A serviceman pouring engine oil

How to Clean Up Oil Spills in Your Garage

If you’re someone who likes projects, you most likely try and do your own car maintenance when possible. However, anyone who does their own car maintenance knows that it can get messy. If you’re changing your oil and spill some on the floor, you might be wondering how to clean it up. You can’t soak it up with towels like water, so how do you get rid of it? In this post, we will be teaching you how to clean up oil spills in your garage. Keep reading for a quick fix!


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A Simple Fix for a Difficult Mess

Draining oil into filter
  1. Put something on the oil to soak it up. The best solution to use is a clean up compound as it is designed for motor oil. However, if you don’t have any on hand, talcum powder, sawdust, or cat litter made out of newspaper or wood chippings works just as well. If you choose to use the alternatives, you may need to live it on the spill overnight.
  2. Sweep up the compound and prevent any oil from solidifying. Once the soaking substance has had time to soak a good portion of the oil, sweep away the compound. If there is still a decent amount left, sprinkle more oil on top and repeat this process.After this process is done, you’ll need to keep any remaining oil from solidifying. All you need to use is soap and warm water. Liberally spread it all over the area of spillage.
  3. Scrub at the oil and apply a solvent to the floor. Scrub at the oil while it is still in a liquid state. Be sure to use a broom or bristle broom as to not damage your floor. If any oil still remains you will need to apply a solvent. If you have an asphalt driveway or garage floor, it is advised that you do not use a solvent. Apply the solvent to the spill area and allow it to soak up any remaining oil. Then rub the solvent with a broom or bristle brush to advance the absorbing properties. Be sure to wear gloves and any clothes that you are fine with throwing away after.

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Vehicle Service at Stop 23 Auto Sales

If you have any difficult maintenance that needs to be done of your vehicle, schedule an appointment at Stop 23 Auto Sales today. Our team will get your vehicle back into top shape in no time. For more automotive tips and tricks, check out our other blog posts.