Pressure Washing Concrete

[Turbine]

I am getting ready to pressure wash my concrete driveway. Is there anything that I can use to pretreat the concrete to make the pressure washing easier and faster? I am not talking about oil stains, just the normal dirt and grime that make concrete darker over time. Thank you.

 

[Pablo]

I am getting ready to pressure wash my concrete driveway. Is there anything that I can use to pretreat the concrete to make the pressure washing easier and faster? I am not talking about oil stains, just the normal dirt and grime that make concrete darker over time. Thank you.

I always just blow off the loose stuff, now it's wet use an all purpose cleaner of your choice, then PW

 

[Owen Lucas]

I've never used any pretreater though there are special chemicals out there for this. BTW, don't get the pressure washer tip too close to the concrete, you'll live hieroglyphics behind.

 

[#18FAN]

I am getting ready to pressure wash my concrete driveway. Is there anything that I can use to pretreat the concrete to make the pressure washing easier and faster? I am not talking about oil stains, just the normal dirt and grime that make concrete darker over time. Thank you.

What size is the unit you will be using

 

[nomas]

Use the circular spinning driveway thingamajig . They are a game changer .

 

[Pablo]

Use the circular spinning driveway thingamajig . They are a game changer .

Surface cleaner - and that reminds me. I need to replace mine. My NEW PW is way way too powerful for my old one. It turns into a UFO!

A good problem to have but, yeah those things make it FUN.

Here is my old one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076H7SL3L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[4wd]

It always depends what’s on the concrete edge - if nothing - pool bleach and a pump up sprayer … I have pea gravel borders around the concrete - so with a really good rinse it’s no issue …

 

[xspeedy]

The cleaner you use depends on what comprises the “dirt” on your driveway. Is it dirt or is it black algae? For the former, they sell specific cleaners for concrete. You can also mix up a solution of heavy duty cleaner with some pool chlorine and water to use as a pre-treat if you think you have some of the algae in there. Just get it wet with the solution and keep it wet for a several minutes ahead of a good pressure wash. There are many detergents you can also mix in with the water you use to pressure wash if you have a post-pump setup. It isn’t a good idea to run detergents or chemicals through the pump.

https://www.amazon.com/Elemonator-Chlora-Boost-Surfactant-Cleaning-Hypochlorite/dp/B0C9JT7J5K

 

[DemoFly]

A mix of sodium hypochlorite and trisodium phosphate. If you don't want to mix it yourself and elect to spend extra for someone to do it for you, use 30 second outdoor cleaner, found everywhere.

 

[JohnnyG]

Just did mine. It's the rust stains that remain after the cleaning that are the issue down here. A little bit of SNOWCAP handles that pretty well.
Pre-treat didn't help.

 

[Rand]

You can prewet it ahead of time and hose off any major mud etc.. otherwise use the surface cleaner and let it rip.
@Pablo
https://www.directtoolsoutlet.com/product/RY31018VNM
they go on sale for 89-99 often.

 

[Cujet]

I've never had a pretreat help. But I have had great results with a 50-50 mix of 10% pool bleach and Wet-n-Forget applied afterwards.

 

[4wd]

I've never had a pretreat help. But I have had great results with a 50-50 mix of 10% pool bleach and Wet-n-Forget applied afterwards.

That’s 5% sodium hypochlorite - same as the better washer bleach?

 

[Pablo]

Pretreatment with Simple Green and Dawn around the smoker, griddle and grill absolutely helped with the nasty grease spots

 

[ecotourist]

Using a good pressure washer helps too. I've done it with a poor one and a better one, and there is a big difference. You need both pressure and volume.

 

[Donald]

I am getting ready to pressure wash my concrete driveway. Is there anything that I can use to pretreat the concrete to make the pressure washing easier and faster? I am not talking about oil stains, just the normal dirt and grime that make concrete darker over time. Thank you.

Get a round surface washer attachment for pressure washer. They make them for electric and larger ones for gas. Take about 1/4 of the time vs a wand. Maybe dribble some Dawn mixed with water over grease spots.

 

[facility1]

put some Zep industrial strength cleaner (its strong stuff) diluted to about 10 to 1 in pump sprayer, then spray on then let soak for about 5 min. then use pressure washer with just a fan spray nozzle not too close,,lt removed a lot of dirt/grease.

 

[barryh]

Mines a block paved drive but that just coloured concrete anyway. I used sodium hypochlorite sold at the farmers supplies store to get the drive really clean and then keep it that way by spraying with diluted domestic bleach every 4 months. Power washing is not needed every year other than to blow off any debris and the drive looks better than others who only power wash.

 

[hrv]

Mines a block paved drive but that just coloured concrete anyway. I used sodium hypochlorite sold at the farmers supplies store to get the drive really clean and then keep it that way by spraying with diluted domestic bleach every 4 months. Power washing is not needed every year other than to blow off any debris and the drive looks better than others who only power wash.

I spray mine twice a year with wet and forget and it keeps it clean...

 

[Turbine]

Thank you for all your replies!