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Getting stains on your paver project is never an ideal scenario. After the time and money investment that goes into it, the last thing you want is for a stain to appear on the surface. Luckily most stains can be cleaned without any effects to the pavers themselves. Though the best thing that we can suggest is that you have some stones set aside that can always be used if a stain is unable to be removed. The second best option is to seal your paver project so that these stains are much easier to clean. The third option is to find a product that is able to clean your stain. Oil and grease are stains that are likely to appear on driveways or backyard spaces where you may be barbecuing are tough stains that penetrate through the pavers. Luckily these stains can be taken care of.
How to Remove Oil Stains from Pavers
Oil stains on pavers can be removed from pavers with some ease. The most difficult thing about oil is that it penetrates through the surface of the stone and into the stone itself. The longer that it sits on the surface, the more it will soak into the paver and the more difficult it will be to clean. The faster that you can immediately clean that paver, the easier it will be to remove all of the oil that soaks into the stone itself.
If the pavers have been sealed, cleaning is actually quite simple. It could be that you just need to take a cloth and soak up the oil as it likely pooled on the surface thanks to the sealer. However, if the pavers have not been sealed then you are likely needing to soak up what you can. This will leave an oil stain on your pavers. You then need to find an oil remover that you can apply to that stain in order to pull out the oil that has soaked past the surface and into the stone. This may mean multiple applications of the cleaner, but ultimately you should be able to completely clean the stone with minimal to no adverse effects to the stone.
If the oil is persistent after numerous applications of the cleaner, then the best next option is to get new stones that replace those stones. It is always best practice to hold on to some of the stones as extras and store them after the initial install. Unfortunately many paver styles and especially color blends come and go in the industry. You may find that your paver has been discontinued when it comes time to replacing some stones. This is why having some extras never hurts.
Removing Oil Stains from Pavers
Most cleaning and sealing product manufacturers have their own oil remover that is simple to use. There is not much to this and we have had great success with removing oil from pavers for our clients using these products. It is important to note that if you are planning to seal a patio, all stains must be removed from the surface or they will be trapped under the sealer. When it comes to pricing a clean and seal project, you will want to account for that cleaning and the possible multiple trips that come with cleaning an oil stain as it could take multiple applications of the cleaner.
That being said, here are the steps on how to get oil off of pavers.
- Ensure that the surface is not wet. Follow the directions on the bottle when using before and after rain or the temperature ranges that the product can be used within.
- Shake the bottle and outline one inch past the stain with the liquid followed by filling in the outline with the liquid. The thickness of the coating should be approximately 1/8″.
- Allow the liquid to dry to a powder. This typically takes 12 to 24 hours depending on the temperature and humidity. Once the powder has formed, sweep it away.
- If the spot remains dark, provide additional time for the moisture to evaporate. If the stain remains after that time, re-apply the liquid and follow the steps again. You can additionally scrub with a hard bristled brush on the additional application.
- If there is any remaining residue, rinse with water.
This product will typically work to lift and absorb embedded oil stains (though may not be recommended for synthetic oil stains) on concrete pavers that are both dry and wet cast, natural stone, brick, concrete slabs, as well as poured and stamped concrete. The bottle itself should be stored above freezing temperatures. It is always recommended to test the product on a small part of the stain before continuing with the entire stain to see how it reacts with the paving stone.
If you are wondering how to remove old oil stains from pavers, it just takes many more applications of the remover as the oil stain has likely penetrated and soaked into the stone. Getting that oil out of the pavers will be more difficult the longer the oil has been on the surface of the pavers.
How to Remove Grease from Pavers
If you are wondering how to clean grease off patio pavers, it is as simple as completing the same steps listed above. Removing grease and oil follows the same steps and most oil cleaners on the market are branded as oil and grease removers.