When it comes to conducting a successful business, first impressions are extremely important. The state of the exterior of your property—particularly your parking lot or driveway—speaks volumes about how well you look after your business and how much work you put into it. If your parking lot looks like it’s in total disrepair with oil stains adorning most of it, then this could rightfully deter people from wanting to do business with you. Unfortunately, you can’t help it if someone else’s vehicle leaks oil onto your property, but you can do something about it. There are numerous professional and DIY driveway oil stain removal methods you can try.
Cleaning Oil Stains
Some people mistakenly think that simply sealcoating an oil stain is an effective technique to, at the very least, cover up those pesky blemishes. While this may seem like an easy solution at first, it could actually lead to some more potential problems later on. Eventually, the oil stain will penetrate through the sealcoating and become fully visible again. Not only that, untreated oil stains could be hazardous because they slowly but surely weaken the foundation of your asphalt and erode it from within, which could result in costly and necessary repairs. The best course of action is to just deal with the problem head on. Good thing there are plenty of effective and easy oil stain removal treatment options you can try for your driveway or parking lot.
How to Remove Oil Stains from Asphalt Parking Lots
The best time to clean an oil stain is when it’s still fresh before it gets the chance to cling to your asphalt. The longer you wait the harder and more expensive it’ll be to remove the oil stain from your asphalt driveway. Here are a few ideas for oil stain removal from your asphalt driveway.
Solvent-Free Cleanser
You can make your own homemade cleaning solution by mixing water with dishwashing detergent. Try to use one that’s solvent-free as these are generally less harmful to the environment.
Commercial Degreasers
Commercial degreasers are highly effective for breaking down oil stains because they break down the particles within the oil. They’re also environmentally friendly.
Pressure-Washing
If the oil stain is still fresh, pressure-washing it with steam and hot water will help blast most of it away.
Kitty Litter
Once again, this works best on brand new oil stains that haven’t congealed or dried up yet. Make sure to rinse the stain first and brush away all debris from the affected area. Then apply the kitty litter to the damp asphalt and let it sit for a few minutes. The kitty litter should effectively absorb most, if not all, of the stain.
Replacing Damaged Asphalt
Depending on the size and the extent of the oil stain, it might be necessary to replace the damaged part of the asphalt. This is recommended for older oil stains that can’t be removed by conventional methods.
Oil Stain Removal Services for Commercial and Residential Properties
If you’re not comfortable contending with stubborn oil stains yourself, then you can call upon the oil stain removal experts at Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc. We’ve been installing, repairing, and maintaining people’s asphalt driveways and parking lots in Toronto and the GTA for over 20 years. For information on our services or to get a quote, please call us at 1-888-728-3636 or, if you’re in Toronto, (416) 410-3705.
Photo Credit: iStock.com/LoveTheWind
