Paved driveways become a magnet for oil stains, mud and thick layers of grime. The porous concrete absorbs stains so that even regular rains or water rinses don’t get it perfectly clean. Although a power washer provides a quick and reliable way to get rid of the worst of the dirt, you can clean your driveway acceptably well without one. Scrubbing the driveway takes a bit more time and effort, but it only needs to be done once or twice yearly to keep the driveway looking nice. Despite what most homeowners have been led to believe, the cost of new driveway Perth doesn’t need to be exceptionally high.

Sprinkle a thick layer of sawdust or kitty litter on any grease or oil stains. Leave the sawdust in place for 12 to 24 hours to absorb as much grease as possible. Sweep it up and dispose of it.

Sweep the entire driveway to remove any surface dirt. Sweep out any cracks so the dirt doesn’t run down the driveway when you wash it.

Spray the entire driveway with water using a garden hose sprayer.

Dissolve 2 ½ ounces of washing soda in a gallon of hot water. Alternatively, sprinkle powdered dishwashing detergent over the entire driveway.

Dip a deck brush into the hot washing soda water and scrub the driveway, rewetting the brush as needed. If you use dish detergent, dip the brush into a bucket of hot water and scrub the detergent into the pavement.

Rinse the driveway with clear water after it’s clean. Avoid rinsing the water into nearby grassy areas, as a high concentration of detergent can damage plants.

Things You Will Need

• Sawdust or kitty litter
• Broom
• Garden hose and sprayer
• Washing soda
• Dry dish detergent
• Bucket
• Deck brush

Tips

Wash driveways on overcast days so the pavement doesn’t dry out quickly.
You can use trisodium phosphate cleaners for extremely dirty driveways, but be aware this is a harsh chemical that is more damaging to nearby plants than detergent.