Cleaning the asphalt is a task that many homeowners perform once or twice a year. The classic cleaning process for asphalt driveways requires the use of the right combination of cleaning products to dissolve oil and other types of stains from the surface, restoring the area to its original condition. Fortunately, it is possible to clean asphalt using products and tools that you already have available at home, making the job easier without incurring too much expense.
Steps
Step 1. Remove all debris from the surface
Use a stiff bristle brush and sweep away leaves, cut grass, dirt and other residues. This will make the cleaning task much easier.
Step 2. Wet the asphalt with a steady stream of water
Take the garden hose and wet the entire surface. Take all the time it takes to wet the asphalt well before starting the cleaning phase, in order to soften some small residues that may be in the cracks in the surface, making the overall effort a little less burdensome.
Step 3. Pre-treat oil stains and tire marks before cleaning the entire surface
Cover the most stained areas with laundry detergent. Pour a generous amount of washing powder directly onto oil stains and the like. Let it act for several minutes, so that it penetrates the damp and wet surface and begins to dissolve the oil and other stains from the top layer of the asphalt.
Step 4. Mix the cleaning product in a bucket
Combine 1 part laundry detergent with 3 parts water and 1 part bleach. Make sure the solution is mixed thoroughly.
Step 5. Pour the cleaner onto the asphalt
Pour some on an area and use a brush to scrub the product by hand. Make a circular motion clockwise, counterclockwise and back and forth motions to get the bristles into the surface. In this way, you remove any residues that would otherwise remain in the asphalt.
Step 6. Rinse
In the final step of cleaning, use the garden hose and spray a jet of high-pressure water to wash away the cleaner along with the loose dirt. Observe the result and take note of any stubborn stains or other dirt. Add more cleansing product and brush vigorously before rinsing the area a second time.
Advice
- To clean asphalt driveways, frequent use of the pressure washer is a fantastic way to get satisfying results quickly. However, this is not a good method for cleaning asphalt shingle driveways, as water pressure can damage the flakes and ruin the surface.
- Rather than creating a solution by mixing products you already have at home, you can purchase others that are specifically formulated to clean certain types of paved surfaces. Most of these must be diluted in water to precise proportions and can be purchased at home improvement stores.
