Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
To clean an asphalt driveway, scour a mixture of detergent and water into the surface using a push broom with a coarse, stiff bristle. Hose off the solution once you are done.
Though oil stains on asphalt are difficult to remove, you can try to scrub them out with a detergent and bleach or, as an alternative, a commercial driveway cleaner, sold at home improvement centers.
If you buy a driveway cleaner, be sure to get one that is made for asphalt; a concrete cleaner can damage asphalt. Follow label directions explicitly. But first, try the household cleaner route:
1) Using a stiff, long-handled brush and a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) or phosphate-free substitute, scrub the stain.
2) Following label precautions and directions, scrub remaining spots with full-strength household bleach. Wear old clothes, rubber gloves, and safety glasses.
3) Rinse thoroughly with a hose.
To fix small cracks, sweep debris from the fissure, and, using a caulking gun, apply a compound formulated for asphalt repair. For more sizable cracks, suction out dirt using a shop vacuum, and then fill in the gaps with cold-process asphalt-repair compound.
