Removing olive oil from a brick patio at first sight of the mishap will increase the chances that no stain will be left.
Things You Will Need
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Soak up as much of the olive oil from the brick as possible. Sprinkle kitty litter, cement powder, baby powder, fine sawdust or similar substance directly onto the stain. Use a generous amount and make sure that the entire stain is covered. Do not try to soak up the olive oil with a rag. This may only spread the olive oil further onto the brick patio.
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Allow the oil to soak into the kitty litter (or whichever product you are using). Gently scrape up the pile of kitty litter and oil, using a stiff piece of cardboard, wood scraper or similar item.
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Fill a bucket with one gallon of warm water. Add a pound of trisodium phosphate to the water and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle in some powdered chalk while mixing until a thick paste forms.
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Spread the paste over the stain using a spatula. Spread on a layer about a half-inch thick.
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Allow the paste to dry onto the olive oil stain. Use a wooden scraper or stiff piece of cardboard to remove the paste from the brick patio.
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Wash the stained area of the brick patio with clean water and a scrub brush. Allow the surface to air-dry.
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Use dish-washing liquid and water as an alternative cleaning method if you do not have trisodium phosphate on hand. Mix a generous amount of dish-washing liquid into a gallon of warm water. If you have ammonia handy, add a half-cup to the mixture. Pour the mixture onto the stained area (after soaking up the majority with kitty litter) and scrub with a stiff scrub brush. Rinse with plain water.
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Scrub down the area with mineral spirits if any sight of the olive oil still persists. Rinse the brick patio with plain water.
The Drip Cap
- It’s nice to enjoy a barbecue on a summer day outside on your brick patio.
- Oil can be a tricky substance to remove from any surface.
- Gently scrape up the pile of kitty litter and oil, using a stiff piece of cardboard, wood scraper or similar item.
- Spread on a layer about a half-inch thick.
- Wash the stained area of the brick patio with clean water and a scrub brush.