As a homeowner, you’re probably worried about the stains being stuck on your concrete driveway. Whether they’re dirt, grease, or oil, all of these stains aren’t only unattractive, but they also don’t improve your home’s curb appeal. When this happens, your primary option is to get your driveway pressure-washed.
Typically, pressure washing can be an excellent way of removing stains to restore your concrete driveway into its pristine condition. However, using a pressure washer for cleaning purposes can be challenging if you don’t know how to operate it in the first place. Failing to use a powerful water spray may cause accidents and damage to your property. These are some reasons why pressure washing in Sarasota FL or wherever you may be located is usually best handled by professionals.
But if you want to do pressure washing yourself safely, read this post to learn how to pressure wash your concrete driveway in four steps.
1. Gather All The Materials You Need
The first step in pressure washing your driveway is preparing all the materials needed for the task. With the necessary materials in place, you can start and finish the pressure washing process as smoothly as possible. The common materials needed for cleaning your home’s entrance with pressure washing may include:
- a pressure washer
- a pressure washer detergent
- a soaping nozzle
- a rotary nozzle
- a broom
- a stiff brush
- a 50-foot garden hose
- safety gloves
2. Get Your Driveway Ready For Pressure Washing
After gathering all the materials needed, the next step is getting your driveway ready for pressure washing. Sweep away all the dirt and other debris using a broom in the area. Make sure it’s free from obstructions, so you can pressure wash it entirely and thoroughly.
Once the entrance is clean, work on how you can protect your doors, windows, and walls near your driveway from pressure washing. It’s best to cover them with plastic sheets and seal them with painter’s tape to keep them from getting damaged during the cleaning process. The pressure washer releases water with force. Hence, there’s a good chance your doors, windows, and walls may get damaged if they’re not covered.
3. Prepare The Pressure Washer
When the driveway is ready, it’s time to prepare your pressure washer. If your equipment comes with a manual, don’t forget to read the procedures. Follow all the instructions to make sure you use the pressure safely and adequately. After familiarizing yourself with the user manual, consider the following preparation steps:
- Connect the spray wand for the detergent.
- Attach the wand and the hoses to the pressure washer.
- Connect the garden hose to the equipment to ensure adequate water supply.
- Put the detergent tube attached to the washer to the detergent container. By doing this, you can mix the detergent and water through the water stream of the spray wand.
4. Begin Pressure Washing
After connecting all the hoses and other essential attachments, you can begin pressure washing. However, it’s critical to note that this cleaning process can be dangerous. If you’re unfamiliar with how the equipment works, you may end up injuring yourself or causing damage to your home. So, you need to be extra careful when handling the pressure washer. Here’s how:
- Apply detergent by attaching the low-pressure soaping nozzle to your sprayer. That way, you can soak your home’s concrete driveway with detergent. Allow the soap to sit on the surface for at least five minutes.
- After soaking up the concrete with detergent, it’s time to blast the soap away with a pressure washer. Change the soaping nozzle with the 25-degree one. Turn the machine on and pressure wash all the stains out. Make sure to hold the handle down, spray in a sweeping motion, and keep a safe distance while doing so.
- Continue spraying the concrete with a pressure washer until all stains are removed. If the stains are difficult to eliminate, adjust the water pressure safely to flush away the remaining debris to ensure a thorough clean.
- Once it’s done, reseal your concrete driveway’s four edges with a sealer to prevent stain buildup and make your outdoor area new again. Let the sealer do its magic by leaving it in the concrete for at least 24 hours. After a day, your driveway is ready to accommodate your car for parking.
Bottom Line
A clean or stain-free concrete driveway can enhance your home’s curb appeal. But when it’s filled with dirt, grease, oil, and other stains, it becomes an eyesore that you need to take seriously. To make your driveway look as good as new again, keep the information mentioned above in mind and get started with pressure washing. Knowing how to operate a pressure washer correctly and safely will make a huge difference in cleaning your entrance and improving your property’s overall appearance and value.