REPOST: Removing oil stains from an asphalt driveway

Lori Lane from Yahoo! Voices shares tips on removing stubborn oil stains from asphalt surfaces.

Oil stains can cause an eye ache for anyone that owns a driveway. Oil stains can contribute to a slippery surface in the wintertime, as the temperature freezes. It would be easy to use a jack hammer to pry the oil off, pour alien acid from the movie 'Alien' on top of the oil, or scoop up the oil with a backhoe to remove it from the asphalt driveway. All by which are not suggested. If you do have an asphalt driveway and wish to remove the oil stains from it, here are some useful tips and ideas.

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Litter and Soap

Pour kitty litter on the oil stain for forty-five minutes. Brush off the kitty litter and pour hot water on the surface of the stain. Afterwards, place a good grease removing dish soap on top of the stain. Leave on the entire stain for fifteen minutes. Not only does this give the soap enough time to soak the surface, it weakens the oil's grip onto the asphalt driveway. Wear a pair of protective gloves and scrub the area where the oil is located thoroughly, using a scrub brush. Scrub lightly so that you do not damage your asphalt driveway. Slowly add hot water during this process then rinse. Finally, you can blot with a clean rag or paper towel.

Oil Clean-Up Compound

Oil clean-up compound is almost like kitty litter, but has more absorbing potential when it comes to oil on a driveway. One can find an oil clean-up compound at local home improvement centers, and at some automotive stations or stores. Make sure that the compound is light enough and asphalt friendly since asphalt is a specific type of surface and requires solidity and does not favor Solvents or harsh chemical mixtures.

Soda with a Twist

Soda can help remove that ugly oil stain on the asphalt driveway. Simply pour soda on the oil stain generously, following it with a twist of a lemon. Leave on the surface for thirty minutes. Rinse off lightly with hot water. After this, take a bottle of Dawn liquid soap and, again, pour on top of the oil stain generously. Wait fifteen minutes and lightly pour hot water on the stain as you scrub the stain off lightly with a scrub brush. Do not forget to wear gloves. You do not want to damage your hands or asphalt driveway. Rinse off with hot water and blot dry with a cloth or paper towel.

Fix the leak

Another way to remove oil stains would be to fix that leak. After you have used one of the mentioned techniques to remove the oil stains from your asphalt driveway, you can regulate future oil stains by simple strategy. It may cost to get your car checked but beginning with the oil pan helps. Have your local auto shop check your oil pan and surrounding locations for leaks. The old fashioned idea of placing cardboard underneath the leaking vehicle is a great way to locate a leak. It helps when you do take your car to an auto shop to let them know where you think the leak is coming from.

Tips

A home and landscape looks better with a clean driveway, and many people do not like the 'moo-moo' look on a driveway. Having a well managed driveway is just as important as managing a home. Always keep the driveway in mind and check it for stains, spots, cracks, or damages.
A great tip to offer would be not to mix any chemicals without reading all warnings and instructions. Make sure that the mixture is safe by all means. Chemicals can be quite dangerous when misused. Wearing gloves is always advised. And never use chemicals of any kinds around children.
Another great tip would be to use a sealer made for asphalt. Follow all warnings and instructions when using as it will help seal and protect your asphalt driveway for the future.

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Get more tips on maintaining and repairing asphalt surfaces from the United Paving Company website.

Though only as strong as its foundation, asphalt is smoother than concrete and is much easier to drive on, since it does not need for expansion joints. As a surface, a well-maintained and structurally sound asphalt overlay is aesthetically pleasing, though it can trap heat due to its darker tinge.

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Due to its similar properties to concrete, asphalt is the alternative go-to surfacing material for paved areas such as parking lots. Both asphalt and concrete are hard on the joints of long-distance runners and walkers without proper footwear, although they claim contradictorily that asphalt is slightly easier on the joints due to its surface texture.

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Moreover, formulations of asphalt, such as the rubber-asphalt matrix used in the pavements of Disney Theme Parks, have been used to reduce the impact of walking for long distances in public places.

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Concrete pavement, however, is considerably more durable than its asphalt counterpart and is a lot cooler, given its off-white coloration that reflects the heat of the sun. Animals such as dogs are better walked on concrete surfaces as a result.  

Regardless of whether one chooses to pave an area with asphalt or concrete, ensuring the integrity of the chosen pavement is vital for its long-term use. United Paving understands that a stable pavement can prevent falls and accidents (and the lawsuits that follow). Visit this website for more information on the mechanics of paved works.