Asphalt is a popular material for protecting the driveway. This is because it’s cheap to install and maintain. However, this lovely finish can be a breeding ground for moss, algae, and lichens. Moss can grow on your asphalt driveway in spots that get sufficient light, moisture, and nutrition. So, it’s really necessary to take care of your driveway to avoid such plants destroying it.
Apart from destroying your driveway and bringing ugly sights, oil stains or moss can cause an accident as it usually becomes slippery when wet, which can make you slide and fall. Nonetheless, you can quickly get rid of moss with home products or products from the store. These include bleach and liquid moss spray.
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How to remove moss from asphalt driveway
Expose it to sunlight
The best and most straightforward way of removing moss on your asphalt driveway is by exposing it to sunlight. Just ensure that the area affected by moss receives enough sunlight. Then, move patio furniture, cars, prune tree branches and allow sunlight to deal with moss.
If the sunlight shines directly on moss, it will not survive, and you will see it dry after a few days. This is because moss doesn’t thrive in scorching sunlight and dry places. Instead, it needs dump, moist, and nutrient-rich areas to grow.
However, to make this method effective and get rid of the moss for good, you need to follow it up with moss removers, such as vinegar, bleach, or liquid moss spray.
Use bleach
If it’s impossible to cut, trim, or move items to prevent sunlight from reaching the affected area on your asphalt driveway, you have other options. First, you can try using bleach, which is one of the most effective ways of killing moss on the driveway.
Bleach is not a realistic option; thus, it should be handled with great care. If you decide to use bleach, ensure to keep kids and pets away from the area. Additionally, bleach should be used with great caution not to reach other close-by plants. If it does, they will also be affected as it’s incredibly harsh. So, you can cover close-by plants.
To utilize bleach:
- Combine equal parts of bleach and water. Next, apply it to the affected area.
- Leave the solution to sit on the affected area for at least 15 minutes.
- Scrub the area with a stiff brush and rinse it with a hose.
This procedure should remove the moss from your driveway with a lot of ease. Nevertheless, don’t forget to wear protective gloves and goggles.
Use baking soda
If you don’t want a harsh method for removing grass or moss on the driveway, baking soda is another excellent option. However, baking soda is not as effective as bleach or liquid moss spray. Also, if the moss is serious, it may not work correctly.
Using baking soda is simple. Just spray the product on the moss and leave it to sit on it overnight. Then, use a deck brush or push broom to get rid of the baking soda, and later, scrub the affected area to get rid of moss.
Use commercial moss removers
One of the most effective ways of clearing moss from your asphalt driveway is using commercial moss removers. This includes liquid moss spray and other commercial moss removers. Most of these products are known to have carcinogens and respiratory irritants. Therefore, they are not suitable for kids, pets, and even adults. Users should wear protective gear to avoid their side effects.
Overall, commercial moss removers are very effective in removing moss from asphalt driveways. Besides, you can go for less toxic products. If you’ve acquired one of the commercial moss removers, here is the procedure to follow:
- Apply the moss remover on the moss and allow it to soak for at least 10 minutes
- Don’t allow the liquid moss remover to dry on your driveway
- Utilize a power washer or garden hose to rinse the asphalt driveway
- Dispose of the moss
- Repeat the process to ensure that the moss spores are killed
Use vinegar
Vinegar is another excellent natural method for getting rid of moss on your asphalt driveway. However, unlike other natural options that we’ve highlighted in this article, this method requires repetitive use to work effectively. Moreover, vinegar is not a good choice for removing widely spread moss unless you combine it with commercial moss remover.
Applying vinegar is easy and fast. Combine the same amount of vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Afterward, spray the affected area and allow the vinegar to set in for 15 minutes. Next, take a stiff push broom or deck brush and use it to scrub the area. For outstanding results, follow this with a hose or pressure washer to remove the remaining moss. Repeat the process if there is still moss on the spot.
Note that the vinegar should not get in touch with the surrounding plants. Therefore, you need to cover them or spray them carefully.
Use boiling water
This is another natural method that you can opt for. However, this method is also not very effective and may leave some moss behind. However, it perfectly works when you combine it with one of the commercial moss removers. Besides, this method is not dangerous to the nearby plants as it has little to no effect.
Like other natural methods, applying boiling water is easy. Ensure the water boils appropriately before pouring it on the moss. After that, you will have to scrub the moss away using a push broom or deck brush.
Use a power washer or garden hose
Last but not least, you can use a power washer or garden hose. If you use a garden hose, ensure to connect it to a pump to increase its pressure. Whether you use a garden hose or power washer, the results won’t be as effective as the other methods we’ve looked at. Nonetheless, the plants close by won’t be affected.
Related article: What is the best time to seal a new asphalt driveway?
If possible, you can combine this method with bleach to get exceptional results. Also, you can scrub the moss after applying water and bleach. Then, repeat the process as much as possible if need be.
Summary
Now that you know which products and methods to use to get rid of moss on your asphalt driveway, you should not hesitate to remove it. Moss and other plants like lichens and algae can deteriorate your driveway if you don’t get rid of them in time.
Choose a method that you feel is appropriate for your asphalt driveway and get rid of the moss. Note that you should constantly wear protective gear like gloves and sunglasses when working with abrasive substances like bleach.
