The best way to clean a concrete driveway or sidewalk really depends on how dirty it is and what kind of stains you’re dealing with. For light dirt and grime, sweeping up debris and washing the surface with a hose, a bucket of warm water, and some dish soap does a pretty good job. If you’re tackling tougher stains, a pressure washer or power washer with a surface cleaner attachment can save a lot of time. Scrubbing with a scrub brush and a good concrete cleaner or other products like Simple Green or a degreaser can help with oil stains, tire marks, and mildew stains. After scrubbing, make sure to rinse the whole driveway so the solution doesn’t sit too long on the surface.

To remove oil stains or grease stains, start by sprinkling baking soda over the spot to absorb some of the oil. Then scrub it in with a scrub brush and a bit of dish soap mixed with water. For deeper stains, hydrogen peroxide or a degreaser works well. Spray the solution, let it sit for a bit, then scrub and rinse with a hose. If the oil has been there for a long time, you may need to try pressure washing to break it up. A good product designed for removing oil and grease from concrete usually does the job with less elbow grease.

Scrubbing concrete by hand with a sponge, scrub brush, or even just a bucket and dish soap is fine for a small area, like a few tire marks or mildew stains near a pool. But if you want to clean your whole driveway or sidewalk, a pressure washer or power washer with a surface cleaner attachment is much faster and more effective. Pressure washing uses water spray to blast away dirt, debris, and stains that scrubbing alone often can’t reach. Contractors often recommend it for large jobs because of its effectiveness.

If used correctly, a pressure washer won’t damage your concrete. The key is to adjust the spray settings and not hold the nozzle too close to the surface. Too much pressure in one spot can etch the concrete. Using a surface cleaner attachment helps spread out the water spray and does an amazing job on large areas without leaving streaks. Contractors and homeowners alike rely on pressure washing because it’s one of the most effective and free-flowing ways to clean a dirty driveway, sidewalk, or pool area.