Home Oil Spill Solutions

Cadrid · 05-05-2008, 02:22 AM

So, shortly after posting my "Computer Chair" thread I noticed a smell of gasoline in the house, so I go sniffing around trying to find the source. Eventually I'm led to the unfinished half of the basement... where a a nice big oil spill is waiting for me. There was a substantial leak, I wake my dad up (cue "You live in your parents' basement" quips) and we get the leak stopped and mop up the mess for the most part.

In hindsight, we should've gotten pictures and called the oil company, our insurance company, etc., but now we're left with a stain on the concrete in our basement. Does anyone know of a publicly available product that would help clean up the remainder of the spill? Or, if not that, can anyone recommend a company that cleans up these kinds of spills?

(Side Note: I think this is a personal record for new threads created in one night.)

Kaosu · 05-05-2008, 03:08 AM

Cat litter will soak up most of the oil. The stains will be left however. Bleach can work well. kerosene. Use a nylon bristle brush (no hard or anything, soft one will do).

I've also heard good things about eXIMO waterless concrete cleaner.

Cadrid · 05-05-2008, 03:24 AM

Wow, thanks for the quick reply. I'll definitely pass the information on.

rinthea · 05-05-2008, 03:46 AM

yeah cat litter, sand will do a ghetto job if u have it handy

Fediel · 05-05-2008, 06:55 AM

There are many oleophilic products out there. Just search for oil remover.

Fediel · 05-05-2008, 06:59 AM

Also, beeswax surprisingly enough. But in a microbead form:

PRP: The Proven Solution for Cleaning Up Oil Spills

ValkyrieIsAboutToDie · 05-05-2008, 08:10 AM

Uh, make sure you don't have anything that's going to fire a spark off in your house, especially down there. You could blow up.

I know this because a couple of my neighbors did many years ago... blow up that is.

Felith1 · 05-05-2008, 08:15 AM

Fire is an excellent way to remove oil imo. Fast, easy, and cheap! It will even spread to clean other areas of your house.

ashalon · 05-05-2008, 10:15 AM

brake cleaner will get up just about anything. used to use it all the time in the warehouse when working on cars.

dub · 05-05-2008, 10:24 AM

I'll second brake cleaner. Very surprised with its effectiveness.

findar · 05-05-2008, 11:08 AM

b-12 if you want to buy an over the counter chemical. you can also buy some concrete etcher(its super strong acid) and melt the shit off.

really smart would be to clean the concrete, etch it, then paint it to a color of your liking. concrete paint is the tits. did that with my garage, total cost <$100 and it looks sharp and cleans easily now.

dandrools · 05-05-2008, 11:09 AM

Gasoline is pretty much the ultimate oil cutting solvent if you can stand the smell/fumes. Dunno if anything will get rid of the stain in the concrete though.

Naturally ensure that there aren't any open flames or pilot lights within 18 inches of the floor when using gasoline indoors.

projoking · 05-05-2008, 01:55 PM

Seafoam works great. I had an oil spill in my garage and it pulled it up just fine.

Sea Foam--products

Eduardo · 05-06-2008, 10:16 AM

Hair clippings. Hair Adsorbs oil. Massive amounts of hair clippings in netting has been used to mop up oil spills from tankers.

BigMovieBuff · 05-06-2008, 02:49 PM

Oil Dry to remove oil, Muratic Acid to clean the concrete.

05-05-2008, 02:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cadrid Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Acton, Massachusetts Posts: 1,832	Home Oil Spill Solutions So, shortly after posting my "Computer Chair" thread I noticed a smell of gasoline in the house, so I go sniffing around trying to find the source. Eventually I'm led to the unfinished half of the basement... where a a nice big oil spill is waiting for me. There was a substantial leak, I wake my dad up (cue "You live in your parents' basement" quips) and we get the leak stopped and mop up the mess for the most part. In hindsight, we should've gotten pictures and called the oil company, our insurance company, etc., but now we're left with a stain on the concrete in our basement. Does anyone know of a publicly available product that would help clean up the remainder of the spill? Or, if not that, can anyone recommend a company that cleans up these kinds of spills? (Side Note: I think this is a personal record for new threads created in one night.) Last edited by Cadrid; 05-05-2008 at 03:25 AM..

05-05-2008, 03:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Kaosu Lost in the Twilight Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Tempe, Arizona Posts: 1,271	Cat litter will soak up most of the oil. The stains will be left however. Bleach can work well. kerosene. Use a nylon bristle brush (no hard or anything, soft one will do). I've also heard good things about eXIMO waterless concrete cleaner. __________________ My name is 朱邦 Last edited by Kaosu; 05-05-2008 at 03:11 AM..

05-05-2008, 11:08 AM	#11 (permalink)
findar Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,902 +11 Internets	b-12 if you want to buy an over the counter chemical. you can also buy some concrete etcher(its super strong acid) and melt the shit off. really smart would be to clean the concrete, etch it, then paint it to a color of your liking. concrete paint is the tits. did that with my garage, total cost <$100 and it looks sharp and cleans easily now. __________________ -its clobbering time

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05-05-2008, 03:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Cadrid Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Acton, Massachusetts Posts: 1,832	Wow, thanks for the quick reply. I'll definitely pass the information on.

05-05-2008, 03:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
rinthea omghax Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,135 -48 Internets	yeah cat litter, sand will do a ghetto job if u have it handy

05-05-2008, 06:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Fediel Unregistered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 754	There are many oleophilic products out there. Just search for oil remover.

05-05-2008, 06:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
Fediel Unregistered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 754	Also, beeswax surprisingly enough. But in a microbead form: PRP: The Proven Solution for Cleaning Up Oil Spills

05-05-2008, 08:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
ValkyrieIsAboutToDie Needs food badly Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,560 +39 Internets	Uh, make sure you don't have anything that's going to fire a spark off in your house, especially down there. You could blow up. I know this because a couple of my neighbors did many years ago... blow up that is.

05-05-2008, 08:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
Felith1 Thar she blows! Join Date: May 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 394 +11 Internets	Fire is an excellent way to remove oil imo. Fast, easy, and cheap! It will even spread to clean other areas of your house.

05-05-2008, 10:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
ashalon haz me cena mujer, ahora mismo Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 63 +1 Internets	brake cleaner will get up just about anything. used to use it all the time in the warehouse when working on cars.

05-05-2008, 10:24 AM	#10 (permalink)
dub Registered Snoozer Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pleasuretown Posts: 815	I'll second brake cleaner. Very surprised with its effectiveness.

05-05-2008, 11:09 AM	#12 (permalink)
dandrools Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 143 -1 Internets	Gasoline is pretty much the ultimate oil cutting solvent if you can stand the smell/fumes. Dunno if anything will get rid of the stain in the concrete though. Naturally ensure that there aren't any open flames or pilot lights within 18 inches of the floor when using gasoline indoors.

05-05-2008, 01:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
projoking Oh hey... Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 73 +6 Internets	Seafoam works great. I had an oil spill in my garage and it pulled it up just fine. Sea Foam--products

05-06-2008, 10:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
Eduardo Cinnamilk cures homeopathy Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 734 -15 Internets	Hair clippings. Hair Adsorbs oil. Massive amounts of hair clippings in netting has been used to mop up oil spills from tankers.

05-06-2008, 02:49 PM	#15 (permalink)
BigMovieBuff Detroit Lions: 0-16 2008 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 763 +13 Internets	Oil Dry to remove oil, Muratic Acid to clean the concrete.