24/7 Emergency Oil Spill Clean Up Services UK

We provide rapid 24/7 emergency oil spill clean up services across the entire UK. Whether it’s a domestic heating leak in your garden, a commercial diesel spill on a public road or an industrial chemical incident, our team offers a fully compliant clean up and disposal. We aim to be on site within hours of your call, containing the spill to prevent damage and ensuring a safe, compliant clean-up.

Alternatively, call us on 01622 926 505

Oil & fuel spill clean up experts

When oil or fuel spills occur, rapid, professional intervention is non-negotiable. Left untreated, this can cause property damage, severe environmental contamination and pose serious health risks. That’s precisely why our team acts fast – arriving quickly and carrying out trusted oil spill containment methods and complete remediation.

With our advanced equipment and eco-conscious cleaning techniques, we restore your site while minimising disruption as much as possible.

Rapid 24/7 UK response: We're available around the clock, arriving at your site within a few hours to assess the damage.
Certified & experienced experts: Our teams are highly trained, accredited professionals with experience handling all types of oil and fuel spills safely.
Environmentally responsible cleaning: We use eco-friendly technologies, including advanced Lubetech® absorbents, to ensure thorough cleanup with minimal impact.
Tailored for domestic & commercial needs: From small household leaks to complex industrial spills, we adapt our process to your premises.
Unwavering health & safety: Your safety is our priority; we follow strict health and safety protocols at every stage of the cleanup.
Complete peace of mind: From oil spill containment to compliant waste disposal, we manage the entire remediation process.

Accredited spill response contractor

As an ISAS-accredited company, you can rest assured that you’re working with a top-tier team. We have been independently assessed for our expertise and are fully equipped with the certified personnel, robust safety procedures, and specialist equipment needed to handle your spill with complete confidence. The categories we are accredited in are:

Spills on Hardstandings & within Drainage Systems
Inland Surface Waters – Non-Navigable
Remediation of Spills Impacting Groundwater
Remediation of Spills Impacting Soils or Property

Here’s an example of our oil spill team in action when they helped clean up a major oil spill in Hyde Park, London, just hours before a Netflix production was scheduled to be filmed.

Causes, risks & UK legal duties in oil spill incidents

Oil spills can occur in homes, commercial sites, or industrial facilities. Even small leaks can cause significant environmental damage. Common causes include leaking tanks, corroded pipes, overfilled drums, and heating oil system failures.

Spills can contaminate soil, drains, and groundwater, or damage indoor materials such as flooring and concrete, leaving odours and fire risks.

Under UK law, property owners and businesses must prevent and manage pollution. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 and Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 require spills to be contained and reported if they threaten the environment. Failure to act may result in fines or enforcement by the Environment Agency.

Ideal Response provides compliant oil spill cleanup and decontamination, helping clients meet UK environmental duties while protecting property and reputation.

Is professional oil spill clean-up required?

An oil spill, whether it is heating oil (kerosene) in a domestic basement or a hydraulic leak in a commercial warehouse, is a hazardous event. Unlike water, oil is a persistent contaminant that can migrate through concrete and into the water table. Use this checklist to determine the severity of your situation. If you tick two or more boxes, professional oil remediation is essential to prevent structural damage and environmental liability.

Oil spills require more than just surface scrubbing; they require deep decontamination to be truly safe. Ideal Response uses specialist cleaning agents designed to lift oil out of porous surfaces like stone and concrete, combined with “cradle-to-grave” waste management to ensure all hazardous materials are disposed of legally. Our expert teams provide rapid-response support across London, Kent, Maidstone, and Canterbury, as well as throughout the wider UK, to get your property back to exactly how it was before the spill.

Contact the Ideal Response emergency team immediately on 01622 926 505 or use the form below for a rapid-response assessment.

