- Oil stains are among the most disfiguring stains an asphalt driveway can sustain as they are both dark and often easy to see. They are caused by leaks from cars parked on the driveway and will stain and mark the driveway. While they can be removed, you should be careful to use soap and water as solvent-based cleaning products will damage the asphalt binder holding the driveway together.
- Rust stains are a common occurrence in asphalt driveways as many driveways are constructed around a steel rebar frame. Groundwater can be drawn up past these steel rebars via capillary action, rainwater can drain down through the asphalt to them, and the end result is a bloom of rust on the surface of your driveway.
- Antifreeze stains, like oil stains, are most commonly caused by leaks from vehicles parked on the driveway. Where oil stains are black, antifreeze stains are lighter but still highly visible. They can be removed by treating the stain with a combination of warm water and white vinegar, then scrubbing it vigorously with a brush.
- Grease stains can be caused by anything from cars and other vehicles to material carried up the driveway on people's shoes. Grease stains are lighter than the other stains but are just as disfiguring. They also tend to be more common as they have multiple causes, although of all the types of stains a driveway can sustain, grease stains are relatively easy to remove.
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