BBQ and Grease Stains on Your Patio: How to Remove Them

Speed matters more than strength

Grease is easiest to remove before it soaks in. If you spill or drip grease, let it cool, scrape off any solid fat, then cover the spot with an absorbent like cat litter, baking soda or cornstarch. Leave it for a few hours, sweep it up, and then scrub with dish soap and warm water. Many fresh spots disappear completely this way.

Older stains under a grill are different. The oil has moved into the pores of the concrete or stone, picked up dirt and darkened. Those need a real degreaser, time and heat.

Why grease stains darken over time

Concrete and most pavers are porous. Hot grease seeps down into the surface. Each cookout adds more, and dust sticks to the oily patch, so the spot grows darker and wider. In a hot Valley summer, sun bakes the residue and makes it harder to lift.

Smoke and spatter also coat nearby walls, outdoor kitchen counters and the underside of patio covers, which is why the area around a grill often looks dingy even where nothing was spilled.

How to clean an older grease stain

Scrape off any crust. Apply a degreaser rated for your surface and let it dwell, keeping it wet so it can break down the oil. Scrub with a stiff nylon brush, working the cleaner into the stain. Then rinse thoroughly. For heavy staining, repeat the cycle rather than cranking up the pressure.

Hot water makes a real difference on grease, because heat softens the oil so the degreaser and rinse can carry it out. That is the main reason pros use hot water units on restaurant patios and grill areas. Our hot water pressure washing post explains when it matters.

A poultice, an absorbent paste that pulls oil out as it dries, can help on deep spots in stone or unsealed pavers. It is slow, but gentle.

Surface by surface

Plain concrete is the most forgiving. It handles degreaser, brushing and a surface cleaner well. Pavers can take the same approach, but expect to re-sand joints afterward. Natural stone like travertine or limestone needs neutral, stone-safe products, since some degreasers are harsh. Composite decking needs a degreaser approved by the board maker.

On every surface, test your product in a hidden spot first. Some strong cleaners can lighten colored concrete or sealers.

Keep grease out of the storm drain

Grease and degreaser should never be rinsed into the street gutter. Los Angeles Municipal Code section 64.70.02 prohibits discharging untreated wash water from paved-surface washing into the storm drain system. At home, that means using absorbents, rinsing toward landscaping only with mild soap and light residue, or collecting heavier runoff. For heavy grease, a professional with water control gear is the cleaner option.

Outdoor kitchens add one more caution. Do not spray grills, appliances, outlets or lights with a pressure washer. Wipe them down by hand.

What to expect

Fresh and moderate stains usually come out fully or close to it. Years-old stains under a regular grill spot often lighten a lot but leave a faint shadow, especially on light concrete. That shadow tends to blend once the whole patio is cleaned, since the contrast with the dirty surrounding area goes away.

As of October 2026, patio cleaning is $0.65 per square foot, with a $195 minimum per visit. When Say Wash It cleans a grill area, we pre-treat the grease spots separately before cleaning the full patio so the finish comes out even.

Prevention is cheap

Put a grill mat under your BBQ, empty and clean the drip tray often, and check that the grease cup is seated correctly. Wipe drips the same day. Sealing concrete or pavers in the grill area slows how fast oil soaks in and makes the next cleanup much easier.

Where you put the grill matters too. If you can, set it on a mat or an easy-clean surface rather than right next to the house, a light stucco wall or a pale stone patio. Keep a small container of absorbent nearby during cookouts, so a spill gets covered in seconds instead of soaking in while everyone is eating.