You can change your car's transmission fluid to save money and time--the process takes less than an hour and costs half of what you'd pay for a repair shop to do it for you. The only problem is that you may accidentally spill some automatic transmission fluid on your driveway's concrete or other surface, and getting it cleaned up with some rags just makes the situation worse. You need a solvent that can absorb the fluid as well as clean the surface.
Use a nonflammable inert absorbent like sand, cat litter, clay or commercial cleanup substance (e.g., STP Cleanup). Commercial inert absorbents are found at automotive, hardware and home improvement stores as well as other retail establishments. Do not use plain water, gasoline or a flammable substance to clean up the automatic transmission fluid spill.
Sprinkle the inert absorbent on the spilled automatic transmission fluid. Cover the entire spill with a thick coat of the absorbent. Let the substance sit for two hours for small spills and three hours for large spills. The longer you leave the inert absorbent on the spill, the better.
Scrape up the absorbent with a shovel and place it in a plastic trash bag. Do not place the absorbent directly into a trash can. Wear latex gloves, and do not touch the spilled automatic transmission fluid or the inert absorbent.
Spray the area off with a water hose. Use a concrete cleaner or cleaner geared toward cleaning spots that contain chemicals that repeal water. Apply the cleaner directly to the concrete or other surface. Let it stand for the recommended time on the container. Spray off the chemical with a water hose.
Reapply the inert absorbent, if needed.
Place the trash bag in your household or business's trash container. Do not dump the substance down a drain, public drainage system or other water system. The fluid and inert material will damage the environment and the soil.
