Oil-stained paving – how to get rid of oil stains from polishing cubes?
One of the many patterns to spoil the mood of a real estate owner can be expressed as follows: motor oil + paving stone = unsightly and difficult to remove stain. The view of a dark, disfiguring stain hurts especially if the print is new and the dirt is in an exposed place.
Will such an accidental or careless “ornament” become permanent like a body tattoo? Not necessarily, but it would be unwise to testify with your head that any method of removing such stains will be effective.
First of all, it is best to act quickly, as fresh stains are easier to remove. A typical paving block is made of concrete, the structure of which is conducive to oil absorption. Granite blocks are better in this respect, but they are also easy to get dirty. Dirty engine oil soaks deeper and deeper into the porous surface over time, often causing permanent discoloration. It should be added that a lot depends on the quality of the cube itself. The more expensive ones are usually characterized by greater resistance to leaks from cars or even fat from the barbecue.
Sprinkling sand on a stain won’t do much good. A sorbent is better for collecting the oil stain. It is a special, powdery preparation used mainly by fire brigades, which is used to remove puddles of oil and fuel from streets. This pinkish agent absorbs greasy liquid very well and is ecological, but unfortunately it costs a little. However, the sorbent is not strictly used to clean stains, so it is not enough to remove all traces.
In stationary and online shops, of course, there is no shortage of specialist agents better or worse able to deal with greasy stains on paving stones. You can mention here for example names such. However, these preparations have both supporters and declared opponents. Why? Because they do not always work, and often also cause “side effects”. Chemicals can vary significantly in composition, and the type of stain and its age also do their job. You can never be sure if they will result in discolouration on the polybrush. Therefore, it is worth to first try a given preparation on a small area, in an invisible place or on a single piece of paving stones if we have one. Often, the agent may also affect the structure of the polybruk, which will turn out to be visible only after some time. Chemistry, which will remove the stain, and at the same time destroy our driveway, is a Pyrrhic victory, all the more so because the prices of such agents can be high. This applies not only to specialist preparations designed to remove greasy stains from concrete, but also to other means preferred by some people for this purpose. For example, there is the Fosol rust remover, the use of which will have an impact on the stain, but will be risky. In any case, it is not uncommon to try out even a few different measures and repeat the procedure for a few days. It is also always worth reading the instructions for use carefully. Besides, some companies praise special impregnants for paving stones, which can be used in places particularly vulnerable to staining. These agents are to form a protective layer preventing deep penetration of oils into the concrete.
Another popular, yet cheap and quite safe method is to use a dishwashing liquid, such as the popular Ludwig. Mix the liquid with water at a ratio of 1 to 3 or close to it, and then apply the fatal spill of engine oil. Leave it for a few dozen minutes or an hour and then wipe it off. The operation will probably have to be repeated several times, but it is worth checking to what extent it will help. Some people still recommend the use of organic solvents such as acetone or benzene. They are also inexpensive and largely ecological, but their disadvantage is that they evaporate quickly. Therefore, after pouring them over the stains, it is best to cover the place of action with a piece of foil.
Regardless of the agent we use, we have to wash it off after some time. Sometimes just a broomstick is enough, sometimes running water or even a pressure washer is better. Weather is very important for the effectiveness of our fight against oil abstraction underfoot. We start cleaning the polybrush when it doesn’t rain, optimally on a windless day. Our efforts will also be affected by the air temperature.
What if it doesn’t work out in any way? Maybe it is always better to have a few spare cubes in stock and replace a piece of polybrush as a last resort? It is quite likely that this solution will be cheaper than buying some specialty fluids or even more so using the services of companies specialized in cleaning stains and pockets of customers.

Categories: Automotive