Cleaning Up a Garage Oil Spill, and a Synthetic Oil Tip

Place several newspapers over the oil stain, soak with water, and allow to dry. If you have sawdust, sprinkle it on to absorb the stain instead. You can also spread sand over the spill and sweep it up once it has absorbed the oil (kitty litter works just as well). For stubborn oil stains on pavement, soak the area in mineral spirits and scrub vigorously, soak up the moisture with newspaper, let dry, then wash with a mixture of detergent, bleach, and water.

Synthetic motor oil lasts longer, and since it doesn't require additional petroleum, it means less oil needs to be drilled from the ocean floor. It also doesn't use the same chemicals that break down at higher temperatures the way petroleum-based oils do, so those chemicals aren't later released. Many synthetic oils have energy-conserving compounds and are labeled as such by the American Petroleum Institute.