Someone left a piece of butter on concrete pavement in my backyard.
Under hot texas sun the butter melted and left a two feet by two feet
stain on the concrete.
It has already been there for two days. We tried cleaning it with
dishwasher liquid and with salt, but it didn't work.
Does anybody know how to clean it up?

---

Request for Question Clarification by tlspiegel-ga on 18 Sep 2005 11:14 PDT

Hi dkulik,

If my findings are satisfactory, please let me know and I will post
this information as the official answer to your question.

Pavingexpert.com
http://www.pavingexpert.com/stains.htm

Removing oil stains

"There are a number of proprietary oil-stain removers available, but
we have not yet found one that works well and removes all of the
stain, although some of the commercial cleaning agents supplied by
specialist construction chemical companies, can remove most of the
stains."

[edit]

"The sooner an oil stain is treated, the more likely it is to be
removed. Use a cloth to soak-up any oil droplets on the surface, but
don't smear or rub the oil into the surface. Fresh oil stains can be
soaked up by proprietary absorbent materials or even some of the
clay-based cat litters, cornflour or talcum powder. Any residue
remaining after treating with an absorbent agent can sometimes be
removed or ameliorated by scrubbing with a detergent and brush before
washing down with water. It may take several attempts for this to
work."

[edit]

"For more stubborn stains, you could use a degreasing agent or engine
cleaning fluid such as Gunk, but always test a small inconspicuous
area first for adverse reactions.

If the stain is proving impossible to shift, consider replacing the
contaminated area of paving.

For cleaning oil from plain, trowelled concrete:
Here are some tips we've picked up from elsewhere for cleaning
concrete. These methods should not be used on coloured, or imprinted
concrete, or on concrete pavers, or tarmac.

Mix 1 measure of trisodium phosphate with 6 measures of water. Daub
this over the stain with a clean, old paintbrush and allow the goo to
dry completely before scraping off the dried paste, which should,
hopefully, bring most of the oil with it. Rinse the concrete surface
and scrub vigorously with a stiff brush and clean water.

Prepare a solution of 5% sodium hydroxide (caustic soda - NaOH). Daub
it over the oil stain using an old paitbrush and allow it to dry for
at least 24 hours. Rinse and scrub with clean water, then repeat as
required.

Paint white spirit or turps over the stain. Let the solvent evaporate
for at least one hour before rinsing with hot,soapy water. Repeat as
reqiured."

=========

Cleaning Oil Spots on Concrete 
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/dp_concrete/article/0,2037,DIY_13789_2270691,00.html

=========

How to Clean Concrete
http://www.koolpages.com/hokuspokus/make/concreteclean.html 
 
=========

Best regards,
tlspiegel

---

Clarification of Question by dkulik-ga on 18 Sep 2005 11:21 PDT

Hi tlspiegel,
Thank you for responding to my question. 
I think that your answer is satisfactory. Please post it as the official answer.
dkulik

Hi dkulik,

Thank you for an interesting question and your request for me to post the answer.

Pavingexpert.com
http://www.pavingexpert.com/stains.htm

Removing oil stains

"There are a number of proprietary oil-stain removers available, but
we have not yet found one that works well and removes all of the
stain, although some of the commercial cleaning agents supplied by
specialist construction chemical companies, can remove most of the
stains."

[edit]

"The sooner an oil stain is treated, the more likely it is to be
removed. Use a cloth to soak-up any oil droplets on the surface, but
don't smear or rub the oil into the surface. Fresh oil stains can be
soaked up by proprietary absorbent materials or even some of the
clay-based cat litters, cornflour or talcum powder. Any residue
remaining after treating with an absorbent agent can sometimes be
removed or ameliorated by scrubbing with a detergent and brush before
washing down with water. It may take several attempts for this to
work."

[edit]

"For more stubborn stains, you could use a degreasing agent or engine
cleaning fluid such as Gunk, but always test a small inconspicuous
area first for adverse reactions.

If the stain is proving impossible to shift, consider replacing the
contaminated area of paving.

For cleaning oil from plain, trowelled concrete:
Here are some tips we've picked up from elsewhere for cleaning
concrete. These methods should not be used on coloured, or imprinted
concrete, or on concrete pavers, or tarmac.

Mix 1 measure of trisodium phosphate with 6 measures of water. Daub
this over the stain with a clean, old paintbrush and allow the goo to
dry completely before scraping off the dried paste, which should,
hopefully, bring most of the oil with it. Rinse the concrete surface
and scrub vigorously with a stiff brush and clean water.

Prepare a solution of 5% sodium hydroxide (caustic soda - NaOH). Daub
it over the oil stain using an old paitbrush and allow it to dry for
at least 24 hours. Rinse and scrub with clean water, then repeat as
required.

Paint white spirit or turps over the stain. Let the solvent evaporate
for at least one hour before rinsing with hot,soapy water. Repeat as
reqiured."

=========

Cleaning Oil Spots on Concrete 
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/dp_concrete/article/0,2037,DIY_13789_2270691,00.html

=========

How to Clean Concrete
http://www.koolpages.com/hokuspokus/make/concreteclean.html 
 
=========

Best regards,
tlspiegel

well,  i know my mother has a small pressure washer which she
successfully used to clean 20 years of motor oil and grime off of her
driveway.

then, theres my 84 year old grandpa.... he is probably too old to have
heard of environmental safety, but he has a gallon jug of Muriatic
acid which he hauls out over any speck of anything that gets onto his
driveway.  his driveway is pure as the driven snow btw.  Muratic acid
is sold in hardware stores and sometimes paint stores. It is a
combination of hydrochloric acid and water. It is used for changing
the ph of pools and spas and for cleaning stains off of concrete.  As
with any strong acid or base, the upmost of care must be taken to
protect your skin from coming into contact with it or breathing its
vapors,  but it is effective and seems perfectly suited to your
application.

I hope this helps.

-Angela

ps my mothers pressure washer does as good a job as my grandpas acid
trick, imnsho. good luck!

What about squirting lighter fluid on the edge of the spot and then
lighting it?  If it works, great.  If not, then call Anglega's mum or
follow the suggestions in the answer.