What do you do when you’ve had your beautiful asphalt driveway laid and then you stain it with oil or a chemical? Don’t despair! We have 7 trade secrets using stuff you can find at home to help you wash that stain away.
If left to saturate into the surface, over time an oil stain will soften the asphalt. The chemicals interact with the petroleum in the binder, initiating processes that cause it to deteriorate. This corrosion will lead to potholes as the asphalt breaks down.
Use these tricks to stop the deterioration before it starts.
- Clean up as much of the stain as you can. Be careful not to spread it further or push it further into the surface. Don’t use a high pressure hose as it will push the stain into the asphalt!
- Kitty Litter: Take a clay based cat litter and pile it over the stain. Stomp down on the litter so that it infiltrates the asphalt surface. Leave overnight and then sweep away the next day followed by a spray with the garden hose.
- Baking Soda: Pour baking soda over the stain and let it sit for an hour. Take a stiff bristle brush and using a circular pattern, work the baking soda deeper into the asphalt. Poor water over the baking soda and keep scrubbing the stain. Finally use a garden hose to clean the baking soda from the surface.
