When you want to pressure wash your concrete driveway, you will want to make sure that you take all of the necessary precautions to safeguard it from damage. This includes using a surface cleaner as well as using a cover before cleaning.
Why You Want a Cover
When you are cleaning concrete and other hard surfaces, it is important to use a cover because the highest best pressure of the water can remove the top layer of the material that is being washed. This can lead to a loss of strength in the concrete and could even cause cracking. A cover helps protect your driveway against this type of damage.
When You Might Want This Cover
If your driveway has not been cleaned in several years and there are many layers of dirt and grime present, then it may be necessary for you to get a cover. The same applies if you have recently had work done on your driveway or if it has been damaged in some way. In either case, it is best to err on the side of caution and get a cover for the driveway before cleaning so that you do not have any damage occur during this task.
What You Need for a Cover
There are several different types of concrete covers that you can choose from when cleaning your driveway or walkway. Some examples include:
Poured covers
A special resin-based pressure washing sealant designed for this task (we call it a “sacrificial sealant”).
Or, if you’re on a tight budget, you can use regular household oil (olive or vegetable oil).
A really good way to protect your concrete and driveway before pressure washing is by using a 50/50 mixture of water and a concrete degreaser.
Best Degreaser for Use before Pressure Washing Concrete
Degreasing your concrete before trying to power wash it is the best way to prevent damage from happening. If you don’t degrease, you risk etching your concrete, which will leave it looking worse than when you started.
To degrease concrete prior to pressure washing, use a product such as Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner ($11). It works great for this because it’s non-corrosive and easy to use. It is recommended letting it sit for about 10 minutes before hosing it off with water.
Using a Degreaser
When using a degreaser, make sure to read the instructions and follow them carefully. Some degreasers require you to dilute them before use, while others are ready for use as soon as they come out of the bottle.
Once you have your degreaser ready, spray it onto the concrete surface in small areas at a time. Do not overspray the area, because this can cause runoff problems. After spraying the degreaser on, wait for 5 to 10 minutes and then scrub with a stiff bristle brush. Rinse well with clean water and then repeat if necessary in other areas.
Other degreasers include, Simply FLC – 00063, Zep Driveway Concrete Degreaser, and Oil Eater Original. With this knowledge in mind get the best pressure washers today from the Giraffetools collections and say goodbye to cleaning contractors.
