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If you are lucky enough to have a home that has a drive attached, then you will know the benefits that come with it. Easy, guaranteed parking space, great storage area and somewhere for those all-important deliveries to name but a few but it is not without some drawbacks and that is usually the fact that every once in a while, it will require some sort of maintenance.
Whether it be an oil stain, a rust stain, paint spills, tyre marks or just that simple discolouration you will need to have the right cleaning tools and cleaning detergent to properly remove all of those stubborn stains.
This may be a simple sweep up of leaves, scrubbing oil stains or removing weeds to a full clean involving lots of work and plenty of dirt. Have no fear it is not as daunting as you may expect.
But I hear you say are there not specialist driveway cleaning companies or a paving contractor on hand that show up and power wash the thing for me and return it to tip top condition?
Of course, there are but this service comes at a premium with the average cost here in the UK of between £8.50-£12.50 per square metre and between $4-$8 per square metre in the USA so there is a lot of advantage financially in tackling the job yourself.
Can All Driveways Be Cleaned
The simple answer is no. There are a variety of different surfaces used in current driveway construction such as block paving, concrete driveways, tarmac/asphalt, resin bound and gravel. All the other driveways listed can be cleaned but some are more durable than others
All of which can be cleaned with the exception of a gravel driveway as it is a loose material and would not withstand the rigours of pressure washing. That said one perfect cleaning material for gravel is, believe it or not kitty litter, baking soda or simple sawdust as it has great absorption even on those hard to remove stains like oil and gasoline spills.
Which Tools Do I Need?
Not all of the surfaces will need all the tools and materials listed but most of these are worth having in your garage or shed for other projects.
- Stiff Bristled Broom
- Wire Headed Broom or Handheld Wire Stiff Brush.
- Sodium Hypochlorite/Bleach.
- Weed Killer.
- Cat litter/ Baking soda.
- Jet Washer/Pressure Washer (although a steam cleaner can also work)
- Kiln Dried Sand.
- Soft broom.
- Safety goggles and gloves.
- Driveway Sealant.
As I said you do not need all of the list for every particular driveway so I will recommend as I tackle each surface in a handy step by step guide.
Block Paving Driveway
This, for those who are not sure are those little bricks that are interlocked together usually in a herringbone pattern or in a random style and come in a myriad of colours although the brindle (red) and charcoal seem to be the most popular here in the UK.
They are laid on a bed of sharp or composite sand and then a fine sand known as kiln dried sand is brush into the cracks which helps to bind the whole structure together.
These blocks, over time tend to accumulate weeds in between them as well as mould and algae which is usually caused by wet conditions and the driveway being somewhat shaded. If you have this problem, then it is easy to resolve.
As with most areas where cars are parked on them, they are prone to grease and oil stains but have no fear they too are also easy to remove with a simple degreaser, a stiff bristled broom and a high-pressure power washer.
Let us start with the green enemy and the weeds, moss and algae. There are a couple of ways to remove them.
An off the shelf weed killer will affectively kill the offending growth at the root but beware this is not an instant fix so if you do have time I would recommend using any of the listed products Top 5 Best Weed Killer for Driveways – Buyers Guides (knotweedremoval.tips) a few days before you intend to tackle the job as it will not only get to the heart of the issue but will make remove them that little bit easier.
Another product that has the same desired result is sodium hypochlorite or what is commonly known as bleach, and this can be a cheaper option that once again takes a couple of days to achieve its goal.
As with the gravel driveway solution you can also use kitty litter, baking soda and sawdust which all acts as a degreaser if left for enough time depending on the type of stain.
You can always bypass this use of chemicals if you like and go straight in with some good old fashioned elbow grease by which I mean you can manually remove any of the offending organic matter by simply scraping it out. The most efficient tool I have discovered is a long-handled wire brush (pictured).
Once you have stains, weeds, moss and algae removed it is time for the water to start. The most popular method is obviously the pressure washer as it is easily the quickest, but you can use a garden hose, stiff bristled broom, and some powdered dishwashing detergent but rest assured this will be a lengthy process that you would never want to repeat.
