Cleaning your driveway doesn’t require a pressure washer. By using a soft washing technique, you can effectively remove dirt, mold, mildew, and green stains. This method is simple, affordable, and perfect for areas like San Antonio TX, where driveways are often exposed to humidity and organic growth. Follow these steps to get your driveway looking like new!
Why Use Chlorinating Liquid for Driveway Cleaning?
Chlorinating liquid is a highly effective cleaning agent, available in the pool section at stores like Walmart and Home Depot. Unlike standard bleach, it has a high concentration of sodium hypochlorite, making it ideal for cleaning mold and mildew on concrete driveways. This method is great for homeowners in San Antonio, where the warm, humid climate fosters the growth of mold and green stains. Typically, Walmart has the best price on chlorinating liquid.
1. Prepare Your Driveway for Soft Washing
Start by clearing your driveway of debris such as leaves, dirt, and rocks. A broom or leaf blower makes this step quick and easy. Then, rinse the driveway with a hose to remove surface grime. This prepares the concrete for the chlorinating liquid to penetrate deeply into stains.
2. Mix Your Soft Wash Solution
In a bleach resistant garden sprayer, combine chlorinating liquid and water in a 50/50 ratio. This strength ensures the solution is potent enough to break down tough organic stains. Always wear gloves, goggles, and a mask when handling chlorinating liquid to protect yourself. Getting chlorinating liquid on your skin will cause chemical burns if you don't rinse it off immediately.
3. Wet the Grass and Plants Around the Driveway
Before applying the chlorinating liquid, thoroughly wet the grass and plants surrounding the driveway with water. This creates a protective barrier and minimizes the risk of chemical damage to your lawn or landscaping. The excess water dilutes any runoff, ensuring your plants remain safe during the cleaning process.
4. Apply the Chlorinating Liquid to the Driveway
Spray the driveway evenly with the chlorinating liquid mixture using your garden sprayer. Focus on areas with heavy mold, mildew, or green stains. Let the solution sit for 10–15 minutes to allow it to break down organic material. If necessary, reapply the solution to heavily stained areas.
Many pressure washing companies soft wash driveways that are new (within five years) to avoid etching the concrete. New concrete has a cream layer that naturally wears away over time. Pressure washing concrete prior to the cream wearing away can result in cleaning stripes. It's possible to fix an etched driveway by removing the rest of the cream with a pressure washer, but this is best accomplished with a commercial pressure washer unit.
5. Soft Wash Repeatedly as Needed
After the solution has had time to clean the concrete, assess the results. Repeat the cleaning process on stubborn stains. It's quite common for green stains (lichen) to require multiple applications of sodium hypochlorite. Keep in mind that this soft washing method won’t remove tire marks—those will require pressure washing. However, for general dirt, mold, and mildew, this process works beautifully.
6. Wet Your Grass and Plants Again
After rinsing the driveway, wet the surrounding grass or plants once more to wash away any residual chlorinating liquid. This second rinse is crucial to prevent chemical buildup that could harm your landscaping. Be thorough to ensure your plants are fully protected.
7. Regularly Soft Wash Your Driveway to Keep It Clean
To keep your driveway clean, soft wash it every 6–12 months. Regular maintenance will prevent the buildup of mold, mildew, and green stains, especially in San Antonio’s humid climate. Consider sealing your driveway to make it more resistant to future stains.
Soft Washing: The Easy Way to Clean a Driveway
Cleaning a driveway without a pressure washer is simple and effective using a soft washing technique. Soft washing a driveway won’t remove tire marks, but this approach will tackle most other stains, including mold, mildew, and green stains.
Tough tire stains require a pressure washer, and sometimes the use of a hot water. Read our DIY pressure washing guide if you own a pressure washer or plan to rent one. For best results, consider hiring a hot water pressure washing service to remove tire marks and oil stains.
Want to skip the DIY approach and hire a pressure washing service in San Antonio TX?
Guardian Pressure Washing offers professional pressure washing services in San Antonio and surrounding areas. Contact us to restore your driveway’s appearance!
