TL;DR
Driveway pressure washing starts with identifying the surface and pretreating stains, not with a wand at full pressure. On concrete the work typically covers a degreaser or detergent pass, oil spot treatment, a surface cleaner pass for even results, and edge detailing. Pressure that is right for concrete will destroy pavers, asphalt, and stamped or coated surfaces, which is why the surface test comes first.
The Surface Determines Everything
The single biggest mistake in driveway washing is treating every driveway the same.
Broom-finish concrete is the most forgiving surface and tolerates the highest pressure, though even here a narrow nozzle held too close leaves permanent striping.
Stamped or decorative concrete has a sealer and a color layer. Aggressive pressure strips both, and the result is a patchy driveway that then needs resealing.
Pavers and brick are individual units held by jointing sand. High pressure blasts the sand out of the joints, which destabilizes the surface and invites weeds. Pavers are washed at reduced pressure and rejointed afterward if sand is lost.
Asphalt is bound with a petroleum binder that pressure and hot water break down. Asphalt is generally cleaned at low pressure with detergent, and many providers will not pressure wash it at all.
Exposed aggregate loses stones if the surface is worn or the pressure is high.
Coated or sealed concrete needs pH-appropriate detergent and reduced pressure so the coating survives.
A provider who asks what your driveway is made of before quoting is asking the right question.
What Is Usually in the Scope
A typical concrete driveway service covers a pre-rinse, application of an appropriate detergent or degreaser with dwell time, targeted treatment of oil and rust spots, a pass with a rotary surface cleaner for even coverage, edge and expansion joint detailing with a wand, and a final rinse. Sealing, crack repair, and rejointing pavers are separate services.
The surface cleaner is what separates a professional result from a rented machine. It is a rotating enclosed head that covers a consistent path at a consistent distance, which is how you avoid the zebra striping that a hand-held wand produces.
Stains Come First, Not Last
Water alone does not remove oil, and running a surface cleaner over an oil spot spreads it across the driveway.
Oil and transmission fluid. Fresh spills get an absorbent granule to lift what has not soaked in. What remains gets a degreaser with dwell time, sometimes twice. Old stains that have penetrated deep into porous concrete usually lighten substantially and may not disappear -- concrete absorbs oil like a sponge, and no surface treatment reaches what is below.
Rust. From metal furniture, fertilizer, or well water irrigation. Rust needs a dedicated oxalic or specialty rust remover rather than a general detergent, and it is applied and rinsed carefully because runoff affects plants.
Tire marks. Rubber transfer and plasticizer bleed from tires respond to a citrus or solvent-based degreaser.
Organic growth. Moss, algae, and the green film on shaded driveways come off with a sodium hypochlorite solution at appropriate dilution and dwell time, not with pressure. This is the key insight in exterior work generally: chemistry removes organic growth and pressure just knocks the top off it, so it returns fast.
Leaf and tannin staining. Common under deciduous trees, and it usually responds to detergent plus dwell time.
Never combine cleaning products, and be specific with any provider about what has been applied to the surface before. Mixing an acid rust remover with a bleach-based cleaner produces chlorine gas.
What Cleaning Does Not Fix
Being honest about outcomes matters here, because driveways are one of the most oversold services.
Cracking, spalling, scaling, and pitting are concrete condition issues, not soil. Washing makes them more visible rather than less, because the surface around them gets lighter.
Discoloration from a previous sealer failing, from efflorescence, or from an earlier repair with different concrete will still be visible.
Old deep oil staining lightens but often stays as a shadow.
And etching from a de-icing salt or a spilled acid is permanent.
A quote that promises a driveway will look new is promising something the surface may not be capable of. Ask instead what realistic improvement looks like on your specific slab.
Runoff, Plants, and the Storm Drain
Where the water goes is a legitimate part of the job.
Detergent and degreaser runoff should be kept out of storm drains where practical, and heavy oil-laden water especially so. Many providers use containment mats or berms and recover water on jobs with significant contamination, and commercial work is often required to.
Plants near the driveway edge get pre-wetted and sometimes covered, because concentrated cleaner is hard on foliage. Pre-wetting dilutes anything that lands and is the simplest protection there is.
Ask a provider how they handle runoff. It is a quick way to tell a careful operator from someone with a machine.
When to Book, and Sequence
Driveways are best washed when the weather cooperates and when the rest of the exterior work is done.
Sequence. Top down. Gutters first, then siding, then windows, then ground-level hardscape. Washing a driveway before siding pressure washing means the siding runoff lands on a clean driveway. The full order is laid out in the exterior surface cleaning guide.
Season. Late spring and early autumn are the common windows. Avoid freezing weather, since water on concrete freezes and any residual moisture in cracks expands.
Frequency. Once a year suits most driveways. Shaded properties with persistent moss and algae often want it annually plus a mid-season treatment. Driveways under heavy tree cover accumulate tannin staining faster.
Sealing. If you plan to seal, wash first and allow the concrete to dry fully -- usually a day or more of dry weather. Sealing over trapped moisture causes clouding and adhesion failure.
Driveways are often booked alongside a patio and outdoor living clean, since both are hardscape and both are usually done in the same visit. If you are comparing what a dedicated crew handles, the pressure washing services page is a place to start.
FAQ
Will pressure washing remove old oil stains from concrete?
It usually lightens them substantially but often will not remove them completely. Concrete is porous, so oil that has soaked in over years sits below the surface where cleaning cannot reach. A degreaser with dwell time and an absorbent poultice give the best result, and sealing afterward helps hide what remains.
Can pavers be pressure washed?
Yes, but at reduced pressure and with rejointing afterward. High pressure blasts the jointing sand out of the gaps, which destabilizes the surface and lets weeds in. A careful provider washes at lower pressure and replaces polymeric or joint sand as part of the work.
Is pressure washing safe on asphalt?
Generally not at high pressure. Asphalt is bound with a petroleum binder that pressure and hot water break down, causing raveling and loose aggregate. Most providers clean asphalt with low pressure and detergent, or decline it entirely, and sealcoating is a separate trade.
How often should a driveway be pressure washed?
Once a year covers most driveways. Shaded properties with recurring moss and algae, or driveways under heavy tree cover collecting tannin stains, often want an annual wash plus a mid-season treatment. Washing more often than needed shortens the life of the surface.
Does pressure washing damage concrete?
It can. A narrow nozzle held too close cuts visible lines into the surface, and aggressive pressure on stamped or sealed concrete strips the coating and color layer. A rotary surface cleaner at appropriate pressure covers evenly and is what most professionals use for exactly this reason.
Should I seal my driveway after washing?
If you plan to seal, washing first is the correct order, but the concrete must dry fully -- usually a day or more of dry weather. Sealing over trapped moisture causes clouding and poor adhesion. Sealing is separate work with its own product choices and cure times.
Driveway work is scoped from the surface type, the square footage, and what is staining it, so a quick look settles the plan. Otesse is local, background-checks its crews, prices upfront with no hidden fees, and books online -- see home cleaning services or get a quote. Every property is different, so the real number depends on size, condition, and what you want covered.