How To Remove Oil Stains From an Asphalt Driveway

Stubborn oil stains on your asphalt driveway are annoying, ugly, and unsafe. Luckily, you can remove them with common household items such as powdered detergent, dish soap, cat litter, baking soda, WD-40, oven cleaner, and cola. For more stubborn stains, an industrial-level degreaser would do the trick. Unless the stain has seeped too deep through the surface, you can remove it yourself without hiring a professional.

Mistakes to Avoid

Just because it doesn’t seem like the stain is damaging your asphalt driveway doesn’t mean it isn’t. A common mistake is neglecting an oil stain when first discovered. Maybe the stain is too small to ring an alarm, or perhaps it is usually covered by your car and not visible to the public. However, the longer you wait, the more likely the oil stain will corrode the asphalt, which eventually leads to more expensive repair.

When to Clean Your Asphalt Driveway

Since asphalt's temperature rises quickly on hot days under the sun, it’s best to clean your asphalt driveway during cooler hours, such as in the early morning or in the evening before the sun fully sets. Clean your asphalt driveway when it has been dry for a few days because rain and moisture only make it harder to remove the oil stain and can interfere with your cleaning agents. Ideally, you should clean your asphalt driveway at least twice a year in spring and fall.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

You can remove most oil stains from an asphalt driveway yourself. However, if the stain is too stubborn or has already caused physical damage to the driveway’s surface, it’s best to hire an asphalt company for cleaning and repair.

Oil stains may take as short as six months to eat through the surface of your asphalt driveway. The corroded area often shows holes in the asphalt. At that point, you should hire a professional to refill the missing asphalt.