Short answer
To clean a driveway, clear and sweep it, deal with weeds and stains first, apply a cleaner suited to the surface, scrub or pressure wash, then rinse. The right method depends on what the drive is made of: plain concrete is the most forgiving, block paving needs its joints protecting, and tarmac and resin need gentler treatment.
Identify the surface first
Common driveway surfaces include plain concrete, imprinted or patterned concrete, block paving, tarmac and resin. Each reacts differently to water pressure and cleaning products, so it is worth knowing which you have before you start.
If in doubt, look at the edges and any cracks. Concrete is uniform and hard. Block paving is made of individual blocks with sand between them. Tarmac is black or dark grey and can feel slightly soft in hot weather. Resin bound drives have small stones set in a clear binder. This guide covers the general method and concrete in detail; for the other surfaces, see our dedicated guides to block paving, tarmac and resin driveways.
Get the drive ready
Move cars, bins and anything else off the drive and pick a dry day. Check where water will drain, keep run-off away from neighbours' property, and cover nearby plants if you are using a cleaning product. Sweep the whole area to remove leaves, grit and loose dirt; washing a drive covered in debris just pushes mud around.
Pull weeds and moss out of cracks and joints, and treat oil marks separately before the main clean. Our guide to removing oil stains from a driveway explains how.
How to clean a concrete driveway
- Wet the surface with a hose.
- Apply a driveway or concrete cleaner, diluted as the label says. Test it on a corner first to check it does not discolour the surface.
- Leave it for the contact time the manufacturer recommends, without letting it dry out.
- Scrub in sections with a stiff yard broom, paying attention to tyre tracks and the area by the gate or garage, where dirt builds up.
- Rinse thoroughly with a hose, or with a pressure washer using a fan nozzle or rotary surface cleaner, working from the top of any slope downwards.
- Let it dry and check it in daylight, then repeat on any patches that still look dirty.
Using a pressure washer safely
Plain concrete generally copes well with a pressure washer, but technique still counts. Hold the lance at a low angle and a steady distance, keep it moving and overlap each pass so you do not leave stripes. A rotary surface cleaner attachment gives a more even finish on large flat areas. Avoid a pinpoint nozzle, which can etch the surface and expose the stones in the concrete.
Imprinted concrete is usually coloured and sealed on the surface, so high pressure can strip the sealer and fade the colour. Use a lower setting and test first. Wear eye protection and sturdy footwear, keep the jet away from people, pets, windows and car paintwork, and never point it at outdoor sockets or lights.
Common mistakes
Cleaning in hot sun, so products dry on before they have worked. Mixing different cleaning products, which can be dangerous. Using bleach or acid without knowing how the surface will react. Pressure washing block paving at close range and blowing out the joints. And cleaning half the drive one weekend and the rest the next, which can leave a visible line between the two.
When to call a professional
A professional clean makes sense for large or heavily stained drives, for imprinted or resin surfaces where a mistake is costly, or if you would simply rather not spend a weekend behind a pressure washer.
We clean block paving, tarmac, resin, concrete and imprinted driveways using professional rotary surface cleaners, adjust the pressure and cleaning solutions to suit the surface, treat stains separately and re-sand block paving with kiln-dried sand. We usually need access to an outside tap.
Rather have it done for you?
Block paving, tarmac and resin driveways cleaned, weeded and re-sanded. Family-run by Jason and Lucas Prior, covering south Essex.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best thing to clean a concrete driveway with?
A cleaner made for driveways or concrete, applied as the label directs and scrubbed in with a stiff broom, followed by a thorough rinse. A pressure washer helps with the rinse and heavier dirt.
Can I clean my driveway without a pressure washer?
Yes. A suitable cleaner, a stiff broom and a hose will clean most driveways, though it takes more effort on heavily soiled areas.
How often should a driveway be cleaned?
It depends on trees, shade and use. Regular sweeping keeps on top of dirt, with a deeper clean whenever moss, algae or staining start to build up.
Related guides
- How to remove oil stains from a driveway: what to do with a fresh spill, how to tackle older marks on concrete and block paving, and what never to pour on a drive.
- How to clean a resin driveway: routine care and gentle washing for resin bound and resin bonded drives, and the products and tools to keep away from them.
- How to clean a tarmac driveway: a gentle cleaning method for tarmac, plus how to deal with moss, oil and the risks of high pressure and hot weather.
- How to clean block paving: step-by-step cleaning for block-paved drives and paths, including how to pressure wash without blowing out the joints.
- What affects the cost of driveway and patio cleaning: the factors that change a driveway, patio or jet washing quote, including surface type, condition, re-sanding and sealing, and how to compare quotes.