When your budget is low and you cannot hire professional services like ours, here are some quick tips to help you clean your own driveway.
With all the tools, nozzles, psi ratings and equipment, pressure-washing can be intimidating. So, whether you want to extend its life or add a little curb appeal, here are some tips to get your driveway clean:
1 - Time it right Pressure washers use a lot of water so it’s best to tackle this job when other water use is light.
2 - Tarp your plants
Concrete detergent can harm plants; before you begin, cover them with tarps.
3- Clean up debris Moving piles of debris with a pressure washer is a waste of time and water, so make sure you remove any object, dirt, leaf, etc. Either by using a leaf blower or a broom
4 - Protect yourself
Always wear safety glasses, hearing protection and close-toe shoes with good traction. A powerful pressure washer can actually cut skin.
5 - Bigger is faster
The greater the pressure washer’s psi rating, the faster the cleaning job.
6 - Do not forget to purge the hose Once you’ve connected the garden hose from the spigot to the pressure washer, squeeze the trigger for roughly 30 seconds this releases the air from the hose and preps the machine for a strong blast.
7 - Choose the right nozzle
Nozzles are calibrated in degrees, and the lower the number, the narrower and more powerful the stream.
8 - Never use a 0-degree nozzle to wash concrete
Pressure washers can deeply damage concrete, but it’ll take some effort. Be Aware.
9 - Experiment on a less visible spot and wash other surfaces first If you hold the nozzle too close to the driveway, the pressure can etch the concrete surface. The distance depends on the power of your pressure washer and the nozzle you’re using. Try experimenting on an inconspicuous spot and see how close you can get without damaging the concrete. 10 - Use a detergent Concrete detergent is incredibly effective and the results end up looking so much better.
11 - Spot-treat stains
spot-treat any oil stains.
12 - Start at the top
Start at the high end of your driveway and work your way down.
13 - Work in small sections
Soap and wash in 10 x 10-ft. sections. If you spray your entire driveway with soap all at once, it’ll settle and dry before you can wash it off.
14 - Move toward the edges
Whether you’re applying the soap or washing, start at the center of the driveway and work your way toward the edge. If you’re using a nozzle, sweep the water back and forth.
15 - Extend your reach Get a pressure washer extension hose to make your job easier.
16 - Get a surface cleaner
You can cut time in half by using a pressure washer surface cleaner.
17 - Rinse off your plants
When you’re finished pressure washing, rinse the plants around your driveway with a garden hose.
18 - Wash edges with a nozzle
The surface cleaner doesn’t clean the edges along retaining walls, posts or other structures, so you have to clean those with a nozzle.
19 - Protect your driveway with a sealant Now that you are done a good sealer will protect your driveway, help
it last longer and make future cleaning much easier. Be sure the driveway is dry before you begin.
20 - If in doubts, call an expert!
Here at JEJ, we are here to help, if you are still in doubts about doing this yourself, or dont have the time/equipment, do not hesitate to reach out, we can always help you.
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