Derby Driveway Cleaner
Driveway cleaning near me.
We at Morris Cleaning, have put together a handy guide to driveway cleaning, including:
- Cleaning tips for a spotless, and safe outdoor space.
- The importance of driveway cleaning.
- The importance of regular maintenance.
- Different cleaning techniques.
- Why re-sanding, and sealing driveways is important.
- Safety tips for driveway cleaning.
- Proper handling of cleaning agents.
- Protective gear, and equipment.
Driveway Cleaning: Tips for a Spotless and Safe Outdoor Space
People first see your driveway when they visit or pass your property. So, it’s essential to keep it looking clean, and tidy. Understanding the importance of regular maintenance, and efficient cleaning methods is key to increasing your driveway’s kerb appeal.
The importance of kerb appeal cannot be understated, particularly if you want to sell your property. Imagine if your driveway was looking at its best, and potential buyers go past your house. Your driveway could be a deciding factor in whether they come to view your property or not!
However, a spotless, and safe outdoor space is important not just when you’re selling or thinking of selling your property. When you have guests, you want your home to look as inviting as possible so, what better way than to have your driveway looking pristine?
Having a safe, clean outdoor space is also important if you have children, and pets who play outside. Grease stains, and moss build-up can be hazardous as they become slippery increasing the chance of falls, and trips.
Cleaning your driveway regularly is also an investment, as removing dirt, oil stains, and grease marks can prevent long-term damage. This is particularly important if you want to avoid having to replace or repair your driveway sooner than you would like.
The Importance of Driveway Cleaning
Cleaning your driveway regularly has many benefits. By keeping your driveway clean, you give a good impression to your visitors, and also potential buyers if you are trying to sell your home.
By ridding your driveway of dirt, oil stains, and grease stains from the surface of your driveway, you can minimise long-term damage that could potentially cost a lot of money to repair.
Essential Guide to Driveway Maintenance
It is important to regularly maintain your driveway to extend its lifespan, and keep its appearance at its best. You can maintain your driveway by doing the following things:
- Regularly clear your drive of weeds, algae, moss, and grime.
- A garden hose can then be used to wash your driveway to ensure the driveway is clean.
- Check for cracks, and other damage regularly. If there are any cracks or damage, try to get them repaired quickly.
So, what are the different driveway cleaning techniques?
Pressure Washing
Pressure washing is a super effective method of cleaning your driveway, and is probably the most efficient technique. It uses high pressure to clean away dirt, mould, algae, moss, and grime from your driveway.
If you decide to use a pressure washer to clean your driveway you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. This helps you to be confident that you are using the pressure washer safely and correctly.
Before using a pressure washer, you should check that all parts are secure and that there are no frayed cables. Also, check that it is not overheating. If you notice frayed cables or overheating, then you should stop using the pressure washer immediately!
Always be aware of any electrical outlets on the exterior of your property.
Start with a low pressure, and gradually increase it.
Always keep children, and pets away from the area you are pressure washing.
Start pressure washing at the top of your driveway, and work downwards. This means the water will flow in a downward direction.
Use an overlapping, swaying motion when operating the pressure washer.
At Morris Cleaning, we clean driveways using a Whirlaway machine which is a pressure washer accessory. Whirlaway machines are a more efficient way to pressure wash as they can clean 20 square metres per minute.
They also reduce operator fatigue as they are quicker, and more effective than using a pressure washer alone (saving as much as 80% on labour costs).
They also give a more even result, and uses less water.
Scrubbing
Using a stiff brush, start by scrubbing moss, algae, grime, and other debris on your driveway.
Then, using soapy water or diluted detergent, scrub the driveway again until you are happy with the results.
This technique is labour-intensive, and can be quite time-consuming. However, it’s a good way to clean smaller areas.
Chemical Cleaners
Chemical cleaners can be useful for treating smaller areas or stains.
If you use chemical cleaners, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and protective gear should be worn. Chemical cleaners can remove stains such as oil, and grease. These cleaners are specially formulated to remove stains that water cannot remove.
Re-sanding your Driveway
Re-sanding your driveway after cleaning is an important part of your driveway maintenance routine. So, why does your driveway need re-sanding? By re-sanding you are stopping water from penetrating the surface of your driveway. It also prevents your paving blocks from moving, and sinking. This is important to maintain an even surface. We at Morris Cleaning recommend the use of kiln-dried sand as it is very fine, and therefore ideal for filling in tight gaps.
Sealing your Driveway
Lastly, once you have re-sanded your driveway, you need to seal it. Sealing a driveway is important because it:
- Forms a protective coating to guard against staining.
- Minimises colour fading and enhances the appearance of your driveway.
- Extends the lifespan of your driveway.
- Minimises weed growth.
- Prevents algae and moss growing on your driveway.
There are 3 types of driveway sealants available. These are:
- Polyurethane paving sealers. This type of sealer is generally the most expensive type but is longer lasting than acrylic types. They are considered to be the most effective type of sealer for block paving.
- Water-based sealers. This is the most environmentally-friendly type of sealer. They have a longer drying time, and do not penetrate as deeply as solvent sealers.
- Acrylic paving sealers. This option is particularly effective on concrete driveways but can also be used on block paving.
Here at Morris Cleaning, we provide an effective driveway re-sanding, and sealing service.
Safety Tips for Driveway Cleaning: Protective Gear and Equipment
It is important, when cleaning your driveway, to protect yourself and others from any hazards. So, to clean your driveway safely always follow these guidelines:
- You should use safety glasses to protect your eyes from grime, dust, and debris.
- Wear long trousers to protect your legs.
- You should wear rubber boots to protect your feet.
- Make sure you wear strong gloves to protect your hands.
- You should be aware of any electrical fixtures around your driveway.
- Be mindful of children and pets, and if possible, keep them away from the area, particularly when using a pressure washer.
- When using a pressure washer, you should start at the top of your driveway and work your way down. This ensures a downward flow of water.
- Make sure you are using the correct nozzle on your pressure washer. Professionals recommend that you use a 25-degree nozzle.
- Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using pressure washers or chemicals.
- Before using any sort of equipment, such as a pressure washer, check that all parts are secure, and check for any frayed cables. If you find any frayed cables or signs of overheating, stop using the equipment immediately!
Here at Morris Cleaning, we provide an effective driveway re-sanding, and sealing service.
Safety Tips for Driveway Cleaning: Proper Handling of Cleaning Agents
When using any cleaning agents for cleaning your driveway you must carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions. This is essential as certain cleaning agents can irritate the skin and certain chemicals can cause burns.
So, whatever cleaning agent you’re using always treat it with respect and protect yourself from harm.
As mentioned earlier, use safety glasses, and safety gloves.
When using chemical cleaners, a respirator mask is recommended.
Also, make sure children, and pets are kept away from the area you are cleaning.
Common Drive Cleaning Questions:
Do you have a question? We can answer any of the following questions and more – Is it worth cleaning driveway? How much does it cost per square Metre to clean a driveway? What's the best way to clean a driveway? How often does a driveway need cleaning?