Do This To Your Driveway Before October Ends & Thank Yourself Later

Early fall is the sweet spot for getting outdoor tasks done. Once the summer heat fades, working outside won't make you feel miserable, and most of the leaves haven't yet fallen from their trees. Before you have to start clearing leaves — or snow — from your concrete driveway, consider showing it some TLC by pressure washing it. When you pressure wash in early fall, you clear away built-up moss and grime before it can be covered by leaves or snow, making your driveway safer to walk on and improving its overall appearance before freezing winter conditions arrive.

Pressure washing in October can also help your driveway last longer. Over time, cracks in your driveway fill in with debris and dirt. Winter weather causes the moisture built up in those cracks to freeze, driving the debris deeper, widening cracks, and possibly creating fresh ones. Pressure washing penetrates concrete to drive out built-up grime as well as algae, mold, and mildew, improving the driveway's appearance and preventing damage. Other popular driveway types can benefit from an October cleaning too. But note there are different instructions for pressure washing an asphalt driveway or brick and paver surfaces.

Before pressure washing a concrete driveway, sweep it clean or use a leaf blower. Get the concrete wet with your garden hose to prep the porous material for cleaning. Make sure you're using the right pressure washer nozzle for the task, and follow the instructions for your cleaning solution, if you're using one. Then work from the highest point in your driveway to the lowest.

If you have stubborn oil stains, mildew, or burn marks, you may need to use a concrete cleaner or degreaser. To choose the right cleaner, though, you'll need to know if the concrete has been sealed, and with what kind of sealant. While some sealants give driveways a visibly glossy finish, others are formulated to sink into the concrete without affecting its appearance. If you don't know what kind of sealer was used, stick to mild detergents. The right concrete cleaner will also depend on what you're trying to clean off. Some formulas specifically tackle oil, while others remove mildew and mold stains. Rinse your driveway with the pressure washer after applying the cleaner.

Finally, after the driveway has dried, use a concrete sealer to seal up any cracks. When you apply concrete sealer in October, it helps keep cracks from enlarging as winter temperatures cause water to freeze and expand. Sealing your driveway will also help prevent stains, but you can assist by keeping the driveway clear of leaves as they start to fall.