Pressure washing your driveway doesn’t take as long as you might think.
You’ve been looking at your driveway for a long time, procrastinating, but you’ve noticed how filthy it is. It’s heavily soiled with grease, caked-on dirt, and organic matter growing on the surface.
In this article, we’ll explain how long it takes to pressure wash your driveway and the factors that may cause cleaning to take longer, so you’re ready to tackle your driveway once and for all.
Table of Contents - Click to Skip
Hey there, I’m Cody.
A decade of residential and commercial pressure washing led me to start JCS Refresh. Now I can share my knowledge with folks like you.
Reading from Washington State?
Reach out for a free quote and learn more about driveway cleaning services.
Quick answer
Every driveway is unique. The size and condition of your driveway significantly impacts the amount of time you’ll spend cleaning.
In general, pressure washing a small driveway takes approximately 30 minutes to clean and more time if the driveway is extra dirty or large.
Let’s dive into everything deeper.
Factors affecting time
The reality is that some driveways require a great deal of care compared to others.
The time it takes you to clean your driveway will depend on these four factors:
The condition
A driveway with oil stains, heavy grease, and fast-growing mold is much more difficult to clean.
If you haven’t cleaned your driveway in years, it may require additional pre-treatment before you can pressure wash it.
Larger oil stains may need to be treated overnight so that the oil can dissolve and be easily rinsed away.
The size of your driveway
The size is one factor to consider. Most driveways for small families can fit one car and are, therefore, easier to clean.
A driveway accommodating two or more cars means more space and time to clean.
The type of pressure washer that you use
A heavy-duty pressure washer with a PSI of 3000 – 4000 and a flow rate of 4.0 GPM is ideal. You can still use it at lower PSI and GPM levels, but cleaning will take much more time and effort.
If you’re interested in learning more about PSI and GPM, check out our article on what GPM is on a pressure washer.
The cleaning products that you use
Pre-treatment, degreasers, using soap, post-treatment, and sealant are all essential in preparing your driveway for cleaning and preventing future stains.
If your driveway is in poor condition, high-pressure water with cold or hot water may not be enough to remove stubborn stains.
If you want to know what cleaning products to use and how to clean a driveway with a pressure washer, read our ultimate guide.
What is the fastest way to pressure wash a driveway?
Here are the fastest ways to do the job.
Buy a high-quality pressure washer and surface cleaner
It can be costly, but it’s well worth the investment.
Surface cleaners are the most effective tool to achieve a streak-free and damage-free driveway.
Use appropriate cleaning products to treat each stain
We recommend choosing a safe product for the surface, the environment, and your machine. There is no faster way to damage your driveway.
Use driveway-safe concrete cleaners and degreasers if you’re treating oil stains.
Be patient
Some dirt is just harder to clean than others. Take oil stains, for example- you may need to leave cat litter and degreaser on the surface overnight, especially for old spills.
Trust the process and repeat it if you have not achieved the desired results.
Maintain and seal your driveway
Prevention and after-care are the best ways to spend less time cleaning your driveway. Spend a few extra dollars to protect against future stains, and clean your driveway regularly.
Hire a professional
If you don’t want to spend money on a pressure washer you’ll only use occasionally, don’t know which products to use, or simply don’t have the time to clean a dirty driveway, it’s always a good idea to hire a professional. You’ll save money while getting the results you want.
Conclusion
Cleaning a driveway does not take long, but other factors can extend your cleaning time. Invest in quality equipment and driveway-safe cleaning products.
Take your time, do some extra maintenance, don’t be afraid to contact a local driveway cleaning service, and keep your driveway clean and accident-free all year.
Thanks for reading!
