It is important to remember that buyers form an impression of your property from the moment they pull up in the street.
So if you put yourself in the shoes of a buyer who is inspecting your property for the first time, one of the first things the buyer will see is your driveway. Unfortunately, many sellers tend to overlook this aspect of their property as they are so used to seeing the faults in this area of their property, such as cracks and oil stains, on a daily basis.
For a simple and easy way to improve that vital first impression, here are some tips on removing oil stains from your driveway and garage floor.
Cleaning smaller oil stains
Our friends at Bunnings tell us that smaller stains, and those that have not been around long, can normally be removed with hot water, detergent and a steel brush. It may take more than one application, but a good scrub using these simple tools will often do the job.
Removing tougher oil stains
For stubborn longer-term oil stains, you’ll need a degreaser, which is a more powerful, concentrated cleaner. This liquid is designed to remove ingrained dirt, and most automotive fluids without damaging the surface.
The degreaser will have instructions on the pack, but please make sure you wear the correct protective gear, including goggles and gloves.
The normal procedure is to apply the degreaser to the stained area and leave it for a short time, (often a few minutes), then scrub it with a steel brush. The instructions will normally advise leaving the area for a further five to ten minutes, but do not allow it to dry out completely. You can then wash the area thoroughly with water…but be conscious about where you are washing the used degreaser to. The aim is to wash all your materials into the drains, not into the garden.
You may find that some further staining comes to the surface a day or two after cleaning, but this can be dealt with by repeating the above process.
Don’t forget, if you need any advice on preparing your property for sale, particularly if you are unsure about what is worth doing and what isn’t, the team at Ian Reid Vendor Advocates are always happy to help.
You can call us on 0418 504 915, and you’ll find lots of helpful tips in our FREE booklet “Fatal Real Estate Traps Exposed”.
