After a hard winter like we’ve just had, concrete driveways, sidewalks, and patios are itchin’ for a cleaning. After all, they’ve carried the load—literally—of everything the season had to offer, from snow and ice to salt and debris. So treat your concrete to a bath that’ll spruce it up and get it ready for the new season.
When you need to tackle a large area, don’t mess around, call in the big guns—a power washer! While they cost a pretty penny to buy, you can rent one at just about any local hardware store for a few bucks.
For extra bright results, mix equal parts bleach and water (outside, so you don’t breathe in the fumes from the bleach). Wear rubber gloves, goggles, long sleeves, and old pants to guard against splashes when you use it. Then cover all surrounding vegetation, buildings, and materials with plastic, so they don’t get damaged by any overspray.
If you’re working by hand, wet down the area with a garden hose, spread the solution on with a long-handled scrub brush, and apply elbow grease to get rid of those stains. Rinse the area thoroughly after you’ve scrubbed it. And if you’re using a power washer, spread the solution over wet concrete, and let the blast of water do the scrubbing for you, then rinse the area clean.
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