Asphalt is a popular paving material for driveways, parking lots, and other outdoor surfaces. Even though it is dark in color, it is still susceptible to staining, especially from oil. Vehicles can leave behind oil stains after being parked on asphalt for a period of time.
If you catch an oil stain right away and clean it up, it is much easier to do. But if an oil stain has been there a while and soaked into the asphalt, it may be a little harder to remove. Here’s what to do if you discover an oil stain on your asphalt.
Does the Oil Appear Wet?
If the oil stain on your asphalt seems to be wet, it may still be easy to clean up. Here are a few options:
- Dish soap. Dish soap is designed to cut grease and oil, so it tends to work on oil spills. This is most effective on recent oil drips and leaks.
- Cat litter. Sprinkle cat litter on the oil spot and let it sit for a few hours or even overnight. The litter will soak up the oil and you can sweep it up.
- Coca-cola. The acidity of Coca-cola has been known to remove grease and oil. Pour a generous amount over the oil spot and allow to soak. Then rinse it away.
Is the Oil Stain Dry?
If the oil spot appears to be a dry stain, it may have been sitting there soaking in for a while. Here’s how to remove old oil stains from asphalt:
- Oil stain remover. There are specialized cleaners marketed for cleaning up oil stains. Purchase one of these cleaners and follow the directions.
- Powder detergent. Laundry detergent in powder form is particularly effective. The powder soaks up the oil and helps to remove it. It works best if you pour it on, let it sit for a few hours, then scrub it with a scrub brush. The abrasiveness of the powder helps to remove it from the asphalt.
- Baking soda. An abrasive and absorbent product, baking soda is particularly effective at removing oil stains that have set in. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain and lightly spritz with water to activate it. Then scrub it with a scrub brush and rinse it away.
- Oven cleaner. Strong enough to remove baked-on food stains in your oven, oven cleaner may be able to remove oil from asphalt. Spray it on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub with a scrub brush and rinse away.
- WD-40. Treat grease with grease? WD-40 is a solvent that can work on oil stains. Apply it to the stain and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then scrub and rinse away.
Replace the Asphalt
If none of the above cleaning options will remove the stain, you may have to replace the asphalt. The good news is that if there is only one or a few stains, that part of your asphalt can be replaced instead of the entire surface. A thin layer of asphalt can be heated and scraped away, then replaced with a new layer.
The only problem is that if your driveway has faded some, the patched areas will be darker than the rest of your driveway. And if your purpose for removing the stains is aesthetic, you’re still left with an uneven surface.
Prevent Oil Stains with Sealcoating
Now that you know how to remove old oil stains from asphalt and how difficult it is, you may be more interested in how to prevent it. Asphalt needs to be resealed every 1-3 years. Applying asphalt sealcoating to your driveway provides a protective layer over the top that will repel oil and other substances that can stain your driveway. It also gives your driveway a darker surface that makes it look like new asphalt.
Topwest Asphalt Provides Replacement and Sealcoating Services
If you need a tough stain removed from your asphalt, Topwest Asphalt can help. Our services include asphalt repair, replacement, and sealcoating to help remove and prevent stains.
Call 604-755-0300 or contact us for a free estimate. We look forward to helping you with your asphalt needs.
