Things to know about driveway washing

Most homeowners rarely pay attention to their driveway. Many feel that, like any hard surface, driveways are built to take the abuse from foot traffic, oil stains, paint splatters, and rust, never thinking that they would have to maintain it. Some homeowners just don’t know how to clean their driveways and may not even know where to begin.

Usually, homeowners hire a pressure washing service to take care of their driveway but have no idea what that pressure washer is doing to their driveway. And by the time the job is over, the homeowner has been charged crazy prices for chemicals and methods that may not have been necessary.

Understanding how driveway washing works can help a homeowner determine what kind of pressure-washing service they need for their driveway. The more you understand the stains that plague your driveway and what it takes to clean them, the better you can direct a professional in the right direction and save yourself some money.

The various types of driveway issues and how to fix them

Motor oil, brake fluid, and gasoline spills are more visible on concrete than asphalt, but it’s imperative to promptly clean them off both types of driveways to prevent severe stains. If not addressed promptly, auto-related oils and solvents can interact with asphalt’s petroleum base so that it deteriorates and softens. First, to fix this, first soak up as much of the fresh spill as possible with an absorbent product, such as kitty litter. Give it a few hours to absorb the excess spill, then scoop up the litter and sweep the area. Afterward, you can hire a professional pressure washer to spray a biodegradable cleaning product on the affected area and pressure wash it to rinse it away.

With dirty driveways, first, sweep away loose dirt and bits, then dampen caked-on mud and let the water soak in a few minutes before using a pressure washer to break away the loosened mud. This is a process you can do yourself, but you can still hire a professional if you find you may not have the time.

With rust, muriatic acid will remove rust stains without much trouble, but this harsh acid requires extra safety precautions when using it. First, you would mix it with water, carefully pour the mixture onto the rust stain and gently scrub the surface of the concrete with a stiff-bristle nylon brush. Then, allow the driveway washing solution to remain on for a few minutes before rinsing away with a garden hose. Heavy rust stains may require two or more treatments. Such a procedure can be hazardous; that’s why it is wise to hire a professional pressure washer to remove the rust for you.

At Benitez Pressure Washing, we offer driveway washing and sidewalk cleaning to help you eliminate those ugly stains and give your hard surfaces the proper cleaning they deserve. We pressure wash sidewalks, patios, decks, and other hard surfaces.