How to Remove Oil from Tile and Grout

Although tile is a hard floor, it is still porous and so is the grout, which means that the oil could have absorbed into the floor. Cleaning the floor will not work to remove the oil; it needs to be pulled out of the pores. The baking soda and mineral spirits solution could work well. If not, here are two more options.

You Will Need:

• Pure acetone
• An absorbent, such as:
  • Baking soda
  • Paper towels
  • Sawdust
• A plastic scraper
• A broom
• A cloth
• Soap
• Water

Steps to Remove the Oil:

1. First, test the acetone on a small hidden area to look for any damage. Put a drop of acetone on the tile and let it sit until it has dried, then inspect the area.
2. This method is a poultice. To use a powder, like baking soda or sawdust, mix a small amount of pure acetone with the powder to create a thick paste that is about the consistency of toothpaste. To use paper towels, simply wet the paper towel with a little acetone.
3. Apply the poultice onto the stained area. For the powder poultice, smear it in a thick layer over the area.
4. Let the poultice dry.
5. Use a plastic scraper to scrape it off, then sweep it up with a broom if using the powder poultice.
6. If the poultice has dried quickly, you may need to do it again. This time, cover the poultice with plastic wrap for 24 hours to ensure it stays wet long enough, then remove the plastic wrap and allow it to fully dry.
7. When the stain is gone, wash the area with some soap and water.

Reuben wrote back (Thanks!) to let us know that his method worked, so we are including it here for others with the same problem.

You Will Need:

• Baking soda
• Paper towels
• Mineral spirits
• Plastic wrap

Steps to Remove the Oil:

• Sprinkle baking soda over the area. You want a thick layer, not a light dust.
• Wet a few paper towels with mineral spirits.
• Lay the paper towels over the baking soda.
• Cover the area with plastic wrap. If needed, tape the edges of the plastic wrap down using a mild tape like masking tape or Scotch tape.
• Let the area sit for a few hours.
• Uncover the area and sweep up the baking soda.

You Will Need:

• Brake cleaner
• Soap
• Water
• A cloth
• An absorbent powder, such as:
  • Baking soda
  • Kitty litter
  • Sawdust
• A broom and dustpan

Steps to Remove the Oil:

1. Spray a small amount of brake cleaner onto a hidden area of the tile to look for any adverse reaction first. To test it, spray it on the surface, let it sit for a minute, then wash it off a soapy damp cloth. Pat the area dry, then inspect it for any damage or discoloration.
2. If the test goes well, spray the brake cleaner over the area of the tile where the spill occurred. The brake cleaner will help to bring the oil to the surface.
3. Pour an absorbent powder over the area. You want it to be a thick pile, about a half inch thick.
4. Let the powder sit on the area for several hours. The powder will absorb the oil and the brake cleaner.
5. Sweep up the powder.
6. Wash the area with soap and water to remove any remaining residue.
7. Pat the area dry with a towel. This will also help to prevent any residue from remaining.

• It may take several attempts to fully remove the oil.
• If you are unable to remove the stain from the grout, get a small box of a matching color of grout from the hardware store and wipe a thin layer over the existing grout to cover the stain.