How to Pressure Wash a Concrete or Brick Driveway

Identify the driveway before cleaning

Concrete and brick can look tough while their surfaces or joints are vulnerable. Before choosing a cleaning method, identify the material, its condition, and any sealer or coating. Look for cracks, flaking areas, loose bricks, and missing joint material. Get damaged areas assessed before washing them.

Fresh concrete, decorative finishes, permeable paving, and sealed surfaces need the installer’s specific care instructions. A guide for an ordinary, sound concrete slab should not be treated as permission to pressure wash every driveway.

For pavers, check the manufacturer’s care guidance. Belgard warns that power washing can expose aggregate and stresses keeping sanded joints filled. Belgard’s maintenance guide is a useful reference for its products.

Prepare the area and equipment

• Move vehicles, toys, planters, and furniture out of the work area. Sweep up grit and loose debris before adding water.
• Identify nearby doors, outlets, painted trim, and other areas you need to protect from spray.
• Choose a cleaner approved for both the driveway material and its application equipment. Have a brush available for spot treatment.
• Inspect the washer, hoses, and connections. Connect the water supply and purge air in the sequence specified by the machine’s manual.
• Plan where wash water will go. Check local guidance for collecting and disposing of water containing detergent, oil, or other contaminants before starting; do not assume the street drain or lawn is a suitable disposal route.

For an electric washer, test its GFCI protection and keep electrical connections clear of runoff and standing water. CDC electrical precautions.

Clean sound concrete in sections

1. Make a test patch

Use the surface and washer manufacturers’ recommended setting and attachment. Begin well back from the surface with a broad spray, then inspect a small test area. Our nozzle guide explains the different patterns. There is no single PSI number that makes every concrete surface safe.

2. Treat the stain, not just the color

Oil, ordinary dirt, and organic growth may need different products. Select a cleaner labeled for the stain and surface. Follow its dilution, pre-wetting, dwell, and rinse instructions. Work in sections small enough to manage; do not let a product dry on the surface when its label says to keep it wet.

For a fresh oil spill, absorb it before washing rather than pushing it across the driveway. Belgard recommends absorbing spills promptly. A deeply set stain may remain after a sensible clean.

3. Wash with an even pace

Use consistent passes with a little overlap. If using a wand, keep its distance steady; avoid hovering over one patch. A surface cleaner designed for your machine and paving can make coverage more uniform and limit splashing. Kärcher describes how its surface-cleaner attachment works. An attachment still needs a test patch and the correct settings.

4. Rinse and inspect

Rinse thoroughly using the approved method, following your runoff plan. Let the driveway dry before judging remaining discoloration. If you see etching, lost surface material, or lines that are actual damage, stop; more spraying will not repair them.

Use extra care around brick and joints

Brick paving may have mortar joints, loose jointing sand, or polymeric sand. Identify what is present before washing. Do not deliberately blast the joints out as part of a routine surface clean.

Start with the brick or paver manufacturer’s approved cleaner and a brush when that is the recommended method. If pressure washing is permitted, test with a gentle fan and conservative distance. Watch both the face of the paving and the joints.

Inspect the joints afterward. Lost sand can require replenishment with the correct material and installation procedure; damaged mortar needs repair. Belgard’s care guidance emphasizes maintaining filled sand joints. Read its joint-maintenance advice. If you do not know how your driveway is constructed, ask the installer before pressure washing it.

Common driveway questions

Will pressure washing remove every oil or rust stain?

No. A targeted product may help, but a stain can extend below the visible surface. Stop escalating pressure when the cleaning method is not working. Get advice on the material and stain instead of treating discoloration as dirt that simply needs a stronger blast.

Do I need to seal the driveway afterward?

Cleaning does not automatically mean resealing. If the driveway is already sealed, check the existing coating’s maintenance instructions. If sealing is appropriate, follow the product’s preparation and drying requirements rather than applying it to a still-wet surface.

When should I call a professional?

Consider help for deteriorated surfaces, unknown coatings, extensive oil contamination, damaged joints, or situations where you cannot safely contain wash water. Explain the material and condition before asking for a cleaning method.