How to Power Wash a Concrete Driveway
Driveways are susceptible to a variety of stains and marks, including mildew, oil, tire marks and dirt. Keeping a concrete driveway clean is important in preserving the appearance of the home. Scrubbing a concrete driveway on your hands and knees will get the job done, but that is hard work and time-consuming. Power washing concrete is an effective way of cleaning a driveway without the back-breaking work of scrubbing. The water pressure that a power wash produces will clean concrete quickly. Power washers can be rented from most rental stores if you do not own one. Choose a power washer with at least 3,000 psi for cleaning concrete. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Large bucket
- 1 cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) or 4 ounces oxygen bleach
- Water
- Garden hose
- Long-handled scrub brush
- Outdoor faucet
Instructions
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Remove all objects from the driveway. This will allow you to quickly clean the driveway without having to work around obstacles.
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Mix a cleaning solution into a large bucket. Combine 1 cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP) per every gallon of hot water. Use oxygen bleach as an alternative cleaning solution. Combine 4 ounces of oxygen bleach per every gallon of hot water.
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Wet down the driveway with water from a garden hose.
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Dip a long-handled scrub brush into the cleaning solution. Brush a generous amount of the cleaning solution onto the driveway. Scrub stained areas with the scrub brush to loosen the stain.
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Allow the solution to set on the driveway for about 20 minutes. Do not allow the cleaning solution to dry onto the concrete.
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Connect the hose on the power washer to an outdoor faucet or garden hose. Turn on the power washer according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Work from the back of the driveway towards the front. Hold the nozzle of wand about 6 to 10 inches from the surface of the driveway.
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Move the wand from side to side, using a steady motion, to rinse the cleaning solution from the driveway. Use overlapping strokes while spraying the concrete. Go over stains and hard-to-clean spots on the driveway as many times as needed to remove the stain.
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Continue this process all the way down the driveway. Allow the concrete to air dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Cover surrounding plants and landscaping with plastic sheeting to protect them from the cleaning agents.
Cover electrical outlets with duct tape to protect them from water.
Wear rubber gloves and protective eye wear when working with trisodium phosphate.
Wear protective eye wear when using a power washer.
Never aim a power washer at a person. The extreme pressure from the water may cause injury.
Never use a power washer while standing on a ladder.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit brown and white house image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
