Floor Finish & Oil Removal Shopping List
Scope: Everything needed to clean existing oil out of the bare slab and then densify it — 960 sq ft main-level slab. Goal: Pull absorbed oil (Corvette / Sequoia drips) back out of the concrete, scrub the whole slab clean, then apply a lithium-silicate densifier.
Prices verified 2026-06-06
Links and prices were checked live on 2026-06-06 (Mount Pleasant, MI area pricing where retailer-specific). Retailer prices fluctuate — re-verify at purchase. Items flagged (unverified) are approximate ranges from search results, not confirmed product-page reads.
Reference documents
Procedure and application live in Floor Densifier Application; the decision rationale is in the floor finish decision.
Why oil removal comes first
A lithium-silicate densifier has to penetrate the pores and react with free lime. Anywhere oil has soaked in, it blocks penetration — you get a dead, still-dusty spot. (Oil is also the #1 cause of future-coating delamination, so removing it now protects that option too.) There are two distinct problems, each with its own product:
- Fresh / surface oil → absorb it with a loose granular absorbent before it migrates deeper.
- Oil already absorbed into the slab (your situation) → draw it back out with a poultice and/or microbial digester, then degrease the whole slab.
Confirmation test before densifying: flick water onto cleaned areas. Clean concrete darkens and soaks it in within seconds; if water beads, oil remains there — re-treat. Repeat until the whole slab drinks water uniformly, then let it dry fully.
Recommended buy list (winners only)
| # | Item | Winner | Price | Size / coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Granular absorbent (fresh oil) | EP Minerals 25 lb Diatomaceous Earth | $23.18 | 25 lb (absorbs ~3 gal oil) |
| 2 | Dry poultice (set-in stains) | Pour-N-Restore Oil Stain Remover 32 oz | $17.79 | spot-treats each drip (~12”×12”); buy 2–3 |
| 3 | Microbial digester (deep stains) | ACT Concrete Cleaner 2.5 lb | ~$30–40 | ~250 sq ft (~1 lb / 100 sq ft) |
| 4 | Whole-slab degreaser | Oil Eater Original 1 gal | $12.99 | 1 gal concentrate, dilutable — full-slab scrub |
| 5 | Densifier | Ghostshield Lithi-Tek 4500 | $79.88/gal |
Estimated total (consumables): ~50–150 densifier-only estimate because it now includes oil remediation and the researched densifier (a sealer+densifier hybrid) runs above the bargain estimate — still a small fraction of the $4,500–6,500 coating that was dropped.
1. Oil removal
1.1 Granular absorbent — for fresh / surface oil — stage:: 6
| Product | Type | Size | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ EP Minerals 25 lb DE (GRS9725) | Diatomaceous earth | 25 lb | $23.18 | ~50% more absorbent/lb than clay, no slick residue, less dust |
| Oil-Dri (clay) | Montmorillonite clay | 40 lb | ~$20–28 (unverified) | The classic name brand; heavy, dusty |
| Non-clumping clay cat litter | Clay | 25 lb | ~$5–8 (unverified) | Cheapest hack; works fine, just dustier/lower capacity |
Winner — EP Minerals Diatomaceous Earth Absorbent (25 lb). Best absorbency-per-pound and cleanest to use; a 25 lb bag far outlasts the job. (Budget floor: a $5–8 bag of plain non-clumping clay cat litter.)
- Buy — https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ep-Minerals-Absorbent-25-lb-Diatomaceous-Earth-9725/161866439 — $23.18 / 25 lb — stage:: 6
1.2 Dry poultice — for set-in oil stains — stage:: 6
| Product | Type | Size | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Pour-N-Restore Oil Stain Remover | Liquid → powder micro-extraction poultice | 32 oz | $17.79 | One-step: pour on, dries to powder, sweep up. No scrub/rinse. 3.5★/208 |
| Goof Off Concrete Cleaner & Oil Stain Remover | Liquid → powder | 32 oz | ~$18–20 (unverified) | Good runner-up/backup; deeper stains need 2+ passes |
| Quikrete Oil & Grease Stain Remover | Liquid degreaser, not a poultice | 1 gal | ~$25–35 (unverified) | Disqualified — it’s brush-and-rinse, listed in the degreaser category instead |
Winner — Pour-N-Restore Oil Stain Remover (32 oz). The genuine pour-and-sweep poultice and the most homeowner-recommended; cheap enough to buy a few for multiple drips.
- Buy 2–3 × 32 oz — https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pour-N-Restore-32-oz-Oil-Stain-Remover-PNR32OZ/206943580 — $17.79 each — stage:: 6
Don't use the Pour-N-Restore 1-gallon Home Depot SKU
The 1-gal listing (PNR01GL) is discontinued and redirects to an unrelated product. For more volume, buy multiple 32 oz units or check pour-n-restore.com.
