Everyone says to use a pressure washer on concrete but I found a better way

I cleaned my driveway in the Northeast Heights two ways last month. First I rented a big pressure washer for a day, cost me $75. It got the surface clean but left water marks and didn't touch the oil spots. Then I tried a $20 bottle of concrete cleaner from the hardware store and a stiff push broom. I scrubbed it, let it sit for an hour, and rinsed with a garden hose. The chemical cleaner actually broke down the stains and the result was way more even. Has anyone else moved away from pressure washing for basic concrete jobs?

3 comments

3 Comments

stella_baker1mo ago

I mean, pressure washers are way faster though, that's the whole point. You spent an hour just letting the chemical sit, plus scrubbing time. My time is worth more than that. And a good pressure washer with the right tip would have taken care of those oil spots, you just needed a degreaser attachment or something. The water marks you get are usually from using too much pressure and not keeping the wand moving.

the_charlie1mo ago

Totally get where you're coming from. Watched my neighbor blast his driveway last weekend and he finished in like twenty minutes flat. You're right about the wand movement too, I've seen guys leave those ugly streaks because they just park it in one spot. A good degreaser soap makes all the difference for oil, turns it into a quick rinse. Honestly the wait time for chemicals kills me, I'd rather just get it done.

vera_murphy16d ago

The degreaser trick is the real game changer, cuts the scrub time in half.