Removing oil stains from asphalt and concrete: the Road Surface Cleaner ECO
- Posted on
- By Huchem UK
Oil stains, grease marks or fuel residues on your yard, car park or forecourt? The Road Surface Cleaner ECO is a powerful, environmentally friendly degreaser for asphalt, concrete and stone. Here is when to use it, how to apply it and what to expect.
Oil stains, grease tracks or fuel residues on your yard, car park, forecourt or asphalt? Huchem has the answer: the Road Surface Cleaner ECO. Powerful, environmentally friendly and ready to use. In this article we explain exactly when to use it, how to go about it and what results to expect.
What does a road surface cleaner actually do?
A road surface cleaner is a concentrated cleaning agent developed specifically for removing oil, grease and other contamination from outdoor surfaces. The Road Surface Cleaner ECO was developed for industrial use: a concentrated cleaner for removing synthetic, animal, vegetable and mineral oils and greases, aromatics and other hydrocarbons.
What makes this product special is the way it works. It breaks the contamination down at molecular level: the oil is split open and converted into a mass that bacteria can break down. More than 90% of the surfactants are biodegradable according to the relevant OECD test methods. The result is simple: the stain disappears thoroughly, without harmful residues left on your site.
Where do you use it?
It is ideal for porous surfaces such as asphalt, porous asphalt, concrete and stone, and also suitable for soil and tank cleaning and for use in ultrasonic cleaners. Typical situations:
- Yards and car parks with oil tracks from vehicles.
- Workshops and garages where engine or hydraulic oil has been spilled.
- Logistics hubs and loading bays with grease and fuel stains.
- Asphalt after accidents or leaks.
- Soil and tank cleaning on industrial sites.
The method that really works
Before you start, test the product on an inconspicuous spot, especially on water based coatings. Then:
- Apply the product to the contaminated area. To draw out trapped oil, use it undiluted. For light to moderate soiling a dilution of 1:10 to 1:20 with water is enough; for heavy soiling or deep stains use 1:5 or undiluted.
- Let it work for 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the severity. Stubborn, deep stains need the full contact time.
- Scrub or use a pressure washer to remove the loosened contamination.
- Rinse with water. The contamination has been broken down into a biodegradable mass, so you need not worry about harmful residues.
Allow roughly 0.1 to 0.3 litres of diluted product per m², depending on the porosity of the surface and the degree of soiling. A 10 litre can is therefore enough for a large yard or several cleaning rounds.
Why choose an environmentally friendly road surface cleaner?
Sites that discharge run off to the sewer or to ground are subject to environmental regulations. Poorly biodegradable substances in run off can lead to discharge restrictions or additional treatment requirements. This is exactly where biodegradability makes the difference: because more than 90% of the surfactants in the Road Surface Cleaner ECO are biodegradable according to OECD test methods, the rinse water meets the usual discharge standards in most cases without extra treatment. Always check the requirements of your local water company or environmental regulator.
Who is this product for?
Transport companies and garages that regularly have stains on the yard; contractors and groundworkers who want to hand over a clean site after a job; facilities teams at production sites; body shops that remove hydraulic oil and brake fluid from the floor every week and do not want an aggressive cleaner going down the drain; and homeowners with a driveway full of oil marks. The 10 litre can is concentrated enough to treat a large area, certainly if you use the right dilution for light to moderate soiling.