If you are going to use any form of detergent or degreaser, be sure to follow the safety guidelines and safety goggles are a must to protect your eyes.
If you do use the pressure washer, then please be aware of the mess it creates so please move any items from its range and ask neighbours to remove cars prior to commencing as not only do you run the risk of covering everywhere in a 10-metre radius in grime, but you could inadvertently damage any objects such as cars with debris.
If you are lucky enough to a circular rotation attachment, or as it is sometimes known a surface cleaner attachment, then this is a fantastic tool for large areas, and it does seriously reduce the mess you make.
Again, when using a high or low-pressure power washer, you should always wear safety goggles and protective gloves.
Once you have finished and tidied up then the best advice is to wait for a couple of days for the whole area including the joints to dry out so that you can start the last phase of the project.
Brushing in the kiln dried sand and re-sealing are just as important as the cleaning and whatever you do, please do not skip this part as it will not only make a visible difference but will protect the driveway against the ravages of Mother Earth.
The kiln dried sand is available at most hardware stores or builders’ merchants in 25kg bags, and it does go a long way so don’t be tempted to overbuy. This is simply swept into the joints between the blocks with a soft bristled broom.
It may take you some time depending on the size of the job but once you are finished it will make the driveway look almost brand new again.
The very last phase which should be done on the same day that you brush in the kiln dried sand is to seal the driveway.
There are a number of driveway sealants you can use but my advice is to also purchase a pump sprayer (pictured) as not only does this give you great, even coverage but also saves you time.
If you do use a sealant, please read the manufacturers advice as not all have the same methods of application or drying time, but the usual guidance is to wait two days before parking on your lovely new looking driveway.
Concrete Driveway
This is not too dissimilar to the process for any hard surface. The weed removal is the same as is the grease and oil removal and once those are done you can move directly into the jet washing or hand scrubbing phase.
One word of advice if you are using a pressure washer is to use the widest nozzle attachment and do not get too close to the concrete as it can leave marks which in turn become just as hard to remove as the original dirt and grime.
Again, if you do have the surface cleaning attachment then use this as it will reduce the amount of time carrying out the job as well as the tidying up.
Concrete can also be sealed and there are some specific products targeted at this so please look at The Best Concrete Sealers of 2022 – Tested by Bob Vila for the latest information.
Asphalt Driveway
With all of our driveways there is an element of preparation and asphalt is no different. However due to the texture of it asphalt can crumble and break up easily in comparison to the others on our list.
The older and more used driveway will obviously have more wear and tear involved so we are going to use a gentler method for this one.
Firstly, sweeping up is essential to remove any loose material from the affected area, as the last thing you want when the water stage arrives is for there to be too many of those tiny little bits of flotsam and jetsam to be hindering your progress.
Once this is completed you can start the removal of any of the dreaded green stuff and with asphalt you tend to get more lichen than anything else.
For this there are specific moss and algae removal products such as Wet & Forget UK – Mould, Lichen & Algae Remover (wetandforget.co.uk) which has a good reputation in the professional cleaning industry but if you want to use home-based products you can buy at your local supermarket then you can use white vinegar and dish soap.
Just mix them together in water, put into a spray bottle and hey presto cover that lichen. Again, it may take up to two days to fully kill off the spores, but it is worth doing as the next phase will be so much easier and quicker.
Now we are ready for the big guns. Power washer time and as before with concrete please do not aim the nozzle to close to the surface as you do not want to have to replace any missing pieces because you have been overzealous.
As for the sealant of your drive then there are many asphalt-based products on the market, but most advertise themselves as a restorer which will bring the colour back to the asphalt.
This particular one has some great reviews although at the time of writing I have never used it Quick Drying Drive Seal | Thompson’s Weatherproofing | Thompson’s Weatherpoofing (thompsonsweatherproofing.co.uk)
Resin bound Driveway
The newest and in many ways prettiest of the driveways available today. This, like block paving is porous so water will naturally drain through it but as we all know this does not prevent it from becoming stained and grubby and to clean it is a task that takes time and effort.
