Removing stains from asphalt is vital to the appearance and the functionality of your parking lot.
As a business owner, you cannot understate the importance of keeping the exterior of your building and parking lot clean. After all, it’s what your customers base their first impressions of your business on. Because you are only going to get one chance, it’s important that you nail your first impressions.
How to deal with oil stains?
Oil spills are inevitable when dealing with asphalt parking lots, and they are a big deal. They can negatively affect the appearance and compromise the structural integrity of your parking lot. So, as soon as you notice an oil spill on your parking lot, you need to act on it. If left unattended, oils will penetrate the asphalt and leave a permanent stain on your parking lot.
With that in mind, let’s look at some easy ways of removing oil stains from asphalt.
Use kitty litter to keep your asphalt parking lot oil-free
All that kitty litter really is clay. That clay is not only great at absorbing cat urine, but aces at absorbing oil. So step one of removing oil stains from asphalt is to get your regular run-of-the-mill kitty litter (don’t worry about those fancy “crystals”) and spread it all over the oil stain. Use a newspaper to cover it, and pat it in. Leave this overnight. The next day, clean up the kitty litter. You will want to put this in its own plastic garbage bag so it can be disposed of properly, as this is oil and not meant for the regular garbage pick-up.
Use powdered laundry detergent
Now sprinkle a powdered laundry detergent over the fresh oil spills in a thin layer. Next, dampen the detergent, so it has the consistency of paste. Then, just like with the kitty litter, cover it with newspaper and let it sit overnight. The next day, wipe the surface clean! You can also use a mixture of dish soap and warm water or baking soda instead of a powdered laundry detergent for removing oil stains from asphalt.
Scrub the stains
Lastly, clean up and remove all but a fine layer of the detergent paste. Add some water and grab yourself a tough, heavy wire brush. Now use some elbow grease and scrub the detergent into the concrete. Scrub in small circles, adding water if needed to maintain the paste consistency of the detergent. Make a point to scrub slightly outside of the stained area to give the unaffected concrete and the stained area a similar shade. A discoloration may still be present. If it’s light, you can leave the area alone, and the color should fade in time with sun exposure. If the stain is still prevalent, go back to the detergent step and clean again.
Consider removing oil stains from asphalt by steam-cleaning it
High-pressure steam cleaning is one of the best ways to remove stubborn oil stains on an asphalt surface without using any chemicals. The heat of the steam melts down the oil that has penetrated the surface, while the pressure whisks it away.
Consider sealcoating the surface
Once you have removed all oil stains from your asphalt parking lot, you need to keep it that way. Asphalt sealcoating will add a layer of protection to your asphalt parking lot and keep it protected from oil spills as well as sun exposure and freeze-thaw cycles.
Parking Lot Services Can Assist You Get Rid of Stubborn Oil Stains in Your Parking Lot in Tampa
Are you looking for professional services of stain removal or asphalt sealcoating in Tampa? The team at Parking Lot Services has you covered. We have the experience, expertise, and equipment to clean and shield your parking lot in a timely, cost-effective manner. In addition to parking lot repair and asphalt sealcoating services, we also handle asphalt paving services, asphalt repair, and all related services in Tampa.
If you have any questions about our services or would like to receive a free, no-obligation estimate, reach out by calling us at (813) 543-6142 today.