How To Clean A Concrete Driveway
Concrete driveways are like kitchen towels — one of the first things visitors notice about your home. Unlike our kitchen towels, driveways aren’t that easy to clean. And you certainly can’t just buy a new one or toss it in the wash right before company arrives! The good news? It’s not that difficult to clean a concrete driveway if you have the right tools and tricks of the trade. If you partner with professionals with power washing experience, you could get the job done in just a few hours or less!
It’s time to say goodbye to unsightly dirt around your concrete driveway. Let’s take a closer look at how to clean a driveway, including the tools you need, the steps you’ll take and the professionals you can lean on when the time is right.
How to clean concrete driveways
Keeping your driveway clean and clear is a great way to boost curb appeal. Regular maintenance and a once-yearly clean are all you need to get that new-construction glow.
Here are five easy steps to get you started:
- Initial clean — You’ll need to clear off your driveway and remove any large debris from the zone. Attach a spray nozzle to your garden hose and blast away rocks, leaves, sticks and other debris. Alternatively, you could use a leaf blower or a wide broom to tidy up the area.
- Deep clean — Your driveway is already starting to look better, but the best is yet to come! Use a driveway cleaner and a gentle hose setting to apply a concrete cleaning product all over the concrete. Make sure to cover all the corners and spend extra time on problem areas.
- Pressure wash — If you’re concerned about the chemicals in driveway cleaners, you can always opt for pressure cleaning. You can hire professionals to do it, as using a pressure washer incorrectly may accidentally etch your concrete.
- Scrub down — Take a thick bristle brush or a stiff wide broom to scrub the concrete cleaner into your driveway. You may want to treat areas with more specific products, although this is entirely up to you.
- Rinse off — Pick up your garden hose and spray off the concrete to watch the grime melt away. Not entirely up to snuff? Repeat the process from step one! Some driveways may require more elbow grease than others.
Products to help with concrete driveway cleaning
Concrete is a very forgiving material that can adapt to any cleaning product. Depending on your comfort and overall cleaning budget, you can do a lot with just a little.
You can always purchase over-the-counter driveway cleaners like:
- Simple Green
- Chemtech
- Krud Cutter (biodegradable option)
Alternatively, you can make your DIY driveway cleaners with materials you have at home:
- Bleach and water work well for minor surface stains, but be sure you don’t get any on your hands!
- Vinegar and baking soda can battle surface grime, but they can’t penetrate your concrete as deeply as chemical processes.
- Dish soap and cat litter are excellent physical abrasives, but they won’t be able to get into your driveway’s pores.
DIY driveway cleaners may not be as effective as chemical treatments. However, chemical treatments may expose you and your family to harmful toxins.
If you’re uncomfortable using OTC driveway cleaning products but don’t have time to make your own, you may want to consider the restorative effects of driveway-pressuring washing.
How to clean a driveway with pressure washing
Pressure washing is the happy medium between OTC driveway products and DIY solutions. You won’t expose your lawn or garden to harmful materials, but you won’t spend hundreds of dollars on gallons of vinegar and baking soda.
Plus, if you partner with professionals, you can get the job done in a few hours or less.
You can clean your concrete driveway with a pressure washer by:
- Choosing the right spray nozzle — It would be best if you were selective about the spray pattern of your power washer to avoid unnecessary driveway damage.
- Picking the best PSI — Concrete driveways are suited to pressures between 1500 and 3300 PSI.
- Selecting the right time to get started — It’s best to begin on a bright spring or fall day to prevent shadows, ice or heat from affecting your results.
Pressure washing your driveway won’t be a complex process, but it’s certainly not a fast one. Depending on the size or length of your road, it might take several hours to cover the entire surface area. Tough stains that are deeply ingrained may take even longer. Final estimate? Three to four hours, not including setup or teardown.
Hiring a professional cleaning crew might be a great option if you like the idea of pressure washing but don’t have time to do it yourself. And if you partner with the crew at Jim’s Cleaning, you’re guaranteed a world class outcome!
Clean concrete driveways fast with Jim’s Cleaning
Pressure washing is by far the easiest way to clean a concrete driveway. Not only is it convenient and chemical-free, but it’s incredibly affordable for the average Australian. And when you choose a professional to get the job done, you won’t have to do a bit of it yourself!
Here’s how the team at Jim’s Cleaning manages concrete driveway pressure washing:
- We’ll give you a total estimate before the day of our service. If you’re satisfied with the price tag and ready to rumble, we’ll book a time that works for you.
- Our team will show up at the appointed hour and get started on your concrete driveway. You don’t need to be around while we pressure wash the area, but you’re welcome to stick around and watch. Some people say it’s mesmerising!
- Our trained experts follow all best practices to avoid damaging your concrete driveway. You’ll be amazed at how clean and clear it looks after just one pass!
- Need to pressure wash something other than your driveway? Let us step in! We’ve helped thousands of properties throughout Australia restore bricks, wooden decks and much more.
You can get started with Jim’s Cleaning today to get an immaculate driveway tomorrow. Just request your free quote using our online form to kick off the process today. Need your questions answered first? Ring us at 131 546 to chat about your options.
