Do you have oil stains on your garage floor?

Part of preparing your home for sale includes a good cleaning of your garage. We are often surprised at a few homeowners actually use their garages for vehicles....really! Most of the time they are filled with the toys that allow us to enjoy and recreate in Midcoast Maine - bikes, skis, power boats, muck boots, camping gear, fishing gear, kids toys...etc. If this sounds like you and all of these "toys" are located in the center of your garage floor, then its time to organize these items against the outer walls of the garage.

House construction supplies? Half used paint cans, extra lumber, extra building materials? Dispose of all the chemicals properly and remove any building materials that are not essential to the maintenance and/or competition of the property.

And if you are one of those lucky Mainers who can actually fit their car inside the garage and therefore never have to shovel snow of their car.... then back your car out and look at the garage floor. Is there an oil stain? If so it is time to try to clean it up. Here are a few tips for cleaning oil stains off a garage floor:

Make a paste out of dry laundry detergent and hot water and spread onto the stain. Scrub aggressively with stiff bristle brush. Hose off and let dry. Repeat if necessary.

• Apply kitty litter to the oil spill to soak up any puddles. Scoop up and dispose of.
• Make a paste out of dry laundry detergent and hot water. Spread onto stain. Scrub with bristle brush, hose off and repeat if necessary.
• Another option, try soaking with Spray and Wash and then covering with dry laundry detergent. Leave on for ten minutes, scrub and hose off.
• And if that does not work try oven cleaner.

It may sound like quite a bit of work to get your home ready to sell however it will pay off in the end. Not only will it make the property more appealing to buyers it will make your moving day more organized and easier!

Oil stain tips adapted for The Homeowner's Manual (Que Publishing 2006)