If the area surrounding your dumpster contains oil or grease, then you need to address the problem as soon as possible. Oil and grease-covered dumpster pads are not only unsightly, but also they can attract insect and animal pests and are a slippery hazard. Below is a multi-step process that will thoroughly clean both surface-level grease and oil and other grim that has seeped into the concrete itself. Below is how you can perform the cleaning:

Remove oil and grease from your dumpster pad - Tools and materials needed

• Pressure washer with surface cleaner attachment - If possible, use a washer with at least a 2,000 PSI output to obtain the best results.

• Liquid degreaser - A powerful, easy-to-use degreasing agent is trisodium phosphate (TSP), and it can be purchased from most home improvement stores. You may need to buy TSP in powder form and mix it with water before use.

• Aerosol brake cleaner - This can be purchased at auto parts stores.

• Clay cat litter - Be sure to buy plain cat litter made from clay; gel-type litter will not work.

• Push broom

• Dust pan

Remove oil and grease from your dumpster pad - Step-by-step procedure

1. Remove as much residue as possible with pressure washer - The first step is to use a pressure washer to attack the grease and oil to remove debris. To begin, fill the chemical tank on the pressure washer with a degreasing solution. Then spray the dumpster pad following a slow, side-to-side pattern. Be sure to push the flow of water and captured materials away from the dumpster and toward a nearby drain. If you have access to a pressure washer surface cleaner attachment, use it to help concentrate the spray toward the ground and provide extra mechanical cleaning power.

2. Apply brake cleaner to the stubborn areas - Once you have used the pressure washer to remove the most prominent areas of grease contamination, the next step is to use brake cleaner to cut the grease and oil that has seeped into the concrete pad. Brake cleaner is an effective cleaner for oil and grease, and it is safe for use on concrete, but it can cause permanent damage to other items such as plastics. In addition, when spraying the brake cleaner, be sure to keep the area well-ventilated, and never use it around open flames or other hot surfaces.

When you are ready to apply the cleaner, direct the aerosol spray toward the surface of the dumpster pad. Saturate the surface with the brake cleaner fluid, and allow it to sit for two to three minutes before moving to the next step. Don't wait too long, or the fluid will evaporate and make clean-up more difficult.

3. Apply cat litter to the affected area - Once the brake cleaner fluid has soaked the pad for a few minutes, sprinkle plain clay cat litter on top of the affected area. The layer of cat litter doesn't need to be thick, but it should be evenly spread across the surface for the best results. The cat litter will absorb the oil and grease that was loosened by the brake cleaner, so keep the litter in place for at least an hour to give it time to absorb the material.

4. Sweep up the litter - After the cat litter has absorbed the oil and grease, sweep it up and dispose of it in an oil recycling bin. If there is still oil and grease residue on the dumpster pad, sprinkle another layer of cat litter on the surface of the pad and allow it to sit undisturbed for several hours. Again, sweep up the litter and dispose of it in an appropriate facility; repeat this step as often as necessary until the oil and grease are removed.

For more information about dumpsters and cleaning advice, see a website such as http://www.espwaste.com.