How to Remove Burger Grease From a Driveway or Patio

Oil and grease stains on concrete, asphalt, and stone — fast methods that actually work.

Burger grease dripping off a plate or grill, oil from the grill itself, or a tipped-over bowl of cooking grease — these are common 4th of July driveway and patio disasters. Concrete and asphalt are porous and absorb grease fast. Here’s how to remove it effectively at every stage — fresh, set, and old.

Fresh Grease — Act Within Minutes

Fresh Grease on Concrete or Patio

Blot up excess grease with paper towels or dry rags — press firmly, don’t smear
Immediately pour an absorbent material over the remaining stain: cat litter, baking soda, cornstarch, or sand
Let absorber sit 20–30 min
Sweep up absorber
Pour dish soap directly on stain and add a small amount of hot water
Scrub vigorously with a stiff-bristle brush — this is the most important step
Rinse with hot water
Repeat if stain remains

Set Grease (Hours to Days Old)

Commercial degreaser (Purple Power, Zep, Krud Kutter) — apply undiluted, let dwell 5–10 min
Scrub with stiff brush, rinse hot
For garage-floor style stains: TSP (trisodium phosphate) cleaner applied per instructions is highly effective
Pressure washing after degreaser application provides the best result for set stains

Old Grease (Weeks or Months)

The poultice method: mix powdered laundry detergent + acetone into a thick paste
Apply 1 inch thick over stain, cover with plastic wrap, tape edges
Let sit 24 hours — the paste draws the grease up as it dries
Remove paste, scrub area with degreaser, rinse
May need 2–3 rounds for very old stains

Asphalt Driveways

Asphalt is petroleum-based, so some solvents that work on concrete can damage asphalt. Use:

Dish soap + hot water + stiff brush — the safest option for asphalt
Absorbent powder (cat litter, baking soda) for fresh spills — never solvents or acetone on asphalt
Commercial degreaser labeled as asphalt-safe

Power Washing Tip: Power washing is significantly more effective after degreaser application than without it. Apply degreaser, let dwell 5 min (keep wet), then power wash. The combination removes grease that neither treatment removes alone.

Will a grease stain on concrete permanently damage it?

Grease itself doesn’t structurally damage concrete, but it can penetrate deeply and become very difficult to remove the longer it sits. Sealed concrete resists grease penetration. If you have unsealed concrete, consider applying a concrete sealer after cleaning — it prevents future stains from setting.

Driveway or Patio Too Far Gone?

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