How to Get BBQ Grease Off Concrete: A Complete Guide to Cleaning Grill and Cooking Stains

Shish kebobs on a firey bbq grill.

Whether it’s cooking oil, baking grease, bbq grease, meat grease, fryer grease, or other food/grill grease, when it hits your patio pavers or concrete, the fun times are over.

Barbecuing is one of life’s simple pleasures—until you glance down and see a stubborn, dark stain spreading across your patio. Whether it’s from sizzling burgers, juicy ribs, or a runaway sausage, BBQ grease can leave unsightly marks on concrete, patios, and even wood decks. If you’re wondering how to get BBQ grease off of concrete or how to clean old grill grease stains, you’re in the right place.

Concrete may seem tough, but it’s surprisingly porous. That means grease doesn’t just sit on the surface—it seeps in, making it harder to remove over time. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get grill grease off concrete, how to clean BBQ grease off cement, and how to remove food and cooking grease from patios, slabs, and decks.

Just an FYI, since your dog eventually will lick that spot you’re cleaning, be careful what you put on it. 

Got mice invading your grill? Check out these ways to keep mice out of your bbq.

Table of Contents

Why BBQ Grease Is So Hard to Remove From Concrete and other Surfaces

Before we dive into cleaning methods, it helps to understand why getting grill grease off concrete is such a challenge. Concrete is full of tiny pores that absorb liquids. When hot meat grease or cooking oil hits the surface, it quickly penetrates, especially if the concrete isn’t sealed.

Unless your concrete is sealed, it’s gonna be holding on to that food grease stain a looong time.

Getting food grease out of concrete requires more than just a quick rinse. The longer it sits, the deeper it goes—and the harder it becomes to clean BBQ grease off concrete effectively.

Washing with dish soap or a power washer will only clean the surface, the grease stain will stubbornly remain. To get bbq and other food grease stains out of concrete, the grease needs to be “pulled” out of the pores.

Step-by-Step: How to Get BBQ Grease Off Concrete

Absorbing the greasy stain as soon as possible is the first, crucial step. All of the ingredients in step 1 have the magic to “pull” out the grease from the concrete/stone pores.

Beware! Spot treatment can truly mean leaving a renewed spot that doesn’t match the rest of your patio. One seasoned BBQ veteran (excuse the pun) said to practice the cleaning techniques on extra pavers or an inconspicuous spot before attempting grease removal on an expensive cement job.

1. Absorb Fresh Grease Immediately

If the spill is recent, act fast. Sprinkle absorbent materials like:

  • Cat litter
  • Cornstarch
  • Flour
  • Baking soda
  • Sawdust
  • Dry concrete mix
  • Joint compound
  • Sand
  • Powdered laundry detergent

Technique, time, and amount matters! For material like cat litter, smash and grind it well into the concrete with your foot, until it’s almost powder. Walk away and leave it. After a couple weeks/ a month, it’ll be gone. 

Material should be piled on thick – at least an inch. Let it sit for 30–60 minutes to soak up excess grease (but we all know a minimum of a week is best). Sweep it away before moving to deeper cleaning.

Don’t be afraid to reapply. You want to keep these materials in a powdery state. If the grease appears to be seeping through, dump on more of the absorbing material.

2. Use Dawn Dish Soap and Warm Water

Dawn Dish Detergent is so amazing, it gets it’s own section in the battle against grease.

For light stains, this simple method works wonders:

  • Mix ¼ cup of Dawn dish soap with a gallon of warm water.
  • Scrub the area with a stiff-bristled brush.
  • Rinse thoroughly with a hose.

Tough Stains

Apply Dawn dish soap full strength in a solid, liberal quote. Agitate with a stiff bristle brush. Cover with cat litter or mechanics oil absorber. Let it sit a few hours or overnight, then sweep it up. It may take more than one application, but it will help. -Reddit user Tacos Palackos

Rinse Tips

Pour boiling water or a mix of water/vinegar (50/50 white vinegar and water) over the Dawn-doused stain and scrub some more. Finally, flush for a full 10 minutes with water/power washer.

Tip: After a Dawn scrub, “cover with pelleted pine bedding (looks a lot like smoker pellets but it’s for animal bedding. Pine pellet bedding is REALLY GREAT for wet messes and doesn’t get as funky as kitty litter. Once the pellets come in contact with moisture they turn to sawdust and it’s easy to clean.” -horsesarecool512

Dawn Dish Soap Buddies

Sprinkle the area with baking soda, spray that with white vinegar. Let stand 25. – 30 minutes, keeping vinegar on it. Drizzle Dawn original dish soap and scrub. Rinse. If that doesn’t all come out 1st time, repeat.

