How To Clean A Concrete Driveway?

A driveway is a road that leads to a road of the house from a public street. It magnetizes the oil stains, mud, and dirt while you park a car. It is easy to clean the dirt or trash but oil stains cannot be easily removed.  There are various methods to clean a concrete driveway such as pressure washing with surface cleaner or through chemical concrete cleaners.

The concrete cleaner will help to remove the stubborn stains. Your driveway is the first place in your house that people notice when they come. Your driveway must be clean for the extended life of your driveway.

Driveways are the main and important parts of your house. Before start cleaning, you must know how to clean a concrete driveway. As concrete is an absorbent surface that soaks stains on the driveway.

Clean driveway surfaces daily to enhance the beauty of your home. Whenever the spill dropped out, immediately wash it before the concrete absorbs and leave stubborn stains. Usually the oil leaks from motor vehicles and cars that leave stains and cannot be washed easily.

Step-By-Step Guide To Clean A Concrete Driveway

Following are few tips and techniques about how to clean driveway,

1. Clean Trash First

Take away all the trash from the driveway including the branches of tree and leaves. You can clean leaves with the blower or can sweep up as well. Trim overgrown trees that are overhang in the driveways. This will lessen the garbage on your driveway.

2. Proper Washing Is Very Important

A simple concrete cleaner is made from soap and water that works efficiently. Just put a few drops of dish soap into a bowl and pour it with water for cleaning. After that dunk a hard brush and start scrubbing the driveway in a circular motion.

First, wash the backside area so that dirty water runs off through the slop of the driveway easily. Use pipe for washing the driveway so all soapy water can rinse.

3. It’s Time To Clean Oil Stains

If you park your vehicle on the driveway then it is obvious that there are oil stains too. Before washing with water apply a few quantities of degreaser to the stain and leave it for a few hours. Degreaser will soak up all stain and if the stain is fresh then you can mix water in the degreaser then apply.

For older stains put degreaser directly for few hours and then scrub it with a wire brush. you can also use dishwashing detergent to remove oil stains. Spread the powder detergent to the affected area and then rinse off with boiled water. Scrub with a hard-bristled brush but do not use a metal-based brush. These kinds of brushes damage the surface of the driveway.

4. Clean Concrete Driveway With Bleach

By the time the surface of the driveway becomes faded and loses its original color. Clean concrete driveway with bleach and water to get back the original condition of the driveway.

Cleaning with bleach is the best way to remove mildew. Wear gloves when you are cleaning with bleach and also stay away from the bleach from grass and plants. Bleach will make your surface even brighter.

5. Use Enzymatic Concrete Cleaner

Buy an enzymatic cleaner from any hardware store, or any home improvement store. These chemicals work very efficiently even you don’t need to do a lot of work. Just apply the concrete cleaner to the stain and leave it.

You don’t need to scrub or add water the cleaner will wipe out the stain itself. Read and follow the instruction before use. These cleaners may take a few days to eliminate the larger stains. Reapply the cleaner if the stain remains and didn’t wash out for the first time. these cleaners can also remove the pet urine stains easily.

6. Apply Chlorine to Clean Driveway

You can also use chlorine to clean driveway. Chlorine bleach is not only used for laundry purposes but also be used for cleaning the driveway. Simply mix the chlorine with water and make a mixture.

Add the mixture into a sprayer and then spray onto the driveway then wash with water. Wear gloves and protective eyewear because bleach can damage your hands. You can also wear old clothes to protect your arms and legs. 

7. Use Household Products

Many household products can also be used to remove oil and stains. You can apply baking soda, cornmeal, and corn starch. Just apply any of the products on the stain and leave it for a few hours.

While you are applying make sure the stain is wet because it will soak up the oil easily. After that rinse with water and let the place air dry. You can reapply the soda or corn starch if the stain is not diminished.

8. Remove Stains With Cola

Stains can also be removed with cola, simply pour two medium temperature cola on the stain and leave overnight. Cover the stain with the towel and in the morning rinse off with water. If you wash with the pipe then you can easily apply pressure to the stained area.

Another way to wash is to scrub cola with a hard brush to remove the stain quickly. If you want to clean the stain immediately then leave cola for a few hours and then wash it.

9. Buy Power Washer Surface Cleaner

Get the power washer to clean small corners and gaps in concrete driveway. This tool can also be used to remove those stains and dirt that doesn’t remove with scrubbing. Power washer generates a strong stream of water.

Related: How to Clean Concrete Floor in Basement?

Select the accurate nozzle that creates the required force of pressure to remove stains. But make sure to not put direct force to your driveway because it will remove the pieces of concrete. You can easily get the power washer to form any hardware store.

Final Words About Cleaning A Concrete Driveway

The cleaning of the driveway can be a difficult task. But if you follow a few guidelines then you can easily wash it. Undoubtedly, Dirty driveways will decrease the value of your house.