How to Pressure Wash Your Driveway

A clean driveway instantly boosts curb appeal. Over time, dirt, algae, mold, oil stains, and tire marks build up on concrete surfaces, making them slippery, unsightly, and harder to clean. Pressure washing is one of the most effective ways to restore your driveway—but it needs to be done properly to avoid damage .

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to pressure wash a driveway effectively, what equipment you’ll need, and when it makes sense to call a professional pressure washing service.

Why Pressure Washing Your Driveway Matters

Driveways take a beating year-round. In areas like the Niagara region, freeze-thaw cycles and high summer humidity can promote organic growth and accelerate staining. Regular driveway pressure washing helps:

• Remove built-up dirt, moss, algae, and mildew
  
  

• Eliminate slippery surfaces that pose safety risks
  
  

• Improve curb appeal and home value
  
  

A properly cleaned driveway can make an entire property look newer and better maintained.

What You’ll Need to Pressure Wash a Driveway

Before starting, make sure you have the right tools. Using improper equipment or pressure settings is one of the most common causes of driveway damage.

Equipment Checklist:

• Pressure washer: You don’t need a massive amount of pressure, but you do need quite a bit of flow (e.g. 2,500-3,500 PSI is fine, but you’ll want at least 3.5 GPM) See our article on choosing a pressure washer.
  
  

• Surface cleaner attachment (matched to the flow of your pressure washer. 4in of diameter per GPM of your pressure washer. E.g. a 4GPM pressure washer can handle a 16in surface cleaner)
  
  

• 25-degree spray tip
  
  

• Chlorine and a way to spray it
  
  

• Protective gear (gloves, closed-toe shoes, eye protection)
  
  

 Avoid using a red zero-degree nozzle, as it can permanently etch concrete.

Step-by-Step: How to Pressure Wash a Driveway

1. Clear and Prep the Area

Remove vehicles, garbage bins, and any loose debris. If you would like, you can use a leaf blower to get rid of dirt, leaves, and gravel. This allows the pressure washer to focus on deep stains rather than loose material.

2. Clean Edges, Corners, and Hard to Reach Areas

Your surface cleaner won’t be able to get into tight areas like corners or narrow strips. To avoid having dirty edges, prep them by using a 25 deg tip (green) with your pressure washing gun. Hold it about 6-12 inches above the surface of your driveway and guide it along the edges slowly and smoothly, cleaning about a 3 inch swath. Make sure not to allow the water’s path to drift towards your grass as it could be harmed.

Remember to put on appropriate safety gear before starting. 

3. Pressure Wash Using Even Passes

Attach your surface cleaner and use it with long, straight passes down the length of your driveway being careful to get every part of it. Following this, do a series of passes across the width of your driveway, again, getting to every part of the concrete.

Make sure that the surface cleaner is paired to the flow of your pressure washer. The general rule is 4 inches of diameter for every gallon per minute (GPM) of flow. This means that while a 4GPM gas pressure washer can handle a 16in surface cleaner, a 1.5GPM electric pressure washer can only handle a 6in surface cleaner. While it is possible to skip the surface cleaner and use only the pressure washer’s gun to clean your driveway, this would be exhausting, difficult, unlikely to produce a good result, and would add hours to the process. 

For best results:

• Any time there is water flowing through the surface cleaner, it should be in motion

• Overlap passes of the surface cleaner by a couple inches

• Keep a constant slow walking pace while pushing your surface cleaner

• Avoid stopping in one place
  
  

4. Rinse Thoroughly

Using a wide-angle nozzle, rinse the entire surface of the driveway to get rid of pools of dirty water containing dirt or organic matter that has been loosened by the surface cleaner, but is still sitting on top of your concrete. Start at the highest point, and rinse towards the lowest point.

5. Apply Chlorine

Once the driveway is clean, it is likely that you will still see some amount of streaking or unevenness. This tends to be caused by algae and other organic growth that is still clinging tightly to the pores of your concrete. Chlorine will kill any organics and immediately leave your driveway looking bright, clean, and even.

One part chlorine should be mixed with 5 parts water before being sprayed onto the driveway’s surface with a pump-up sprayer or other appropriate device.This can be left to dry or rinsed away after 15 mins. Do not apply to plants or grass as they can be harmed by this mix. Rinse plants/grass with water both before and after applying chlorine nearby. 

For more information, see our article on chlorine.

Note: Do not expose your skin or eyes to the chlorine. Do not breathe in any chlorine mist. Seek proper chemical handling training before attempting this task. This guide is not comprehensive and not a replacement for real training.  

Concrete vs. Asphalt Driveways

Not all driveways should be treated the same way.

Concrete Driveways

Concrete is the focus of this article. It is durable and handles higher pressure well. However, excessive PSI or improper technique can still cause etching. This is particularly true of newly poured concrete where the “cream coat” on top is easily damaged.

Asphalt Driveways

Asphalt is outside of the scope of this article. It is soft and requires far lower pressure. High PSI can cause serious damage to asphalt. Additionally, asphalt is a petroleum product, so degreasers can damage asphalt’s binders. What we recommend is a very thorough sweeping and rinsing of asphalt surfaces. In the case of oil stains, it is unlikely that you will be able to totally remove them from asphalt, and is generally easier to just recoat the driveway with an asphalt sealer.

Common Pressure Washing Mistakes to Avoid

• Using too much pressure
  
  

• Holding the nozzle too close
  
  

• Skipping post-treatment
  
  

• Washing unevenly, causing striping
  
  

• Ignoring safety precautions
  
  

These mistakes can lead to surface damage, poor results, or personal injury.

How Often Should You Pressure Wash a Driveway?

Honestly, whenever it looks like it needs it. This can vary between every year and every few years. Driveways exposed to shade, heavy traffic, or moisture may benefit from more frequent cleaning, but in either case, you'll be able to see dirt build up as well as feeling the slippery organics. Once you do, you'll know that it's time to clean your driveway.

DIY vs. Professional Driveway Pressure Washing

While DIY pressure washing is possible, professional services offer several advantages:

• Commercial-grade equipment
  
  

• Proper pressure and detergents
  
  

• Faster, more consistent results
  
  

• No risk of surface damage
  
  

• No equipment rental or cleanup
  
  

Hiring a professional pressure washing company ensures your driveway is cleaned safely and thoroughly—especially for large areas or heavily stained surfaces.

Professional Driveway Pressure Washing in the Niagara Region

If you’re looking for reliable driveway pressure washing in Niagara, Blue Wave Exterior Cleaning Inc. provides safe and effective cleaning for concrete and asphalt driveways. Our team uses professional equipment and proven techniques to restore your driveway without damage.

A clean driveway makes a big first impression—let us help you keep your property looking its best.