Put it [Dawn] on thick and brush it in lightly… Let it sit there till pretty much dries and gets crusty then spray it off with hot water. That will get rid of the surface stuff… than to draw out the deeper oil within the concrete, use old-fashioned Tide laundry powder… with no other oxy or scents or anything like that… Make an oatmeal consistency paste with it, maybe a little bit wetter, and spread it out over the stain. Drape plastic over it so that it does not dry too quickly. Let let it sit there for a good day. At least. You may want to wet it lightly once or twice. Once you’ve given enough time, spray it off with hot water. You should be good to go. Have not had an oily stain yet that we couldn’t get out with this method. =Source, Reddit user welshman__us

DIY Dawn Power Wash

Dawn Powerwash is not the same as regular Dawn dish soap; it’s a concentrated spray formula with a spray nozzle and added ingredients like denatured alcohol that allow it to cling to dishes, rapidly cut grease, and enable a spray-wipe-rinse cleaning method rather than the traditional sponge-and-lather approach. The special formula also makes it unsafe for animals, unlike regular Dawn dish soap.

So although Dawn Powerwash is not safe for pets, it just may be the perfect Dawn product to blast that food grease stain out of your patio. A few folks have shared homemade versions online:

  • 10% regular Dawn dish soap
  • 10% isopropyl alcohol (50-70%)
  • water

Mix all ingredients together and put into a spray bottle.

Notes: Pour the water in before the soap and alcohol to avoid excessive soap bubbles. Rubbing alcohol is normally just isopropyl just less pure. Another ratio is13 oz water, 2 oz Dawn dish soap, and 1 oz rubbing alcohol (like 50-70%),

3. Try Baking Soda Paste

For tougher stains:

  • Make a paste of baking soda and water.
  • Apply it to the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes.
  • Scrub with a nylon brush.
  • Rinse and repeat if needed.

This method is ideal for getting grill grease off concrete without damaging the surface.

Optional:

  • baking soda + peroxide
  • Baking soda + dishsoap
  • Baking soda +vinegar

4. Use Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) for Old Stains

If you’re wondering how to clean old BBQ grease off concrete, TSP is your best friend:

  • Mix 1 cup of TSP with 1 gallon of hot (boiling) water.
  • Apply to the stain and scrub vigorously.
  • Rinse thoroughly.

TSP is powerful and effective for removing BBQ grease from concrete that’s been stained for months.

5. Degreasers and Commercial Cleaners

For deep-set stains, use a concrete-safe degreaser:

  • Look for products labeled “concrete degreaser” or “oil stain remover.”
  • Follow manufacturer instructions.
  • Scrub and rinse thoroughly.

These are especially helpful for how to get cooking grease stains off of concrete or how to remove grill grease from concrete after a big cookout.

Many people will try the first ideas, and then as a follow step, hit it up with the degreasers just mentioned here.

6. ⚠️ Solvents

While effective, using gasoline to clean concrete is dangerous and not recommended for casual or household use due to:olvents

Solvents can dissolve grease, oil, paint, or adhesives, making them useful in cleaning, degreasing, and surface preparation. However, they are highly flammable, toxic, and can harm the environment and are not recommended (geez, go with the Dawn option, folks!).

Vapors can ignite with a small spark or static electricity. But since you asked…

Gasoline can remove cooking oil from concrete because it is a non-polar solvent that can dissolve other non-polar substances — like cooking oil (which is made mostly of triglycerides and fatty acids). Gasoline can soak into the pores, reach the embedded oil, and dissolve it.

These products are very “old school.” Decades ago, they would have been recommended because it’s all people had. They may be affective on old grease stains when nothing else helps because they can abosrb into the pore of the concrete. Cleaners safe for consumers for household use did not exist yet:

  • Gasoline
  • Diesel gasoline
  • Pure Acetone (used for removing nail polish or cleaning resin)
  • Paint thinner and mineral spirits (clean oil-based paints)
  • WD-40 (all-purpose solvent with many applications, including vehicle maintenance)
  • Brake cleaner (removes grease and brake dust from car parts).

Allow any of these solvents to soak for 5 to 10 minutes (or longer) then scrub with Dawn dish soap and water. Let it set 5-10 min then hose it off.