Volume and migration risk:
The spill exceeds 5 litres or has spread over a wide surface area. More importantly, the oil is "migrating", disappearing into cracks in the floor, soaking into porous brickwork, or seeping under walls into neighbouring properties.
Health hazards and VOC levels:
You can smell a strong, fuel-like odour throughout the property, even in rooms far from the spill. These Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea, rendering the environment unsafe for inhabitants or employees.
Environment and ground water threat:
The spill is near a drain, manhole, or areas of permeable ground. In the UK, you have a legal "Duty of Care" to prevent oil from entering the water table; professional containment is required to avoid heavy fines from the Environment Agency.
Sub-floor contamination:
Oil has seeped beneath floorboards, into the sub-base, or has saturated structural timber and masonry.
Insurance and commercial liability:
The spill occurred on a commercial site or a rental property, requiring a "Certificate of Decontamination" for insurance claims or health and safety audits.

Our 5-step oil spill management process

Every oil or fuel spill can be devastating for your premises. Luckily, our proven 5-step process ensures a consistent, safe and thorough cleanup. We cover every base, from initial containment to final site restoration.

Step 1

Emergency call and rapid dispatch

When a spill occurs, contact our 24/7 emergency hotline immediately on 0808 239 4151. Our team will gather all the details needed to assess the situation quickly. This allows us to mobilise the most suitable equipment for immediate on-site

Step 2

Assessment and tailored action plan

Once our team arrives, our certified experts carry out a thorough assessment to identify the spill type, size and associated environmental risks. Using this information, we create a tailored remediation plan to deliver maximum safety and compliance.

Step 3

Immediate containment and damage mitigation

Acting quickly is key. Our team deploys booms, absorbents and physical barriers to contain the spill. This rapid response prevents contamination from spreading into drains, waterways or surrounding areas, ensuring minimal impact on the environment. This prevents long-term damage and costly remediation requirements.

Step 4

Comprehensive cleanup and compliant disposal

Our team uses advanced cleaning methods in every oil spill solution. Eco-friendly absorbents remove all traces of oil and fuel from affected areas such as soil, tarmac, concrete and water. As licensed hazardous waste carriers, we make sure all contaminated materials are disposed of safely.

Step 5

Final site verification and compliance check

After the oil spill clean up, we carry out a thorough site inspection to make sure all contamination has been removed. This ensures the property is restored to a safe condition and meets strict UK environmental standards.

Trust Ideal Response to manage your oil spill with precision and care.

Why property owners nationwide recommend Ideal Response

Discover why property owners nationwide trust Ideal Response for expert leak detection, damp surveys, hoarder cleaning, mould removal, and flood or fire restoration. Our clients consistently praise our rapid response, technical precision, and compassionate service that makes recovery stress-free.

What to do if there’s a spill

As soon as you’ve been impacted by damage caused by oil spills, talk to the Ideal Response team on 0808 239 4151 and we’ll get to your site as soon as possible. We recommend staying away from the affected area, ensuring children and pets are protected from the spill area. Even washing the spill with water can worsen the environmental damage, so it’s best to wait until our experts arrive on site.

Oil & fuel spill cleanup: Your urgent questions answered

An oil or fuel spill can be a daunting experience, leaving you with many questions about safety, process, and legalities. To provide immediate clarity and reassurance, here are the most common questions our UK clients ask about professional oil spill cleaning and remediation services.

What's included in your comprehensive oil spill cleanup service?

Our oil spill solutions handle every aspect of remediation across the UK. We provide a complete service, from rapid containment and safe removal to deep cleaning and full decontamination. You can rely on our vast experience for all types of spills, including:

· Diesel and petrol spills
· Heating oil leaks
· Hydraulic oil spills
· Contamination on hard surfaces and soil remediation

Whether it’s a small domestic incident or a large industrial oil spill emergency, we’re equipped to manage it all.

How quickly can Ideal Response respond to an oil spill emergency?

Speed is critical in any spill emergency. We understand the urgency, which is why our 24/7 emergency team aims to be on-site within hours of your call anywhere in the UK. Our rapid response ensures safe oil spill containment, preventing further damage and protecting your property and the environment.

Do you provide specialised diesel fuel spill cleanup?

