After months of rain, sleet, and snow, it's very likely that your driveway is looking a little worse for wear.
But, with mud, debris, and stains littering your driveway, how do you get it back to looking its best for the start of the spring season?
Here, professional cleaners share their cleaning tips to restore and maintain yours after winter, and make it the most enviable in your neighborhood this spring.
How to clean your driveway after winter
Step 1: Sweep away debris
Before deep-cleaning a driveway ready for spring, you will need to remove any lingering winter debris Karina Toner, cleaning expert and operations manager at Spekless warns. She explains, 'Leaves, dirt, and small rocks can scratch the surface and make deeper cleaning less effective.'
This step is one of the simple things people with clean driveways always do that makes all the difference to the final result.
To remove these, Forrest Webber, cleaning expert and owner of Bear Brothers Cleaning suggests using a stiff-bristled brush, such as the Yocada 18" Heavy Duty Push Broom Brush available at Walmart. Alternatively, you can also use a leaf blower to get rid of leaves and other debris.
Karina reminds us, 'Pay attention to corners and edges where buildup is common,' especially after periods of high wind, heavy rain, and snow.
All prices correct at time of publication.
This broom features an extra-long handle, with stiff and durable bristles that are suitable for use in wet conditions.
This leaf blower is portable and compact, making it simple and easy to use, with two different wind intensities for acing your outdoor cleaning tasks.
Use this smaller brush to reach right into corners and remove dirt and debris from cracks and crevices.
Step 2: Pre-treat stubborn stains
While water will effectively wash away surface-level dirt, for oil, grease, and deep-set stains, you will likely need something a little stronger, particularly as it's likely that you used your car more often than usual over the colder winter months.
So, to effectively get oil stains off a driveway, Forrest advises, 'Apply a degreaser or baking soda with water paste to the affected area, then let it sit for ten to fifteen minutes before scrubbing.'
In this instance, cleaning with baking soda, such as ARM & HAMMER Pure Baking Soda available at Walmart, works effectively due to its highly absorbent nature, which draws the oil and grease out of your concrete.
Karina adds, 'For mud stains, mix a solution of water and an outdoor cleaner, like Simple Green Concrete and Driveway Cleaner available at Amazon, and let it soak for 10-15 minutes,' to remove the built-up mud that may have gathered over periods of inclement weather.
It may have been designed for baking, but this hand-crank sifter is perfect for evenly distributing baking soda over areas you need to clean, preventing large ineffective clumps or missed patches.
Step 3: Power wash the surface
Next, you're ready to clean with a pressure washer.
If you're concerned about how much it costs to pressure wash a driveway, you can always rent a pressure washer to save money at home, which will generally work out cheaper than hiring a professional to do it for you. The Home Depot offers easy tool and equipment rental.
You can also, as Forrest suggests, use a hose with a high-pressure nozzle, such as the FANHAO Garden Hose Nozzle Sprayer available at Amazon.
Karina explains, 'A pressure washer removes deep-seated grime, moss, and lingering stains effectively.'
Always start at the highest point of your driveway and work downwards in overlapping sections, to prevent dirty water from undoing your hard work.
Just be aware that, when it comes to how often you should power wash your drive, less is more, with once a year typically being more than enough to maintain appearances. Spring is the ideal time for this task, as the weather tends to be milder and drier, preventing ice formation.
With pressure washers reaching prices of up to $500, this model provides all the cleaning power you need at a more accessible price point. If you choose to invest, this model can be used for versatile cleaning both indoors and outdoors, with a 23-foot hose for easy use and freedom of movement.
Step 4: Scrub and rinse
Even after power washing your driveway, you might find that some areas still need extra attention. For these, Karina suggests, 'Use a stiff-bristle scrubbed brush on stained spots,' such as the Weiler Heavy Duty Deck Scrub Brush available at Amazon.
Then, rinse thoroughly with clean water, to remove any residual cleaner and dirt, before letting your driveway dry thoroughly in the sunny spring weather.
Forrest reminds us, 'Check for remaining stains, and repeat treatments as necessary.'
This scrub brush has a built-in scraper edge, which is ideal for lifting stuck-on dirt in grout and cracks, with a handy hanger hole for easy storage.
Step 5: Apply a sealant
Finally, both Karina and Forrest recommend applying a sealant to your driveway, to protect against future stains all spring and summer long, and make cleaning easier when winter rolls around again.
Karina advises, 'Choose a penetrating concrete sealer for long-term protection,' such as the Siloxa-Tek Penetrating Concrete Sealer available at Amazon. 'Apply with a roller (such as the Mister Rui Paint Roller Kit available at Amazon) or sprayer, and allow it to dry completely before using the driveway again,' she adds.
If you do use one, just make sure you clean your paint roller afterward. It's best to reserve it solely for this task, so avoid using it for painting with a roller around the house.
Meet our experts
A clean driveway is just one of many practical ways to upgrade your curb appeal, with repainting a front door and maintaining your mailbox next on the list of spring home maintenance jobs.
