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5 Things You Never Knew That Were Damaging Your Driveway

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concrete safe ice melt

You love your driveway. It’s the ideal place for parties, outdoor get-togethers, and even just relaxing with a good book on a warm summer day. You want to keep it looking great, but you don’t know that there are common—and damaging—things happening right now in your yard that could ruin your driveway forever. We’re here to help! These are the things we’ve found most damaging to driveways:

Oil Drips From Your Car

Oil drips can be a big problem for your driveway. Oil stains are not easy to remove and often cause permanent damage to the surface of the driveway. If you have an oil stain on your driveway, there are a few ways you could go about removing it:

  • Use household products like baking soda and vinegar (wait until dry). 
  • Put down straw or kitty litter to absorb moisture from the area before attempting any cleaning methods.
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Fertilizer Or Grass Seed Drops On Your Driveway

If you are growing grass in your front yard, it’s important to make sure that you are not unintentionally harming your driveway by using fertilizer or grass seed. While fertilizer will damage the asphalt or concrete of your driveway, grass seed is organic and compostable. Grass seeds can be washed off with a hose, and once the seeds germinate into new plants, they will help keep the soil from eroding from around your driveway. Fertilizer does not decompose like this; instead, it gradually builds up over time and causes damage to whatever surface it sits on, including concrete or asphalt driveways.

Leaves Fall On Your Driveway

Leaves are one of the most common causes of damage to your driveway. Leaves can clog the pores in the driveway, which means that water is unable to penetrate it and evaporate. It will cause an uneven surface to become slippery if there’s enough debris on top of the leaves.

If there are enough leaves on top of your driveway, they can even cause potholes over time.

Poor Drainage Causes Water To Pool On Your Driveway

Poor drainage can cause water to pool on your driveway. It can lead to potholes, cracks, and algae growth.

In addition to causing damage to your driveway, poor drainage also creates a tripping hazard for guests and family members.

You Use Salt On Your Driveway

It’s easy to fall into the habit of using salt or chloride-based ice melts on your driveway. If you live in an area where it often gets cold, you may feel like you need it. But did you know that using salt on your driveway can damage the surface?

The problem with using salt is that in addition to melting snow and ice, it also contains chlorides that are harmful to concrete. The salt acts as an abrasive agent, wearing down your asphalt or cement as soon as it’s applied. It leaves behind a rough surface that is difficult to maintain over time. Therefore, it is advisable to use safe ice melter for concrete and asphalt driveways.

Safe Thaw – Safe Ice Melter For Concrete

Here is the best alternative to salt. Safe Thaw is a 100% natural concrete safe ice melt that’s environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradable. Safe Thaw is a urea-modified product with special surfactants, glycols, ice melting boosters, and inhibitors. It reduces the risk of any injury caused by slipping, skidding, or falling on ice. The quick-acting ingredients are ideal for pre-application and post-application on snow and icy surfaces.

100% salt & chloride-free, fast acting Ice Management Solution

Conclusion

So there you have it- five common things that can damage your driveway. If you’re worried about what might be damaging your driveway, just keep an eye out for these five things and make sure you take steps to prevent them!


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