Taking Care of Your Driveway

The condition of your driveway might not top your list of concerns, but it is important. Your driveway is the first thing neighbors and guests will see if they visit your home. A well-maintained driveway can boost your home’s value by quite a lot, by capitalizing on something called curb appeal. For prospective home buyers, a bumpy, cracked, or stained driveway could be a turn off and deter them from purchasing your home. To avoid that, here are some things to consider when taking care of your driveway:

Re-Coating Your Driveway

One of the most important ways to maintain your driveway’s luster is to re-coat it regularly. Asphalt and tar driveways can be spruced up by a new coating of tar, easily found at your nearby hardware store. This can seal any cracks, patch up any holes, and strengthen your driveway for the long haul.

Oil Stains on the Driveway

Cars, motorcycles, and other vehicles can leak oils onto your driveway and cause stains. To clean these stains, use chemicals like baking soda, sand, or even kitty litter to soak up the oil. After letting it sit on the stain overnight, sweep up the mess and gaze upon your stain-free driveway! This method works best for fresh oil stains. Older stains are more difficult to clean up and usually require special products sold in stores.

Driveway Tire Stains

If you have a white or concrete driveway, marks and streaks from your car can really detract from your driveway’s beauty. One effective way to clean these up is to use a combination of bleach, water, and soap. Mix these together and scrub away those stains!

Driveway Mildew

Mildew can thrive in dark, damp areas. The longer you have your driveway, the more likely it is that mildew will develop, as water from rain and other sources can be sealed in its cracks. To get rid of mildew, mix bleach and water and pour it onto the contaminated area. After letting it sit overnight, hose it off with plain water. Mildew can be especially dangerous, as it not only breaks down your driveway but also make your driveway slippery

Invest in your driveway! It may seem like a silly thing to put time and money into but it really can add value to your home and make it much more appealing to potential buyers.