read on to find out.
Ways to Remove Oil Stains From Your Dix Hills Driveway
Engine oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid are what make the modern automobile possible. Without them engines would seize up, brakes would fail and the transmission would burn out in short order. But even the best-built car is going to leak oil or other fluids onto the driveway at some point. And every time a guest parks in your driveway more stains are likely to result. In this brief guide, we’re going to look at common ways to remove oil stains from pavers, starting with a couple of decidedly low-tech methods.
Method 1: White Vinegar and Water
As every DIYer knows vinegar is something of a miracle fluid. From making your salad taste just right to clean your window blinds, disinfecting your toilet, cleaning leather furniture and even shining your silverware vinegar can do it all. You can also add removing oil stains from pavers to that list of uses for vinegar. It’s surprisingly easy in concept, though not so much in execution. Simply mix some white vinegar with water, pour it on the affected area or areas, and let it sit for an hour. (Vinegar with any color to it will probably leave a stain of its own that will be difficult to eliminate.)
Then take a bucket of soapy water and a stiff bristle brush (a wire brush is too stiff) and scrub away. When you’re done rinse the area with a garden hose. There are two potential downsides to this method. The first is that you’ll need to get down on your hands and knees and scrub those pavers hard. The other is that you’re likely to wind up with a bright spot on your pavers that sticks out from the rest.
Method 2: Soap and Water and Elbow Grease
This is essentially the same method of concrete cleaning we just described above, except that you eliminate vinegar from the process. Instead of vinegar use something like dish soap that is environmentally friendly but also formulated to cut through grease. This is a pretty reliable method for removing all but the most intense grease stains but it comes with one major downside: applying elbow grease for long periods of time while down on your hands and knees.
Unfortunately, there is no other way to do it. If you’re young(ish) and in excellent condition you may not mind spending your day scrubbing the driveway by hand. But if that notion doesn’t sit particularly well with you, it’s time to call Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning and ask about pressure washing. You can also review our previous guide outlining additional stains pressure washing can remove.
Pressure Washing: The Sensible Method for Cleaning Oil-Stained Pavers
Concrete pavers enhance the value of your property as well as its curb appeal and if properly maintained will last as long as the house lasts. Cleaning them, however, has always presented something of a challenge for homeowners, especially if the pavers have become stained with oil or other greasy deposits from cars, motorcycles, or delivery vehicles. The two methods laid out above are popular ways of handling the issue of oil stains on pavers, but they are not even close to being the best and most effective methods. That honor goes to the high-pressure wash.
The process of power washing is quick and straightforward and leaves the entire driveway looking as good as the day it was installed. But it’s not a technique that should be tried by just anyone. The water emitted from this type of system is under extremely high pressure, meaning that if the person operating the device is not expertly trained in its use you could wind up with uneven results or damage to the pavers themselves.
That’s why it’s so important to call the pros at Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning. Every one of our field technicians is subjected to a lengthy training process which includes accompanying more experienced techs on actual customer visits so that they can observe and learn. By the time they are allowed to take the reins on a job site, they have proven their mastery of the machinery.
Benefits of Washing Pavers With High-Pressure Water
When done by a qualified professional removing oil stains from pavers using high-pressure water will pay a variety of both short and long-term benefits, including:
Immediate results
Once the field technician assesses the situation and determines the best approach they get straight to work. In only a few minutes you’ll begin to see results that quickly spread across the paved surface as the technician proceeds. In order to ensure you’re not left with a ‘clean spot’ on the driveway the technician will wash the entire surface, removing not just the problematic oil, but years of dirt and grime as well. By the time they’re finished, your driveway will have a like-new appearance you could never achieve any other way.
Increased lifespan for your pavers
If oil and other pollutants on your pavers are not removed they will seep into the heart of the pavers and begin to undermine their integrity. The longer the pavers remain greasy and dirty the more time will be subtracted from their expected lifespan. Pressure washing to remove oil stains can halt the process of deterioration in its tracks and thereby extend the life of your pavers. Or, more accurately, restore their intended lifespan that had been under threat from all the grease and grime.
Enhanced property value
This might seem like a pie-in-the-sky claim but it’s absolutely true. Real estate industry surveys have long confirmed that the curb appeal of a house can affect its value by as much as 10%. Considering the value of many homes today that 10% equals a sizable chunk of change. Curb appeal, in case you weren’t aware, is how your home is perceived from the street by passersby.
If the driveway is covered in oil stains that is all they’ll see, reducing the appeal of the property and its value, regardless of what the house looks like. Having those oil stains removed by the pros at Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning can restore your home’s dashing profile and boost its overall market value.
Enhanced safety
On hot dry days, oil stains may seem like little more than an unsightly nuisance. But add some rainwater or half an inch of snow on top of those greasy pavers and you have a slip-and-fall accident waiting to happen. If the person who slips and falls is a delivery person, contractor, or just a neighborhood kid you may be saddled with paying their medical bills for years to come.
If your driveway is beset by oil stains it’s imperative that you take steps to address the situation before someone gets hurt. A single visit from the experts at Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning can right the situation and allow you to sleep a little easier at night.
Expert Driveway and Patio Cleaning Services in Dix Hills
Oil stains on the pavers in your driveway are an eyesore, a drag on your home’s market value, and a safety hazard. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you don’t have to live with oil stains on your pavers, nor do you have to get down on your hands and knees to remove them the old-fashioned way. All you need to do is give Majestic Windows & Exterior Cleaning a call at 631-421-2295.