Once the snow disappears and everyone’s out enjoying the summer weather, those stains on your asphalt driveway are more noticeable than ever. To combat them, here are a few ways you can remove dried-on stains from your pavement.

Removing Asphalt Stains

Whether your asphalt driveway is covered in chalk stains, oil leaks, leaves, or paint, removing stains, in general, is a tough job. But it’s not impossible! The first thing you’ll need to do is rinse off your driveway with water, getting rid of as much debris as possible. Next, you’ll need to grab some soap, dishwashing liquid, or diluted vinegar for the stain. Pour whatever you decide to over the stain and use a stiff brush to scrub at the stain. Rinse off the residue before repeating the process until the stain is gone.

Removing Oil Spills

It can be tricky to remove oil and other vehicle fluids from your driveway. If this occurs, the best thing to do is to absorb as much of the spilled liquid as possible. The best things to use include sawdust, gravel, or no-clump cat litter, as these will absorb the liquid with the most efficiency. They’ll accomplish much more than a regular rag or towel would. Depending on the size of the spill, you might need to leave the cat litter, gravel, or sawdust overnight. Once morning comes, sweep away your absorption material and hose off the stain. Now it’s time to scrub at the stain using soap or vinegar. If the stain still remains once you’ve rinsed it off, try using bleach to scrub away the remnants.

Removing Mulch Stains

Didn’t use that entire bag of coloured mulch you bought for your garden and now have a large stain on your driveway? Not to worry, as the cleaning process is pretty simple. While the stain is sure to fade away with time, here’s what you’ll need to do for immediate results. Rinsing your asphalt with water, apply either vinegar or soap to the stain, and scrub at it with a brush. Do this using circular motions before rinsing both the stain and the soap away with a hose.

General Cleaning Tips

Seasonal cleaning is something that should be done to extend the life of your asphalt driveway and prevent damage. A quick sweep every so often and washing the surface of built-up grime will great a better first impression for guests. Not only does a clean driveway deter rodents and pests from hanging around, but clean, stain-free driveways prevent erosion and minimize pollution run-off.

At Ampac Paving and Concrete, we specialize in assisting commercial and residential clients when it comes to improving curb appeal. Our commercial paving company services Toronto, Richmond Hill, New Market, and Vaughan in all your landscaping and paving needs. Working with custom asphalt, concrete, and interlocking stone driveways, give us a call for more information and a free job quote.