Simple Ways to Remove Oil and Stains from Your Asphalt Parking Lot

Asphalt parking lots offer a first impression for business owners. A clean parking lot proves that you care to put effort into providing a clean and safe lot for visitors and employees.

Oil and stains can damage your asphalt surface. Fortunately, you don’t need to break the bank to clean up these oil and stains.

How to Stop Asphalt Stain in Your Parking Lot?

Stop it from ever happening! Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Don’t let debris, dirt, and leaves sit on the asphalt. Mulch and leaves can produce discoloration in asphalt once wet.
• Dirt can also catch and continuously saturate the asphalt when spills happen. It would help if you eliminated excess dirt from the asphalt to keep it looking new.
• Remove chemical spills immediately. Clean it immediately if you find oil, gas, or diesel fuel on your lot. The longer the chemicals sit on the asphalt surface, the more damage they can do to the asphalt. Sealcoating your parking lot does add a layer of protection but is not 100% foolproof.  

What are the Common Types of Stains in Asphalt?

The most typically found stains on asphalt relate to the asphalt’s purpose: parking cars. You see, cars leak everything from gas to oil!

Here are other stains commonly seen on asphalts:

• Tire tread marks
• Food and drink
• Mulch and lawn debris

How to Remove Oil & Gas Spills from Asphalt?

To remove chemical spills from your asphalt lot, follow these simple DIY tips and get incredible results.

Soap and water - Use liquid soap and water to wash away the stain. It’s better to use soap and water after noticing the oil stain. You may have to use other cleaning methods if the oil stain has been there for a significant time.

Cat litter - Mop up any extra oil, pour a generous amount of cat litter or sawdust all over the stain, and let it sit for a while. Most people recommend allowing the litter to sit for 24 hours on larger spills. But for more minor spills, let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

Baking soda - Baking soda is a common household item to clean stains. It’s practical for sponging up oil. Sprinkle your baking soda into the stain and use a stiff brush to remove the stain away.

Let it cover the oil for at least 30 minutes. Rinse the stain and see if it’s gone away.

If you need help removing oil stains or need to have your lot swept, our team is here to help!

Call us today at 863-624-2287 to get started!