Cleaning Conrete Driveway

Lex Luthor

I want to go at my concrete driveway this weekend and the paths around my house as they have darkened over the years and there is also a mildew buildup on the back of the house paths.

I know you can buy all these products like Jeyes Fluid or Path cleaners and some people suggest pressure washers, but I was hoping to use products that are not as toxic as these ones. I also don't fancy standing about for hours with a pressure washer, pouring gallons of water over my drive.

I've heard of something called Oxygen Bleach which is not harmful and works by just adding to warm water, pouring on the concrete, letting it sit for 10 mins and brush it in and then rinse off with a hose.

I imagine its something similar along the lines of that stuff you get for the washing machine (Oxy Action powder), but just in a stronger concentration.

Any ideas where I can get it?

Alun

The pressure washer route isn't as bad as it seems if you use one of these with it ...

http://www.karchershop.ie/shop/product.asp?numRecordPosition=16&P_ID=272&strPageHistory=&strKeywords=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=119

No splashing, or soaked shoes and trousers, highly recommended.

311

Second the Karcher ,great craic aswell:D

Lex Luthor

I've seen one of these in action, but I have a JCB pressure washer...don't know if the accessories from Karcher fit the JCB model

10-10-20

But the power washer method is abrasive and that's what you want to avoid I assume?

Lex Luthor

10-10-20 wrote:

But the power washer method is abrasive and that's what you want to avoid I assume?

Its one of the main reasons alright and it takes a long time

Oxygen Bleach is environmentally friendly and is supposed to be great for getting rid of mould & mildew and can also be used on decking without harming the wood

eoinhealy

There are organic products out there if thats what your looking for. Other than that the best thing I find is a product called MossGo, you can get it in your local garden centre. You mix it with water and quickly brush it on the the ground, leave it til the next day and wash it off with a brush.

Other than that, use a power hose, but hold it about a foot or 2 from the ground so it only takes the moss and does not damage the paving.

Hope this is some help.

Mr Magnolia

I used the pressure washer myself at the weekend. Is there anything that can be put on the concrete to sela it after cleaning?

mikemac

Get down on your hands and knees and start scrubbing with a wire brush:eek:

themole

Lex Luthor wrote:

Its one of the main reasons alright and it takes a long time

Hmm, power washers do a good job on concrete though alright. Might take bit of time, but no chemicals and a deffinite result.

Lex Luthor wrote:

Oxygen Bleach is environmentally friendly and is supposed to be great for getting rid of mould & mildew and can also be used on decking without harming the wood

But i deffo wouldn't reccomend using a power washer on wood

Mr Magnolia

themole wrote:

But i deffo wouldn't reccomend using a power washer on wood

I used a power hose on my decking and on my garden furmiture and it done a superb job. Gave it a coat of ronseal afterwards too.

Alun

Mr Magnolia wrote:

I used a power hose on my decking and on my garden furmiture and it done a superb job. Gave it a coat of ronseal afterwards too.

Indeed .. the gadget I linked to above is sold (amongst others) for this very purpose.