1.3 Microbial / bioremediation — for deep, set-in contamination — stage:: 6
| Product | Mechanism | Size | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ ACT Concrete Cleaner (CC-2002) | Dry-powder bioremediation | 2.5 lb | ~$30–40 | EPA-tested, pet/plant safe; works in cold (well below freezing) — fits an unheated MI garage. 2–4 wks to digest |
| Terminator-HSD | Powder bioremediation | 2 lb | ~$30–40 (unverified) | Similar results but only works 40–100°F — poor fit for cold-season MI |
| Chomp! Pull It Out | Liquid poultice | 32 oz | ~$15–20 (unverified) | Lighter-duty extractor, not a true days-long digester |
Winner — ACT Concrete Cleaner (2.5 lb). Most reputable true-bioremediation powder and — critically — it keeps working in cold temps where Terminator-HSD stalls below 40°F. Apply, mist, walk away 2–4 weeks.
- Buy (Home Depot listing currently out of stock — use Amazon) — https://www.amazon.com/CC-2-5lb/dp/B006G0PYFE — ~$30–40 / 2.5 lb — stage:: 6
1.4 Whole-slab degreaser — final pre-densify scrub — stage:: 6
| Product | Size | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Oil Eater Original Cleaner/Degreaser | 1 gal concentrate | $12.99 | Water-based, biodegradable, dilutable; beats Simple Green/Purple Power in tests. 4.4★ |
| Purple Power | 1 gal | ~$10–13 (unverified) | Cheaper, rated less effective on heavy oil |
| Krud Kutter | ~1 gal | ~$15–25 (unverified) | Great general degreaser; can fall short on embedded concrete stains |
| TSP (trisodium phosphate) | 1 lb box | ~$6–10 (unverified) | Strongest etch/deep clean, but caustic — gloves/eye pro + thorough rinse; phosphate-restricted in some areas |
Winner — Oil Eater Original (1 gal). Strongest real-world performance on petroleum oil, dilutable so one gallon covers a full-slab scrub, best cleaning-power-per-dollar. (Follow with a TSP scrub if the slab is badly soaked.)
- Buy — https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oil-Eater-1-Gal-Cleaner-Degreaser-1-Pack-AOD1G354371PK/311712918 — $12.99 / 1 gal — stage:: 6
2. Densifier — stage:: 6
| Product | Chemistry | Availability | Container | Coverage/coat | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Ghostshield Lithi-Tek 4500 | Lithium silicate (sealer+densifier) | Home Depot / Lowe’s / Amazon | 1 gal | ~750 sq ft/gal | $79.88/gal |
| Foundation Armor L3000 (runner-up) | Lithium silicate | Amazon / Lowe’s / Walmart | 1 / 5 gal | 200–300 sq ft/gal (RTU) | $99.99/gal RTU |
| Prosoco Consolideck LS | Lithium silicate | Contractor supply (weak big-box) | 1 / 5 gal | ~400–800 sq ft/gal | ~$76+/gal (specialty) |
| Ashford Formula | Sodium silicate | Dealer-direct | varies | varies | varies |
Winner — Ghostshield Lithi-Tek 4500. Best balance of proven lithium chemistry, real homeowner availability (in stock at Home Depot, 90-day returns, 4.6★/169), simple spray-and-broom application, and value — cheapest per sq ft and easy to buy/return locally. Runner-up — Foundation Armor L3000 (legit lithium silicate, broad availability; loses only on value — 200–300 sq ft/gal RTU needs far more product). Pro benchmark — Prosoco Consolideck LS is the gold standard if you have contractor-supply access, but big-box availability is weak.
Cost math (960 sq ft × 2 coats = 1,920 sq ft): 1,920 ÷ 750 = 2.56 gal → buy 3 gal. 3 × 240**, with headroom for a porous slab drinking more on coat 1.
- Buy 3 gal — https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ghostshield-1-gal-Invisible-Penetrating-Concrete-Sealer-Plus-Densifier-and-Hardener-4500/205848933 — 240 — stage:: 6
- Runner-up link (Foundation Armor L3000, Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Concentrated-Water-Based-Silicate-Densifier-Hardener/dp/B007NMJKPE — $99.99/gal RTU
Heads-up: "Lythic Day1" is the wrong product
The existing Floor Densifier Application doc lists “Lythic Day1” as a densifier option. Research found Day1 is a finishing aid added during the concrete pour, not a spray-on densifier — not applicable to a cured slab. Lythic’s spray-on product is “Lythic Densifier.” Noted for cleanup of that doc.
3. Application tools (buy if not on hand) — stage:: 6
These are generic hardware-store items (no verified links; approximate prices):
- Low-pressure pump sprayer, 1–2 gal — ~$15–40 — stage:: 6
- Stiff push broom / deck scrub brush — ~$15–25 — stage:: 6
- Floor squeegee — ~$20–30 — stage:: 6
- Microfiber pad/applicator (optional, for spreading densifier) — ~$15 — stage:: 6
- PPE: chemical-resistant gloves + eye protection (densifier is alkaline) — ~$15 — stage:: 6
Sequence (do in this order)
- Absorb any standing/fresh oil with the DE absorbent — spread, let sit, sweep up.
