Concrete Cleaning With A Pressure Washer For Homeowners

Concrete cleaning with a pressure washer is ideal if your driveway, patio or pool deck is excessively dirty. Residential concrete in Palm Springs, California can accumulate efflorescence, rust stains and hard water stains. Pressure washers can reduce or even remove stubborn stains and renew old slabs. These machines are incredibly efficient, but they can cause extensive damage. Using correct techniques for pressure washing, concrete driveways, patios or pool decks will shine again.

How Do You Pick A Pressure Washer For Concrete Cleaning?

Pressure washers come in various sizes and psi ratings, but you do not need a pricey machine to clean a driveway. Electric models can save you a trip to the gas station, but they’re not very powerful. They also require a heavy gauge extension cord to operate. Electric washers typically provide 1400-1700psi, and gas models produce 2000-4000psi. An electric washer can clean concrete if it isn’t heavily stained. Oil stains, tire marks and rust stains are a challenge to remove with an electric model. You can clean a driveway faster with a gas-powered machine that runs at 2000 psi or higher. This is a great homeowner grade pressure washer here.

Pretreating Your Concrete For Easier Clean-Up

Treating your concrete with chemicals can make pressure washing easier. A pre-treatment can help release stains and prepare them to be washed away. Different stains require different chemicals. Here are some common concrete cleaning chemicals and their uses:

• Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) – Is used to treat organic stains such as algae, tannin and leaf stains
• Sodium Hydroxide (Degreaser) – Used to remove oil stains, tire marks and neutralize acid
• Oxalic Acid – Used to remove rust and battery acid stains
• Muriatic Acid – Used to remove efflorescence

Special care must be followed when using these chemicals to avoid damage or injury. Be sure to follow manufacturers directions when using. Use of some of these chemicals may supersede the typical homeowners skill or comfort level. If you have any questions or need advice, feel free to contact us.

The Correct Technique For Power Washing

Selecting the appropriate nozzle and properly holding the wand can prevent damage to your driveway. Nozzle width is designated by color. Here are common colors for nozzles, their spray pattern and proper application:

• Red Tip (0 degree angled pattern) – Throw this tip away! Surfaces can be damaged in seconds with this tip.
• Yellow Tip (15 degree angled pattern) – Used for cleaning stubborn stains. Be sure to watch the distance of your nozzle to the concrete
• Green Tip (25 degree angled pattern) – Perfect for general purpose concrete cleaning
• White Tip (40 degree angled pattern) – This tip is ideal for gentle rinsing of loose dirt
• Black Tip (65 degree angled pattern) – This tip is used to draw soap if your pressure washer has a downstream injector

Rain boots, hiking boots or waterproof shoes are handy also since you’ll be surrounded by puddles of water. You can use a squeegee to move the water to the street if it pools up in low spots on the driveway. Keep the wand 12 to 18 inches from the surface while you’re spraying, and move the spray back and forth as you move. To avoid damaging your pressure washer, never let in run more than a minute or two without squeezing the trigger. If using a surface cleaner, minimize overlapping an area you’ve already cleaned. Excessive overlapping can cause damage.

Post-treating Your Concrete For Easier Clean-Up

After you have finished power washing, there’s one more thing you can do to make your concrete pop. Post-Treatment is the application of a concrete brightener after pressure washing. Sodium hypochlorite is recommended post-treatment chemical. To apply, mix ordinary liquid pool chlorine and water at a 1:1 ratio in a bleach rated pump up sprayer. Apply a thin layer to your driveway, pool deck or patio. Use caution near shrubbery or grass as sodium hypochlorite can kill vegetation. Post-treatment will brighten your concrete and help conceal any patterns left during the washing process.

In Conclusion

Pressure washing is an important part of home maintenance. The process can differ depending on the age, type of surface and even region of the country. This article is based on the process ShinePro Window Cleaning uses in The Palm Springs and Palm Desert area. If you call The Coachella Valley or Redlands and Beaumont, California your home, call us for your exterior cleaning needs!