Cleaning brick driveway with powerwasher

shoutman

Hi,

So I spent about 4 hours cleaning our brick driveway yesterday and probably have about a third of it done!

It's not a particularly large driveway, I'd suggest 10 metres long by 8 metrest wide (I could be a good bit off on this).

I have read that there is a spinner attachment that you can get, but I do not have one on the power washer which I'm using the attachment as per in this link https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VsPC8SS-9EE/maxresdefault.jpg - it produces the circular water as opposed to straight line (I am awful at explanations!)

Is there anything I can be doing to quicken this process (I.e. is there a detergent that can be mixed in the power washer that will help lift the grime or is it just a case of getting on with it.

Thanks

aujopimur

Get a 5/25lt container of Clorus from your local agri store, dilute it 50/50 and spread with a watering can.

Water John

And leave it soak in.
Use the jet up close, not any spinning brush.

ThisRegard

It's not a spinning brush, it products a set of spinning jets, and the round casing is just way to limit the spray and dirt flying everywhere. It's still pretty messy though.

shoutman

Thanks for the help

Next Question: I'm very much a city slicker - anyone know the closest agri store to fairview? I've googled where to buy Clorus in Dublin and Dublin Agri Store - but closest one seems to be a good way past the airport.

Finbarr Murphy

It sounds like that you have a smaller pressure washer model of around 110 bar. For a more powerful spray and quicker cleaning you have to use a larger pressure washer (ie 140 bar makes the job quicker, 180 bar makes it even more quicker etc).

I think that you are referring to patio cleaners. There are a few advantages to using patio cleaners. One of which is that you can cover a wider area more quickly, the second is that you'll use less water. However be very sure that all the little tones etc are removed from the driveway before using a patio cleaner as little stones can ruin your patio cleaner faster than you can say Abrakkkada.....abbrakadebora.....abracadeborah....well you know what I mean.

_Brian

Look your a third of the way there, work away and you'll have it done.

I'd recommend doing it more often with the equipment you have.

The Agri chlorine product mentioned above willl make it easier but it's overuse should be avoided as it is damaging to the environment. It's essentially pure bleach so take care of you do use it.

my3cents

OP if you have a Karcher pressure washer then I can recommend this lance https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/4bt/Karcher-Dirt-Blaster-Lance-Pressure-Washer-Accessory/B00HH9QGN2/ its massivley better than the normal adjustable fan shaped spray of the standard lance.

looksee

Amateurs using those lances generally end up drawing lines all over the place and taking the top layer off the bricks.

shoutman

Thanks for all the input, - I feel like that is the lance which I'm currently using - at least it looks the same anyway.

my3cents

The lance I linked to cuts dirt off in small circles. It is very powerful but slow which may be your problem so perhaps the ordinary adjustable fan pattern lance is what you need?

dodzy

my3cents wrote: »

The lance I linked to cuts dirt off in small circles. It is very powerful but slow which may be your problem so perhaps the ordinary adjustable fan pattern lance is what you need?

Fan lance is not worth a sh!t if the power washer is under-powered. Turbo lance all the way, for patio and deck work.