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How to Pressure Wash Your Driveway
Refresh Your Driveway With a Power Wash
Erase years of wear and tear from your driveway in just a few simple steps with a pressure washer. Power washing can remove stubborn stains and make an older driveway's concrete sparkle.
Materials Needed:
- broom
- stiff brush
- pressure washer
- pressure-washer detergent
- bottle of spray degreaser
- safety manual
- safety gloves
- plastic sheeting
- painter’s tape
- 50-ft. garden hose
- paint tray
- waterproof sealer
- extender pole
- roller cover
- roller handle
Step 1: Sweep Surface
Clear debris and excess dirt or dust from surface using a broom.
Nothing Says Worse for Wear Like a Dirty Driveway
First impressions run deep especially when it comes to your home's curb appeal. Thus, over time, a driveway can begin to look dirty, dingy and worn. Consider pressure washing it for a fresh, clean look.
Sweep Debris from the Driveway Before Power Washing
The first step in power washing a driveway is to clear debris and excess dirt or dust from its surface using a broom. This also prevents any loose material, such as small stones, to interfere with the pressure washer.
Step 2: Protect Exterior Walls and Doors
Cover nearby exterior walls and doors with plastic sheeting and painter’s tape. This will protect doors and walls from loose debris as well as any accidental paint or stain removal from pressure washer.
Protect Home's Exterior with Plastic Before Power Washing Driveway
After clearing away debris, Step 2 in power washing a driveway is to cover nearby exterior walls and doors with plastic sheeting and painter’s tape. This will protect doors and walls from loose debris as well as any accidental paint or stain removal that could occur from pressure washing.
Step 3: Read Safety Manual
Thoroughly read proper steps pertinent to your specific pressure washer. Each is different and may require special preparation, assembly or attachments.
Step 4: Degrease Surface
Ensure proper cleaning by spraying concrete with bottle of spray degreaser, keeping a distance of 6 inches from surface. Scrub degreaser into concrete using stiff brush or pressure-washer attachment tool.
Step 5: Attach Spray Wand Tip for Detergent
First, select tip designated for washing, often labeled “soap.” Then snap into place at head of spray wand.
Step 6: Attach Hoses
Connect supplied pressure-washer hose and wand to pressure washer. Next, attach 50-foot garden hose to pressure washer’s water supply, then turn on water.
Step 7: Prepare Pressure Washer for Detergent
Place detergent siphon tube, usually supplied with and attached to pressure washer, directly into detergent container. Once pressure washer is crank-started, tube will immediately bring detergent into water stream of spray wand.
Step 8: Spray Detergent
Protect hands with safety gloves, then apply detergent by holding down spray handle, keeping a consistent distance of 8 to 18 inches from concrete. Work your way back and forth in a smooth, controlled manner, overlapping each stroke by 6 to 8 inches. Let sprayed detergent sit on surface for 5 minutes.
Step 9: Pressure-Wash Concrete
Change tip labeled “soap” to tip labeled “25 degree.” Pressure-wash concrete by holding down spray handle, working your way back and forth from one side of concrete surface to the other, overlapping each stroke by 6 to 8 inches. TIP: For tougher stains such as paint, hold tip 3 to 4 inches from concrete surface, moving with slower, nearly still strokes to ensure removal.
Step 10: Seal Concrete
Pour waterproof sealer into paint pan, add roller cover to roller handle, attach extender pole. Next, starting in the middle of area, roller waterproof sealer out from middle to all edges of concrete. Allow 24 hours before parking on surface.
Power Wash Your Driveway: Applying Waterproof Sealer
After the driveway is pressure washed, it helps to eliminate future stains by applying a waterproof sealer to its surface. Pour waterproof sealer into a paint pan, add a roller cover to a roller handle, and attach an extender pole. Next, starting in the middle of area, roll waterproof sealer out from the middle to all edges of the concrete. Allow 24 hours before parking on the driveway's surface.