As the paving contractor would have explained to you the resin bound components mean that it is weed proof, however it has been reported that some seedlings still slip through the net so these can be easily removed by hand or alternatively using one of the aforementioned methods.
It is very important if you are using chemicals to test them on a small, stained area that is not too visible to the passer by.
I would always use some form of cleaning solution prior to breaking out the jet washer. It may involve some scrubbing and scraping but due to the nature of the resin used in construction you will see much better and clearer results if you undertake a little bit of manual work.
Again there are a variety of potions that you can use for this stage that include acid-free detergents such as Resin Cleaner (Resin Bound Cleaner for Driveways) – Pavetuf or the simpler and cheaper warm soap and hot water technique but I assure you it will be worth that extra effort.
Can I use a power washer on resin is a much-asked question and the simple answer is yes but there are some provisions you must be aware of first. You can only use a jet washer with a maximum pressure of 150 bar as any higher could damage the fabric and only use the flat nozzle at a distance of 20cm from surface when spraying.
When sealing the resin bound driveway, we always recommend a water-based sealant as solvents can cause the materials to break up over time.
How to get Oil Off Driveway
Oil stains are the hardest to remove. As with any oil, grease or solvent based stains they will be difficult to clean but are not impossible.
Before you start cleaning you must ensure you are choosing the best methods that are relevant to the type of driveway that you have.
You will have to scrub the stain with either detergent, degreaser or hot soapy water and this method may take some time but to maintain a great looking driveway you will have to take on this stage prior to using any type of pressure or power washer.
Oil stains, paint spills and brake fluid can leave a lasting stain once removed so in this instance you may be able to use the high-pressure setting on your jet washer to really clean the affected area.
Once the oil stain has been removed it is highly recommended to use the relevant driveway sealant in order to maintain the overall appearance of your newly cleaned driveway.
If you do have a fresh spill whether it is oil, paint or just dirt it is good practice to remove it as soon as possible in order to prevent further issues with the maintenance of the driveway.
What Are The Advantages Of Cleaning Driveways?
In all honesty it mainly comes down to aesthetics and the fact that it looks good and can add kerb appeal and value to your home if you are about to put it onto the market.
That said, regular maintenance can improve the life of your driveway and ultimately save you money.
One thing that we recommend after the cleaning process is to seal the driveway with a specific sealant and this definitely has a positive effect not just on how it looks but how long it lasts. It also tackles those very stubborn weeds and makes your driveway much more resistant to mould and a build-up of dirt.
Most driveways over time will accumulate stains ranging from grease, oil, brake fluid, tyre marks, paint spills, bird droppings to years of built-up grime. Oil and rust stains tend to be the most troublesome.
All of these can have a detrimental effect on the surface but one thing that most of us seem to be battling with the most is stubborn weeds. Not only are the unsightly but they are causing damage that will lead to cracks which in turn lead to water penetration and the weakening of the structure.
Here we aim to take you through the best methods of cleaning and maintenance for each type of surface and hopefully save you money whilst sprucing up the look of your outside space as we all want that elusive kerb appeal and wow factor when people look at our homes.
Top Tips for Cleaning Driveways
First and foremost is that if you regularly maintain your driveway with sweeping you will avoid having to go through this whole process too often.
If you use any chemicals for cleaning or sealing, please be aware they may be toxic to some plants in your garden.
If cracks appear then fill them as soon as possible.
Avoiding chemical de-icers in those harsh winter months and using a good old shovel will prevent surface cracks. Try also using sand as an alternative.
If you have a fresh oil stain, then believe it or not cat litter is a great way to remove it. Sprinkle it on and leave for a few days.
Compliments
My favourite part of cleaning my driveway is the almost endless compliments from neighbours and even delivery drivers about how great it looks. When you get asked by someone “who did this and how much did it cost?” you know you have done a good job.