Solvents & Cat Litter

This solution from a Reddit user takes advantage of the pulling power of cat litter on top of the solvent’s ability to sink into the pores of the concrete (with the example of paint thinner):

Wet the stain with paint thinner, but don’t let it drain across clean concrete.
Cover with about 3/8 inch (1 cm) cheap kitty litter.
Wait two hours and shovel up the clay.
Repeat if needed.
(Oil dissolves in thinner and migrates into clay kitty litter.) -Source, Reddit user Dangerous Bill

Warning: Solvents Are Toxic and Potentially Hazardous:

  • All can be harmful if inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin.
  • Prolonged exposure can lead to neurological, liver, or kidney damage.
  • Many are flammable and require careful storage.

Muriatic Acid

When seeking the answer to get cooking grease out of patios, driveways, and pavers, undoubtedly you will come across muriatic acid as a solution.

Muriatic acid is a diluted, less pure version of hydrochloric acid (HCl), typically sold for residential and industrial uses like cleaning concrete, etching surfaces, and lowering swimming pool pH. While technically the same chemical, muriatic acid has a lower concentration of pure HCl (often 30% or less) and may contain impurities, like iron, that give it a yellow color.

It is a strong, corrosive acid requiring careful handling with protective gear and should not be confused with the higher-purity hydrochloric acid used in laboratories and some industries.

Pros of using Muriatic Acid

Muriatic Acid, neutralize it with baking soda after. That stuff is harsh. And you will need to reseal your concrete. It just keeps eating.

  • Cleans super well
Cons of using Muriatic Acid
  • May bleach away the color of concrete/pavement
  • May damage the concrete, making future repairs challenging
  • May not clean the grease that has penetrated the porous parts of stone
Use Muriatic Acid With Caution
  • Don’t breathe in fumes.
  • Wearing proper clothing, gloves, eye protection, and face guard to avoid splashing on skin.
  • If you need to dilute the acid, always add acid into water. Never add water into acid.

AVOID USING MURIATIC ACID UNLESS NOTHING ELSE WORKS. If you’re not experienced working with acids, now is not the time to experiment! -Source -tacotacotacorock

7. Heat

Some experienced folks comfortable around propane devices claim that oil can be burned off with heat – even old oil. I can’t say enough, you really need to know what you are doing – you don’t want to burn your house down!

Use a tool such as a propane weed burner or blowtorch to heat the hard patio/driveway surface up until it evaporates. Users who have tried this offer this advice:

  • Wear eye protection – heat can cause spalling (pieces breaking off). This includes brick, concrete, and other hard surfaces.
  • Heating the concrete gradually to avoid spalling (breaking into smaller pieces) -DieHardAmerican95
  • Do it during a dry period. Concrete will explode with moisture in it. Wear a face shield. -TraditionalRoutine80
  • Get old grease off by putting cooking oil over the spot. Light it up, successfully burning off the old oil, too. Pressure wash, scrub with concrete cleaner, pressure wash off again.-Anonymous

Time May Be Your Best Bet

Time can do wonder for grease stains on concrete. Believe it or not it will fade away with time, weather, etc. People report that after 1-3 years, the grease stain will fade on its own.

You many try your hardest with all the suggestions listed, and the stain only lightens. You might have to accept that fact. At least try to reduce the visibility of the stain as soon as possible.

How to Get Old BBQ Grease Off of Concrete

I hate to beat a horse… but have you tried Dawn Dish soap? Listen to this story:

“Tried everything for like a year. Then one day I was bored and used Dawn dish soap and warm water and a light scrub brush.Took it right out. Dawn Dish Soap fixes everything.” -Stypticfish

“Blue dawn. I spilled oil on my concrete front porch, while deep-frying… Tried everything to get it out. Degreasers, vinegar, power washing. Accidentally knocked over a bucket of dish soap and water while cleaning windows 2 years later and it took out most of the stain.” -remaxxximus

Solvents Are The Answer to Old Food Grease Stains

When this question if posed in forums, most often, folks recommend solvents to pull out old food grease stains.

