Remove Oil Stains From Your Asphalt Driveway With An Affordable Item You Already Have

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Asphalt driveways come with some drawbacks, so if your access road is already made of this binder-filler mixture, then you are way past the asphalt vs. concrete debate for your driveway. One downside that gets on homeowners' nerves is how oil stains are hard to clean on asphalt, especially when they have been sitting there for a long time. Since asphalt is quite porous, it can absorb oils readily. In most cases, the binder in asphalt reacts with petroleum-based oils, causing the pavement to soften. Instead of turning to industrial degreasers that cost a fortune, however, there's a very affordable item sitting in your home you can use to remove oil stains from your asphalt driveway — cat litter.

Because it is highly absorbent, cat litter can remove driveway stains from gasoline, motor oil, and transmission fluid that may quietly leak from a car or accidentally spill while doing maintenance work. Its porous material can soak up fresh oil before it spreads deeper into the asphalt, and it can also bind with oil that has seeped into the pavement for some time. What's good about this hack is it doesn't require much effort — no scrubbing required. You simply press the kitty litter into the oil stains and let it do its magic. Before you know it, the stains are no longer visible, and you can sweep off the excess litter and call it a day.

Start by grabbing the cat litter you will use for the job. Clay-based options are best to handle oil stains, so if the one you have at home is plant-based, you may have to head out and buy clay litter. Or, you can order from the most recommended brands on Amazon, such as Dr. Elsey's Ultra Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter or Fresh Step Advanced Simply Unscented Multi Cat Clumping Litter. Depending on the size and number of stains on your driveway, secure enough litter to cover them all. Put a thick layer over the affected area, and press or smash the material into the stain with your foot. After crushing the litter, let it sit for at least an hour to absorb the oil. For best results, leave it overnight before proceeding to the next steps.

Once enough time has passed, sweep up both the excess and used litter. Feel free to store and reuse it on other stains, or discard it altogether. If you don't mind the powdered clay litter giving your asphalt driveway uneven color, you can leave the treated area unwashed and dry. But if you want to make your driveway look new again, wash it with dish soap and hot water, rinsing thoroughly while directing the water away from plants. If the stain remains visible after the water dries up, you may need to repeat the process to totally absorb the oil.