How To Pressure Wash Your Driveway Safely And Effectively During Spring
Springtime is finally here and it’s the perfect time to start your outdoor maintenance tasks that you’ve been putting off throughout the winter. Now that the weather is much better, you no longer have an excuse to put them off.
These tasks may include cleaning the gutters, ensuring the drainage systems are running efficiently, and trimming your garden. Likewise, you may need to inspect your roofing if it needs any repairs. But one of the things that should be on top of your priority list is preparing your driveway for the new season.
Daily traffic, snow, rain, and cycles of freeze-thaw can diminish the state of your driveway. Also, it’s highly likely that moss, grime, and mold have been growing and building up steadily all winter. There may also be some cracks here and there in the concrete.
Keeping your driveway at its best and sparkling clean is not a simple job. It can even be quite risky at times, especially after winter. Fortunately, with a bit of hard work and the proper tools, you can achieve a spotless driveway and increase your property’s value at the same time.
What You Need To Check
Once the snow starts to melt and springtime sets in, see where the water from thawed snow usually collects. Doing so will provide you with an idea of the uneven surfaces of your driveway that you need to repair. Likewise, you also need to inspect it for cracks, potholes, and other winter damages. Try to take photos using your smartphone so that it’s easier for you to spot the defects during repairs.
Keep in mind that tackling all of these before the spring or summer rains come is important in order to prevent further damage and headache. You want to keep the rain from entering pavement cracks that appeared due to winter damage since it can create potholes and cracks.
Moreover, you should also check your driveway’s perimeter for any unwanted weed growth and utilize an edging garden tool to clean the edges up. You may either spot-patch certain areas or repave your driveway entirely, depending on the severity of the winter damage. Consider having an expert assess it first if repaving is necessary.
Why Should I Use A Pressure Washer To Clean My Driveway During Springtime?
The top-performing gas power washers – February 2020 can eliminate mold, debris, mud, and a lot more from a wide range of surfaces. These powerful machines release water at high pressure, making it a convenient tool for renewing the brick, asphalt, or concrete of your driveway, particularly after severe winter months.
Moreover, pressure washing your outdoors presents numerous benefits:
- Pressure washing is time-efficient, cost-effective, and provides the best cleanliness level on outdoor spaces. It’ll leave your driveway looking new again, which is an enticing element if your property is up for sale.
- You can prolong the lifespan of your driveway with regular washing and upkeep. Using a pressure washer can eradicate the buildup of grime, filth, moss, and mold over time, which tends to grow during spring and summertime.
- Power washing your surfaces can help prevent weed growth from the cracks or damaged areas of your driveway. Also, after you’re done blasting away dirt, consider applying a coat of sealant to protect it and prevent further damage for the entire year.
- This method of washing your driveway is eco-friendly since you don’t need to apply harsh chemicals to achieve the best possible results. Although there are detergents and cleaning solutions that are gentle and will not harm the ecosystem, it’s advisable to never use chemicals when pressure washing your driveway.
- Getting rid of salt, weeds, moss, and filth can boost the curb appeal of your property. It will not only beautify your home’s outdoor area, but it’ll also increase its value and prep it for some spring landscaping.
How To Properly Power Wash Your Driveway
You can clean off your concrete driveway easily with your power washer and proper safety gear. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Prep your driveway and the area surrounding it
Use a large stiff broom to sweep off any debris and filth on the surface. Also, make sure to cover nearby doors, walls, and anything that missed debris can damage with a tarp or plastic sheeting.
Step 2: Degrease the surface of your driveway
Next, apply degrease on the surface to help break up the stubborn stains. Some power washers come with a tool that you can attach to the unit for the degreasing process. If not, you may use your stiff brush to scrub the degrease onto the concrete surface.
Step 3: Prepare your unit
After degreasing your driveway, it’s time to prepare your cleaning equipment. Make sure to attach the right tip onto your power washer. If you’re unsure which one to use, consult the manufacturer’s manual for your unit.
Afterwards, connect your spray wand to the device itself with a garden or pressure hose for the water supply. And then load your machine with a mild and environmentally-friendly detergent, specially designed for your machine.
Keep in mind that every pressure washer model is different. That’s why it’s vital to read and understand the instructions in the owner’s manual thoroughly.
Step 4: Protect yourself
Once your equipment is ready, protect yourself by putting on your safety gear. Make sure you won’t acquire any injuries from the detergent and flying debris by wearing eye protection, closed-toe rubber boots, and rubber gloves.
Step 5: Wash your driveway
Begin power washing at the lowest setting, from the nearest end to let the water flow down the entire driveway. Point your unit’s sprayer wand at the surface and move in a back and forth motion. Overlap every stroke by at least 5 to 8 inches. When you’re done covering your driveway with detergent, let it sit for about 10 to 25 minutes, ensuring that it doesn’t dry up.
Step 6: Rinse the surface
Before rinsing the detergent off, change your wand tip to a high-pressure one and switch the setting of your washer to rinse mode. And then apply the same technique you utilized with the detergent. This allows washing away both the stains and the soap off your driveway. If the stains are heavier, slowly overlap while sweeping closer together to apply more pressure.
Step 7: Seal any cracks
After drying, seal your driveway of any cracks you find to prevent further damage in the future. Use an extended paint roller when applying the sealer and wait at least 24 hours before using your driveway.
Additional Tips
- Utilize the green tip for washing your concrete driveway. Both the yellow and red tips are ideal for small areas and will blast the concrete’s top off. On the other hand, the black and white ones are ideal for washing sidings, cars, etc.
- Consider using the turbo nozzle to prevent streaks of dirt. This inexpensive attachment rotates water and cleans larger areas and will not leave your surfaces with lines.
- Never try removing coatings or sealers with your power washer. You may see yourself concentrating on a small area too much, which can blast the concrete’s top off and leave it with etch marks.
