I've tried a few things but no luck. Oil stains have been thee months. What's a great cleaner? Thanks.
What's a great cleaner for oil on Asphalt?
- Thread starter daves66nova
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Dollar store dish detergent and a scrub brush. Be persistent, a little bit, let it sit, let it rain, repeat. Don't hose it off, just let the rain do its thing. OK, in LA, maybe do hose it off considering the dryness.
Gasoline will also strip it pretty good, or dissolve it and let it sink below the surface. I'd save this step for after the dish soap.
Gasoline will also strip it pretty good, or dissolve it and let it sink below the surface. I'd save this step for after the dish soap.
In years past I used a product called "Oil Eater" It did a great job dissolving oil and cleaning up the driveway. However we all know what asphalt is made from. The use of solvents affects the asphalt.
High pH chemicals work best to break down grease. For the price, I'd try "Super Clean". You can buy it at WalMart, it's cheap (~$10 gallon), and it's outstanding to break down oil, grease, etc.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/SuperCle...=sem&msclkid=a074553f056a1a433fa73c88fad2bf21
Ed
https://www.walmart.com/ip/SuperCle...=sem&msclkid=a074553f056a1a433fa73c88fad2bf21
Ed
Wood ashes.
Oil Eater is a GREAT product!
Unless your driveway is coated with an oil resistant coal tar (if they still make that) the oil is actually going to dissolve some of the asphalt. In other words, they will mix, slowly. When you scrub it, the water will likely turn black, or at least have a black oily film.
Time is your friend in a case like this. Get the bulk of it off, to avoid damage, and let nature take its course.
Time is your friend in a case like this. Get the bulk of it off, to avoid damage, and let nature take its course.
I've had good luck with Simple Green, a brush to agitate it, and my power washer set at a very low pressure.
Came here to say this!
I use Dawn dish soap.
Drizzle it all over the oil stains and let it sit in the sun. really, just leave it alone and do nothing. It will soak in and break up the oil. The rain will wash it out.
If any stain remains after a few good rains, just reapply. You may need a brush to work it into the tough spots, but I always do the lazy method first.
Drizzle it all over the oil stains and let it sit in the sun. really, just leave it alone and do nothing. It will soak in and break up the oil. The rain will wash it out.
If any stain remains after a few good rains, just reapply. You may need a brush to work it into the tough spots, but I always do the lazy method first.
Kestas
Staff member
I've had oil drip from a leaky car onto my asphalt drive. The oil dissolved the pavement. I had to diaper the car with plywood every time I parked.
When you get the stains clean you should seal your driveway. Asphalt has a serious flaw in that any solvent, gas, diesel or oil will penetrate the asphalt and start breaking it down. Also drives usually don't have enough traffic which keeps the surface packed tight. The worse thing you can do for an asphalt surface is quit running traffic on it.
Dawn dish detergent. Wet surface., squeeze some dawn onto the surface, rub in with a rag.
Let’s soak a while, add some more dawn, rub in a little bit more, without it drying out, let it soak in and then rinse.
It works fantastic on concrete. I’m assuming asphalt too.
Let’s soak a while, add some more dawn, rub in a little bit more, without it drying out, let it soak in and then rinse.
It works fantastic on concrete. I’m assuming asphalt too.
