The best thing about pressure washer surface cleaner is that it gives you more water pressure than the regular garden hose. And the main advantage of using this pressure washer cleaner is that it will give your driveways more effective cleaning than the traditional method.
We all need cleanliness around our homes, which is the only reason there is a need to cleanto clean the driveways along with the whole home. Now, you can wash away the dirt, oil stains, and grime effectively and quickly with the help of a pressure washer and different detergents and chemicals.
Remember that you know enough about using the pressure washer surface cleaner. This post will discuss how to pressure wash a driveway with a surface cleaner.
How To Pressure Wash A Driveway With A Surface Cleaner? Why is it necessary?
There are some reasons why power washing your driveway is necessary.
· It prolongs the life of the driveways and enhances safety.
· It improves the property value.
· It prevents the surface from cracking.
· It prevents the harmful growth of mold, algae, or mildew.
· It is very effective, fast, and, most importantly, long-lasting.
Equipment needed for cleaning driveways
· Pressure washer extensions
· Hose
· Safety glasses
· Closed-toed shoes
· Gas or electric pressure washer
· Broom
Materials needed
· Extra fuel
· Chemical solutions for cleaning
· Duct tape
· Heavy-duty plastic or tarp
Later we will discuss these materials and tools in detail.
What things are necessary to pressure wash a driveway?
Here we are discussing how we have to pressure wash a driveway. We should have all the things needed for this type of cleaning method. So you should have the right equipment or products because your work is incomplete without them.
Pressure washer
The first thing which is very much necessary for this purpose is the pressure washer, and it must be of high quality. It must deliver up to 3,000 pounds per square inch of water. Here the pressure is measured in the unit of PSI. So when the PSI is higher, the pressure of water is also higher. It effectively cleans the driveways.
Cleaning agents
With the help of pressure washers, you can effectively clean the driveways, but you can see some stains, grime, or dirt. It cannot be cleaned only with water. So we need some cleaning agents. The cleaning agents must be the solution, detergent, or soap. So after putting some water with the pressure, we should sprinkle some detergent or cleaning solution.
It is very much helpful in losing up all the grime, grease, or dirt. With the help of these types of solutions, it can easily remove stubborn stains in the market. Some cleaning agents are available that are specially made for driveway pressure washers.
Pressure washer hose
You must also have a pressure washer hose, but you can use a garden hose if you do not. The length of the hose must be 50 ft so you can use it for a long distance.
Cleaning brush or broom
We all know very well that before using the pressure washer, we must clean the surface with a broom or a brush. It is necessary to scrape away all the grime and dirt from the surface to ensure that the broom’s bristles must be hard. The reason is that it would effectively clean the surface.
Plastic sheets or bags
Before using the pressure washer, ensure all the surrounding areas are covered with the plastic sheet. For example, if you have a plant around the driveways, cover it with a plastic sheet.
Safety gears
As we are using high-pressure water, there is the danger of getting your hands, feet, or eyes injured. So, for this purpose, you must wear safety gear such as shoes made up of rubber, long pants, and long sleeve shirts. Conversely, you must have gloves, safety goggles, and something to cover your ears.
Painter’s Tape
The painter’s tape is necessary because it will protect your plastic sheets. Therefore, water will not enter into other things.
What are the tips for pressure washing concrete
· Start the work with low pressure
· Wear long pants and rubber shoes
· Also, wear safety goggles and gloves
· Do not get too close to the nozzle; keep it at a distance
· The cleaning process can be improved by hiring a professional pressure washer.
· If you use a pressure washer of gasoline, do not place it in tight spaces.
· Do not point the device in front of yourself or other people.
· Move slowly and steadily while washing the driveway
· You should keep the extension cord far away from the water.
· It is necessary to use a degreaser while washing a concrete surface.
Preparing your pressure washer For cleaning driveways
Most pressure washers come with an instruction manual. If your device has a manual, you should always follow those recommendations. However, if, due to some reason, you cannot get the instruction, then I will describe some general guidelines. You should follow these to prepare your pressure washer for use.
First, connect the spray wand to the hose of the washer. You should connect the garden hose to your device when it is connected. It is necessary because it will give you a continuous water supply. In the end, select the pressure washer nozzle according to the requirements.
If you are applying any detergent or soak, you should use the nozzle at low pressure. You can also go for a nozzle made for applying detergent. And on the other hand, if you are cleaning the concrete surface, you should switch to the high-pressure nozzle.
How can we remove oil or other stains from the concrete
It is better to go for a commercial grade surface cleaner degreaser to remove different stains, oil, or rust stains. But if you cannot get that, you can also use a homemade degreaser. In some machines, an attachment tool is also available for applying the degreaser. But on the other side, you can also use a broom to scrub the degreaser on the stains.
Concrete degreaser (homemade)
· Baking soda
· Borax
· Vinegar
· Hot water
We all know that baking soda can dissolve all oil and greasy stains. Therefore, first of all, sprinkle the baking soda on the particular stain. Wait 5 minutes, then put the white vinegar on the baking soda.
Here, you will observe the fizzy bubbles. Wait for several minutes, and then put the borax on that mixture. On the other hand, if you are particularly removing the rust stains, you can apply lemon juice or white vinegar. Wait for about 15 minutes, and then scrub with the brush.
How to pressure wash a driveway with a surface cleaner?
First, start at the highest end and take the washer in a particular direction. We know the water is emerging with great pressure, so it is the best way to deep clean the driveways and concrete surfaces. Do not take the pressure nozzle in front of you. Instead, its direction should be towards the ground. Then you have to pull the trigger.
Ensure you are holding the hose some distance from the surface. Maintain that distance throughout the whole process. It is good to maintain the horizontal direction just as you clean the surface in a sweeping motion.
Also, move and cover all the surfaces with each stroke of water. It is time to cover the whole surface with a pressure washer cleaning solution. Then wait for the solution to set for about 30 minutes.
If you observe that the concrete surface is drying, then you should respray it. Now replace the low-pressure nozzle with the high-pressure nozzle. For your information, the high-pressure nozzle is also called a 25-degree nozzle or yellow-tip nozzle.
Also, remove the siphon from the soap dispenser so the spray wand would not suck up the soap. Then start the process by pressing the trigger and again maintain that sweeping motion.
Wash the surface by slowly moving from one side of the driveway to the other. Spray the next stroke after 6 inches. A great tip is to start washing from the top of the driveway to the end.
Using cleaning agent
Then apply the cleaning agent on the surface and wait for some time. It is very much helpful in loosening up all the stains, grime, or dirt from the surface. Some devices come up with a brush attachment, but if it is not available, you can use a broom to scrub the surface.
Rinsing the surface
Normally, we use different chemicals or detergents while cleaning the driveways with the pressure washer surface cleaner. So it is very much necessary to rinse it afterward. So after cleaning the driveway with the detergent or any chemical, rinse it with simple water with surface cleaner.
Then wait for the driveway to dry. Many experts recommend using a sealant on the driveway. The reason is that it prevents the surface from future stains.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your driveways is very much necessary because not only does it look clean, but it also prevents your vehicle from slipping. While using the driveway, the surface might become greasy or get dirty and messy stains.
So cleaning it becomes crucial. In this article, we have discussed how to pressure wash a driveway with a surface cleaner. First, we discussed why it is necessary to clean the driveways, and then we talked about the tips for cleaning the area. Ensure you have all the chemicals and tools for the whole process.
