Having oil stains, tire marks, mold, and mildew on your concrete driveway will not only affect the appeal of your driveway but will also cause structural damage. This will ultimately lead to increased maintenance and repair costs and diminish the curb value of your home.
Since concrete driveways tend to show dirt faster and get the most impact compared to any other part of the exterior of your home, you need to pay extra attention to it with premium tools. For instance, driveway pressure cleaning can significantly help you eliminate stubborn dirt that even scrubbing can’t.
If you’re on the hunt for 5 expert tips on cleaning a concrete driveway, keep reading this article!
Tip #1: Prepare for Deep Cleaning
First off, you should have particular items with you, such as a stiff broom, bucket, dustpan, garden hose, concrete driveway cleaner, and mop, to get started on cleaning your concrete driveway.
You should then start wiping the driveway to remove dirt and grime. Here, you should also pay attention to the fallen leaves and tree branches and remove them so you have a clear concrete driveway to work on.
Tip #2: Remove Tire Marks from Driveway
The black tire marks can give an unpleasant look to your driveway, and removing them requires a bit of hard work. What you should do is take a high-quality concrete cleaner and degreaser and let it sit on the spots for a few minutes.
However, you shouldn’t let the cleaner dry. Use a stiff bristle brush to scrap the tire marks, and then simply spray water using your garden hose. If the spots don’t remove completely, you may have to repeat this process.
Tip #3: Treat Oil Stains
Oil leaking from the vehicle parked on your concrete driveway or even brake fluid can lead to stubborn oil stains that are quite visible. The quicker you clean these stains, the easier it will be for you to get rid of them.
You will need to absorb the liquid from the surface; for this, you can use clay-based cat litter. After covering the stains with cat litter, you should allow it a few hours.
After the set period, you should sweep the cat litter and then clean the area with water to get rid of the stains too.
Tip #4: Check for Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew can give an unwanted look to your driveway and also cause a weird smell and the driveway to be slippery. However, cleaning mold and mildew is an easy task.
You can use bleach and water to get rid of mildew from the driveway. Don’t forget to wear gloves and take appropriate care. In addition, you can find an outdoor mold killer online, and following the instructions on the label will facilitate you in removing mold or mildew effectively in a few minutes.
Tip #5: Make Small Repairs
Over time, you may notice cracks in your concrete driveway. Replacing the entire flooring can cost you a lot of money and time. Therefore, you should keep a close eye on the cracks and fill the small ones with caulk and the large ones with grout.
This will let you take care of the concrete in the long run and prevent it from major damage while giving your driveway a fresh look.