- Bioremediate deep/set-in stains with ACT first (2–4 weeks; it tolerates cold).
- Poultice any remaining stain shadows with Pour-N-Restore.
- Degrease the whole slab with diluted Oil Eater; scrub, then rinse thoroughly (no residue).
- Test with water — re-treat any spot that beads. Let the slab dry fully.
- Densify per Floor Densifier Application — 2 coats, spray-and-broom.
(Steps 1–5 happen after interior trades so the slab isn’t re-contaminated; the bioremediation lead time means start oil cleanup a few weeks before you plan to densify.)
Bay floor protection (optional add-on — after densifier) — stage:: 7
Deferred / not decided
An optional layer added on top of the finished densified slab in the vehicle bays — not a substitute for densifying. Concept and products below are a starting point; refine once bay dimensions are measured and the idea is firmed up. Cost math assumes three ~9’×20’ bays ≈ 540 sq ft (placeholder — verify against the actual parking footprint, since the 960 sq ft slab also includes the workshop).
The idea: concentrate drip/wear protection where it actually happens — the parking/lift bays — with a sacrificial, wipe-clean, roll-over-friendly covering, rather than coating the whole floor. Protecting the bays also keeps the concrete clean, which preserves both the densified surface and the future-coating option.
What to avoid (research findings)
- IncStores / Nitro rolls — the most-marketed budget roll, but its own spec sheet says “Car Jack Approved: No” and “Chemical-Resistant: No.” Fails both core requirements.
- Nitrile mats with drainage holes (Rubber-Cal Paw-Grip, etc.) — oil falls straight through to the slab. Wrong for catching drips.
- Interlocking tiles (RaceDeck, etc.) — oil seeps through the seams to the slab.
- Recycled / SBR rubber rolls — petroleum swells and degrades them.
- Carpet-top entrance mats (the original idea) — oil-sponge that can’t be cleaned at home + fire load near hot work.
Options
| Product | Type | Oil/chem | Jack/cart | $/sq ft | 3 bays (~540 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ G-Floor Diamond Tread 75 mil | Solid vinyl, wipe-clean | Yes (oil/salt/acid) | Yes | ~2 mfr-sale | ~$1,600–2,100 |
| G-Floor “Drip and Dry” (budget) | Absorbent top + waterproof backing | Yes | Drive/roll-on | $1.39 | ~$750 |
| New Pig Grippy mat + pads (supplement) | Replaceable absorbent | Yes | Rolls tires | 15/5-pads | spot use |
| AutoFloorGuard containment (non-lift bay only) | Raised-edge tray | Yes | Foot/cart | $3.25 | ~$585/bay |
Recommended approach
- Two parking bays (cars just sit → minimal drips): solid G-Floor Diamond Tread — wipe-clean, takes cart loads, never saturates, looks finished. The “buy once” surface.
- Lift bay (where service drips happen): flat G-Floor Diamond Tread cut/notched around the lift baseplates (baseplates stay on bare concrete), plus New Pig Grippy mat + perforated pads at the drip points (drain plug, diff) as the true peel-and-replace sacrificial layer.
- Don’t use a raised-edge containment mat in the lift bay — cutting it around the baseplates breaks the watertight dam. Containment trays only make sense as a standalone drip station in a non-lift bay.
- Budget alternative: G-Floor Drip and Dry across all three bays (~$750), accepting that the absorbent top saturates over time, needs periodic replacement, and is a fire load near hot work — which is why absorbent is better kept to the small replaceable pads under the lift.
Fire note
Any oil-saturated absorbent — Drip and Dry, New Pig pads, Drymate — is a fire load. Replace before saturation; store used pads in a closed metal can, especially near grinding/welding under the lift.
Shopping (defer until measured)
- Measure actual bay footprint before ordering — stage:: 7
- Parking bays: G-Floor Diamond Tread 75 mil — https://www.homedepot.com/p/G-Floor-Diamond-Tread-10-ft-x-24-ft-Slate-Grey-Commercial-Grade-Vinyl-Garage-Flooring-Cover-and-Protector-GF75DT1024SG/203450745 — ~$2.89/sq ft (mfr-direct sale: https://gfloor.com/products/garage-flooring-diamond-tread-g-floor-roll-out-vinyl-flooring) — stage:: 7
- Lift-bay drip pads: New Pig Grippy mat (MAT3251) — https://www.newpig.com/pig-industrial-absorbent-adhesive-backed-grippy-floor-mat/p/MAT3251 — 15 — stage:: 7
- Budget alt (if chosen): G-Floor Drip and Dry — https://www.homedepot.com/p/G-Floor-Drip-and-Dry-Absorbent-Floor-Mat-7-5-W-x-22-ft-Grey-Vinyl-Garage-Flooring-Roll-WDD50LV722GR/326734867 — $1.39/sq ft — stage:: 7
Related
- Floor Densifier Application — densifier product + application procedure
- Floor finish decision
- Densified Concrete Floor Care — ongoing care after densifying
- Garage Aesthetics Shopping List — broader interior finish shopping