Asphalt is one of the most commonly used materials when it comes to driveways and parking lots. However, it has to deal with a host of issues like potholes and cracks. One of these issues can destroy your asphalt at a molecular level and render it weak. This issue is called the oil stain and it is responsible for damaging many asphalt driveways across the nation.
What Asphalt Oil Stains Do
Asphalt oil stains may seem like a minor problem that you can leave alone. However, leaving it on an asphalt driveway will affect its chemical composition. The asphalt will start breaking down and make it easier to crack. Leaving it for extended periods of time will cause that area to sink and you will eventually have to deal with a pothole.
What You Can Do To Deal With Oil Stains
When you see an oil stain on your pavement, you should ensure that you remove it as soon as possible. Luckily there are a few ways you can quickly remove oil stains that haven’t penetrated too deep into the asphalt.
Use Absorbents to Soak Up The Oil
A quick and easy way to get rid of an oil stain is to use absorbents that can quickly soak in the oil so it can be swept away. A few great examples of absorbents you can use are sand, fine sawdust, and kitty litter. These adsorbents have a grainy and fine texture that will let it adhere to the oil and allow you to simply grab a broom to sweep the oil away.
Heat From A Blowtorch Can Help
A more aggressive way to get rid of oil stains is by using a blowtorch. The heat from the blowtorch will burn away the oil on your driveway. However, do keep in mind that this may also damage your asphalt so caution is advised when using this method.
A Can of Soda Can Quickly Dissolve Oil
Oil damages your driveway by creating a chemical reaction with your asphalt. But did you know that you can cause a different chemical reaction to get rid of the oil without causing major damage to your asphalt? Oil has a chemical reaction when soda is poured into it. Oil stains will lose it’s cohesion and break down because of the chemicals found in most commercial soda.
All you need to do is to pour it on the stain and leave it overnight. Then you can simply wipe the stain off the pavement with a cloth or wash it away with water.
Commercial Oil Stain Removers
The best option, but most expensive is to use a commercial oil stain remover. Commercial oil stain removers are designed to get rid of oil without damaging the asphalt underneath it. Just make sure that you’re following the instructions on the oil stain remover and you’re good to go.
Conclusion
Dealing with oil stains doesn’t have to be a pain. Just make sure that you’re using one of the methods we mentioned and your asphalt should be oil stain free in no time!
