How Can I Look After My New Concrete Driveway?
Your new concrete driveway might look brand new and clean when it was installed but over time, sealer can fade and your driveway can become dull and grimy from dirt, debris and oil. After a long winter, cleaning your driveway might be the last thing on your mind. However, keeping your driveway clean will help preserve it in years to come.
While on the subject, we will walk you through the best method of cleaning your new concrete driveway in this article. Whether you have a plain, coloured, or patterned concrete driveway, this method is effective on most concrete driveways.
What Equipment Do I Need?
Luckily, the task requires a few items you may already have lying around in your house or in the garden. In order to clean your concrete driveway properly, you will need the following equipment and supplies:
- Garden hose or a pressure washer
- Baking soda
- Old towel or cloth
- Water
- Washing up liquid
- Stiff brush
- Driveway cleaner
The Cleaning Process
Step 1 – Loosen Any Dirt
Before you go ahead with any detergent or cleaner, first power wash your driveway to remove any dirt and debris. If you don’t have a pressure washer, a garden hose with a spray gun or nozzle will do fine. This will jet water into the depths of the concrete, loosening and shifting any dirt that has gotten stuck and built up over a period of time. We recommend not having the highest setting on your pressure washer as this can actually create marks and wash away any remaining sealer.
Step 2 – Remove Oil Spills & Stains
Once you have power washed the area, the next step is to clean up any oil spills or stains. If you notice any recent oil spills, you can cover the oil spill with some baking soda and leave it for a few minutes before wiping it up with an old cloth. If there are any stubborn oil stains remaining, soak them in washing up liquid and water before attacking it with some elbow grease and a stiff brush. Once the stain has faded, rinse the area thoroughly.
Step 3 – Clear Mossy Areas
Although there are specialised moss cleaners available, you can simply mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda with water to make a cheaper and safer solution. Apply this to any mossy areas. Baking soda is useful at removing moss effectively. It can take up to 24 hours for the solution to kill off moss so we recommend using it only in dry weather conditions. Next, use a stiff brush to remove any remaining traces of moss.
Step 4 – Final Clean
To make your driveway extra clean, use a driveway cleaner to remove the last of the grime. A driveway cleaner is great for regular cleaning and it will save your hands from intense scrubbing. Driveway cleaners can differ in terms of strength and ingredients so it’s best to test the solution on a small patch of your driveway first before using it all over the area. Most driveway cleaners require a final power wash or rinse with plenty of water.
Step 5 – Reseal
The process of cleaning your driveway can end there. As a bonus, we highly recommend resealing your driveway every two to three years. Sealer will refresh its appearance, protect it from the outside elements such as ice and UV rays and make it less vulnerable to future stains. After cleaning, leave the area to completely dry before resealing. This ensures moisture doesn’t get trapped underneath.
Imprinted Concrete Driveways In Wolverhampton
Since our establishment over 30 years ago, we have become the leading installer of patterned concrete driveways in Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas.
No matter how much you clean your driveway, eventually permanent stains and cracks will start to appear. In this case, the best solution is to resurface it. If you’re looking to have a new, improved and curb appealing entrance added to your home or business premises, please visit our website for more information or call us on 01902 764352 for a resurfacing quotation today.