How To Prepare Your Driveway For Cleaning

It is advisable to remove dirt and stains from the driveway as soon as you notice them. However, most homeowners wait for summer or spring months to wash their driveways simply because algae and moss are more visible then. It is also necessary to choose a cloudy day for the washing to prevent quick drying, which can compromise the cleaning effectiveness. It should take about 1 to 2 hours or an afternoon depending on the size of the space.

Preparing The Cleaning Tools And Equipment

For the best result you will need to have various driveway cleaning tools. You will require the following

• Dish or laundry detergent
• A gallon size bucket

Removal Of Grease Or Antifreeze Spill Stains

Brake fluid, oil and gasoline spills from your car can really destroy the attractiveness of your driveway. Hence, it is very important to remove them early enough to prevent ugly staining of the surface. To clean the grease and oil mess, spray your absorbent of choice onto the stains and leave it for some hours to absorb as much of the oil or grease as possible. Sawdust or kitty litter can be used. You can spray about 2 inches of the absorbent if possible, you may leave it for a full day or 12 hours in order to absorb much of the spills.

Sweeping Off Absorbent And Other Litter Off The Driveway

Collect the sawdust or kitty litter and sweep the entire driveway to remove any loose dirt such as dry leaves, soil particles, mud and other debris. Use a strong stiff-bristled broom that is meant for outdoor works to ensure that all the debris and dirt has been removed from the cracks.

Use The Detergents To Soak And Dissolve The Stain

You can either use the powder dishing washing detergent over the stain or a solution of washing soda and hot water.

• The recommended solution ratio is 2 cups of detergent in a three quarter full bucket of hot water. If your driveway is made of asphalt, it is advisable to strictly use the manufacturers recommended detergents.
• Allow the detergents to sit for approximately 30 minutes, and then scrub the stained areas using the deck brush and the detergent solution
• At last, use a hose pipe at the highest possible pressure to rinse the driveway with clean water.

• For latex paints, use water together with the normal scrubbing powder and scrub the spill with a stiff brush. Use clean water to rinse the surface in order to wash away the spills.

Cleaning Dry Leaves And Organic Litter

Grass from the lawn and falling leaves can accumulate on the driveway making it look unsightly. Apart from that, when left for a long time, they can decompose and leave a stain on the surface. To clean the fallen leaves mess, you need to take them away and sweep the entire driveway. If you notice a brown stain on the surface, use a solution of dish washing powder and a bucket of hot water and scrub off the stain with a stiff brush. Using the hose pipe, rinse the driveway to wash away the dirt.