Asphalt wash

I have been asked to wash an area of asphalt forecourt next week.


It is just mud from ground work and landscaping that has been going on around the area.


I don’t think I need to use any Chemicals of any description as it is only mud and soil that I am dealing with.

I have never washed asphalt before.
My thoughts are that I will give the area a good wetting down with just water, give it a bit of dwell time to soften the mud and dirt and then get stuck into it with the surface cleaner.

Any one got any thoughts or suggestions on my proposed approach to this job?

shovel up any large chunks of mud first as surface cleaners are really only meant for a thin layer of dirt. Once you run over a section with the surface cleaner you will want to rinse sooner then later. A surface vac cleaner would easily cut your work down a 1/3 to 1/2 the time due to all the rinsing needed. The results will be very noticeable and evident assuming you stay on top of rinsing the dirt away.

One more caution, asphalt is a softer surface made of tar, steam or really hot water with pressure could start ripping up or leaving marks in the asphalt especially if you leave a running surface cleaner in one place too long.

I havent had good luck with surface cleaning asphalt. ..easy to stripe at your path overlaps.

Sent from my SCH-R830 using Tapatalk

I would not use a surface cleaner on asphalt, especially if it has been sealcoated in the last year or sooner, you can easily remove the sealcote with the surface cleaner and that repair will be very expensive for you.

I would shovel up the large dirt clumps and have a couple guys out there sweeping up as much as you can because once you add water, you will be moving mud with pressurized water and that does not go too fast.

Rinsing with larger volumes of water makes it go a lot faster, if you can use a 1" hose off a meter/hydrant you will make quick work of the area, if you have to use a pressure washer then I would use the 15 degree nozzle and go after it, 2 or more guns will help a lot if you can make that happen.

Depending on how smooth the asphalt is, will determine how fast you can rinse, the smoother it is the faster it will go because not as porous so less stuff to get into the nooks and crannies, more porous will mean longer to rinse it all.

Asphalt will never rinse anywhere as fast as concrete.

Depending on how big the area is I would just rent a water truck.

Post some pics.... It may be faster to rent a parking lot blower and have you and a helper or two attack it with wire push brooms. If it's a small area you can just use a backpack or handheld blower, but it will take longer. Shovel up all the thick stuff and hit it with the brooms and the blower on the backside. I worked for a paving company for over 10 years and this is exactly how we would prep for sealcoat.
If it needs to be cleaner than what you can get with the brooms and blower it will be easy to clean with a wand.
I agree with Chris - don't put a surface cleaner on it.

Hi Guys
Thanks to you all for your input. Each and every Idea has been taken on board.
Asphalt is only 2 months old and I am sure it has never been sealed in any way. Not something that is done here in New Zealand. I do know Vince Wood that they have a water truck at the facility and have tried that approach already. It is a retirement village complex right across the road from my home. I washed all of the residences and the community centre in March and the Asphalt in question was being laid at that time so it is still GREEN so to speak.
The owner approached me yesterday to come and have a look at the issue so the first thing I did was come to the Holly Grail of the PWI for the good oil on how to go about the task.
Thanks again.

Definately don't use pressure on it, that would be an expensive mistake to learn from.

Not sure of the pumps on water trucks but if you can reduce the hose from a water truck to a 1" hose and put a fireman nozzle on the hose, that would rinse the parking lot fast, but again, not sure if those water truck pumps will do that, it will be interesting to find out.

Post pics of the job and let us know how it goes.