As part of our comprehensive oil spill solutions, diesel fuel spill clean up is one of our core specialities. Our expert teams are highly experienced in containing and cleaning diesel spills quickly and safely. We deploy specialist barriers immediately to prevent spread into drains or soil, followed by comprehensive decontamination to restore the affected area fully.

Is your oil spill cleanup process environmentally friendly?

Our commitment to environmental responsibility is paramount at Ideal Response. We utilise cutting-edge, eco-friendly technologies, including Lubetech® absorbent technology. This innovative solution safely breaks down harmful hydrocarbons into non-toxic, water-soluble molecules, effectively protecting both your property and the wider environment during the clean up process.

What types of properties and industries do you serve for oil spill cleanup?

We provide expert oil spill clean up services to a diverse range of clients across all industries throughout the UK, including:

· Domestic properties (e.g. heating oil leaks from homes or garages)
· Commercial businesses (e.g. forecourts, offices, retail parks)
· Industrial sites (e.g. factories, warehouses, construction sites)
· Public areas (e.g. roads, car parks from commercial vehicle spills)

No matter the location or scale of the spill, Ideal Response is here to help.

What are the long-term effects of an oil spill on my property and land?

Beyond immediate mess, an oil or fuel spill can have significant long-term impacts if not properly contained and remediated. This includes:

· Soil contamination: Making land unusable or unsafe for gardening, landscaping or future construction.
· Groundwater pollution: A serious risk that can affect drinking water supplies and local ecosystems.
· Structural damage: Oil can seep into foundations, concrete, brickwork and timber, causing degradation and long-term odour issues.
· Property devaluation: Unremedied spills can significantly reduce your property’s market value due to ongoing contamination concerns.

Is it safe to drink water from my tap after an oil spill near my property?

Do NOT drink tap water if there is any suspicion that an oil or fuel spill has entered or could enter your private water supply, boreholes or the public mains supply. Contact your water provider immediately and follow their advice. Our oil spill clean up experts prioritise preventing water contamination and can advise on testing for groundwater or private well contamination, ensuring the safety of your water source post-spill.

What are the legal responsibilities if an oil spill affects my neighbour's property or a public area in the UK?

In the UK, the person or organisation responsible for an oil spill is typically liable for its clean up, even if it spreads beyond their property. This includes damage to neighbouring land, public roads or waterways. You have a legal obligation to report serious spills to authorities like the Environment Agency (EA) immediately. Failure to act swiftly and properly can lead to significant fines, penalties and even civil legal action from affected parties. Our team can help you navigate these responsibilities.

How can I prevent future oil or fuel spills at my home or business?

Prevention is key to avoiding costly and damaging oil spills. We recommend:

· Regular tank inspections: Have your oil tank and associated pipework checked annually for cracks, corrosion and leaks.
· Safe storage: Ensure all tanks are on a stable, impermeable base, ideally within a secondary containment bund.
· Install an alarm: Consider a tank level alarm to alert to sudden drops in oil levels.
· Keep a spill kit: Have basic absorbent materials readily available for small, immediate oil spill containment.

Implementing these measures can significantly reduce your risk.

How do you deal with oil that has soaked deep into soil or concrete?

Treating deeply absorbed oil or fuel requires specialist techniques beyond surface cleaning. Our process for contaminated soil or porous materials like concrete involves:

· Excavation: Removing highly saturated soil for off-site treatment or disposal by licensed waste carriers.
· Bioremediation: Using naturally occurring microbes to break down hydrocarbons into harmless substances within the soil.
· Chemical oxidation: Injecting oxidising agents to break down contaminants in situ.
· Advanced extraction: Employing specialised equipment to draw absorbed oil from concrete and other hard surfaces.

This multi-faceted approach ensures complete remediation and prevents long-term contamination issues.

Facing an urgent oil or fuel spill?

Get expert support

No matter if you have a question you need to ask or have an emergency that you need help with, call:

0800 088 4170

If you’d prefer to drop us a message, fill out the enquiry form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.