“When all the other suggestions fail go buy a gallon of paint thinner and pour it over the stained area. Don’t hang around while it does its thing due to the vapours and don’t expose it to a source of ignition. Apply more as needed when it begins to evaporate and it will be gone in a day. No scrubbing, no preparation, no clean up, when the paint thinner has evaporated the stain will be gone. This method has worked on oil saturated concrete from freshly spilled to years old deep saturation stains. This will work 100%.” – Source: Reddit user Junotheheeler

Degreaser Products That Remove Food Grease Stains From Concrete

Here’s a list of tried and true degreaser products that work on meat grease, bacon grease, and other food grease stains that have spilled onto your concrete:

  • Simple Green (undiluted)
  • Dawn Power Wash Spray
  • oven cleaner
  • Chomp! Concrete oil remover
  • WD40
  • Zep degreaser 
  • PineSol
  • Pull it Out. It’s made specifically for stains in concrete
  • Coke (not Pepsi)
  • armour all tire/wheel cleaner 
  • Sal Suds by Dr Bronner (one person said it was better than Dawn dishsoap)
  • Goof Off Oil Stain Concrete Cleaner and Oil Stain remover.
  • 409 
  • Fast Orange
  • Totally Awesome cleaner at Family Dollar
  • Mr. Clean
  • Soft Scrub 

Allow any of these cleaners to soak for 5 to 10 minutes then scrub with Dawn dish soap and water. Let it set 5-10 min then hose it off.

How to Get BBQ Grease Off Wood Decks

Wood decks are even more vulnerable than concrete. Here’s how to clean BBQ grease off wood deck surfaces:

  • Blot fresh grease with paper towels.
  • Use a mix of vinegar and dish soap.
  • Scrub gently with a soft brush.
  • Rinse with warm water.

Avoid pressure washing unless the wood is sealed, as it can damage the grain.

Some users suggest that muratic acid will remove grease stains on wood. If you want to attempt this, try a test spot first. Otherwise, pour the muratic acid on, let it sit for a while. Scrub with a deck brush, then rinse it off. You can find it in the paint department at Walmart.

Heating wood is also a strategy to open the pores to release the oil and evaporate it. If you’re experienced with a blowtorch, you can attempt to heat the wood surface from a distance with it, and the oil should resurface. Just after applying a cleaner to the wood surface, blowtorch from a distance and the soaked up oil will resurface. Use a cleaner in conjunction with the process to break up the oil.

Preventing Future Stains

The best way to avoid the hassle of getting grill grease off of concrete is prevention:

  • Seal your concrete patio annually.
  • Use a grill mat or drip tray.
  • Clean spills immediately.

Know that grill mats have the potential to permanently stain your patio. Leave it there long enough and it leaves stains like any door mat.

Spray spots immediately with a mix of Dawn dish soap and water. After a few minutes, hit up with a bowl of hot water.

🧽 Recap: Your Grease-Fighting Toolkit

Here’s a quick checklist for how to get BBQ grease off concrete and patios:

Problem AreaBest Method
Fresh greaseAbsorb with baking soda or cat litter
Light stainsDish soap + warm water
Old stainsTSP or degreaser
Wood decksVinegar + dish soap
Grill gratesSoak + wire brush
Patio slabsPressure wash + degreaser

FYI From Stone Masons Before Cleaning

Advice from a stone mason: “Put some grease on a piece of leftover brick and try different solutions on it to make sure it doesn’t damage or discolor the brick in some way before trying it on the patio. A strong pressure washer may remove some of it, but will likely blow the polymeric sand out of the joints. It will fade over time on its own also. Definitely will be more noticeable when wet.” -ROIB

Advice from a paver/installer: “I would start out with an enzyme based cleaner one that is non-acidic and noncorrosive. A quick Amazon search gave me one called ‘nanoskin enzyme cleaner’ hopefully this gets to you before you use anything with any kind of bleach or harsh cleaners( that may hurt the effectiveness of the enzyme cleaner) I would also recommend having your installer seal the pavers with a anti fungal – penetrating sealer.” -kelmat86

Advice from landscaper: “Hit up your local paver supplier. They sell specific products to clean pavers and they work really well. Would recommend a sealing product too if you think this might be a thing moving forward. Makes the paver less porous so it can be rinsed off more easily.”

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re trying to get BBQ grease off patio slabs, remove food grease from concrete, or clean BBQ grease off patio surfaces, the key is acting fast and using the right tools. From baking soda to commercial degreasers, there’s a solution for every stain.

So next time you fire up the grill, keep your cleaning kit nearby. Because knowing how to get grill grease off of concrete isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about keeping your outdoor space safe, clean, and ready for the next feast.

If this is really bothering you, just get a nice grill mat and put it down only when company comes over.

Renee Matt
Renee Matt

Renee is an Iowa farmwife with a background as a former kitchen designer. Supporting the family farm with hearty meals has been key to Renee's pantry readiness. She uses her professional IT background and expertise to bring the Pantry Passion website to life. Read more about this farmwife on her about page.