12 Best Reasons To Pressure Wash Your Driveway And Walkways

Should I Pressure Wash My Driveway and Walkways?

Should you pressure wash your driveway? Here’s the 12 Best Reasons to Pressure Wash your driveway and walkways. With tips to help you do it!

Image shows before and after on a really dirty driveway. Text says "12 reasons you should pressure wash your driveway"

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1. To Get Rid Of Slip Hazards

Letting Mold, Mildew, Dirt, and Algae build up on your driveway creates a dangerous SLIP hazard. Especially when it’s wet.

You don’t want your kids or any older family members to slip and fall trying to walk on wet algae that’s built up on the driveway.

When you pressure wash your driveway or walkways the force of the water is strong enough to remove the roots of algae and mold growing on the surface.

A stone walkway covered in dirt and mildew before pressure washing. — This stone walkway in our backyard was pretty black from dirt, mold, and mildew growth. This stone floods about once a year during strong rains or hurricanes.

2. To Protect The Surface From Damage

Pressure washing your driveway can also prevent surface damage caused by chemicals or growths (like algae) that build up on the surface.

Certain oils, chemicals, and growths can pit the surface of your concrete driveway and even cause cracks.

Stone walkway after pressure washing. — This 25 year old stone walkway looks SO MUCH better.

3. It’ll Remove Dirt And Weeds

Pressure washing or power washing a driveway will clean weeds and dirt out of the cracks and joints in the concrete.

Before image of the dirty driveway and entry. — This black driveway makes a bad first impression. Look at all of those weeds in the cracks and joints.

4. It’ll Boost Curb Appeal

Clean driveways and walkways make a HUGE difference when it comes to your homes curb appeal.

A dark and dirty driveway can make your home look older and rundown. A quick clean with pressure washer or power washer can instantly make your whole house look better.

After pressure washing a dirty entry on a white house. — That’s more like it! Way better curb appeal. Check out 18 BIG Pros & Cons: Should You Paint a Brick House White to see the before and after on our brick house makeover.

5. To Sell A House Faster

Pressure washing your driveway will also help you sell your house faster. It’s true that some people will decide to NOT buy a house based on the first impression.

So, great curb appeal gives potential buyers a positive first impression. Power washing your driveway and walkways can add a big boost to your homes curb appeal. And, it’s an easy job that most people can do.

Pool decking covered in dirt before pressure washing. — Even our pool decking was looking really shabby.

6. To Prep For Driveway Sealers Or Stains

Before you apply concrete stains or sealers, you should power wash or pressure wash concrete. Stains and sealers will stick to clean concrete better and last longer!

After pressure washing around an inground pool with stone deck. — Look at how much cleaner our pool surround is after power washing!

7. HOA Letters!

Here’s another big reason to pressure wash your driveway, you want to avoid getting those annoying HOA letters! HOA’s in our area keep an eye on dirty driveways, walkways, siding, and fences.

Luckily, pressure washing once a year can keep all of those clean AND the HOA happy.

8. Pressure Washing Removes Stubborn Stains

Pressure washing a driveway is also a great way to get rid of stubborn stains that won’t scrub clean. Like those annoying stains under your cars, paint drips, and mulch stains left on concrete.

Black mildew and dirt on a concrete driveway. — Here’s another look at our driveway. All of that black is enough of a reason to pressure wash your driveway. Right?

9. You Can Pressure Wash Without Using Chemicals And Cleaners

Another great reason to pressure wash your driveway and walkways is that you can get great results without using any cleaners or chemicals.

The pressurized water is strong enough to clean most dirt and stains. So, you can avoid using cleaners or chemicals that might kill your plants or leach into ground water.

10. To Get Ready For Family Gatherings or Parties

My husband and I both use family parties or houseguests as motivation to get the inside and outside of the house looking clean and neat.

Pressure washing your driveway and walkways is a popular pre-party job for people like us.

After power washing our dirty driveway. — Even this 25 year old driveway looks MUCH better after pressure washing.

11. Pressure Washing Is The Easiest Way To Clean Driveways and Walkways

Pressure Washing is WAY easier than scrubbing a driveway stain by hand. And, pressure washing is WAY faster than trying to spray away dirt and stains with a normal hose nozzle.

12. And, Pressure Washing Can Make Your Home Feel Like New Again

Last but not least, our homes can start to feel old and run down after a while. But, sometimes, all they need is a good cleaning to make them feel like new again.

You can pressure wash your driveway and walkways to give your home a quick refresh. It might even make your home feel like new again.

Before and After pressure washing a dirty driveway for a post with 12 best reasons to pressure wash a driveway or walkway.

5 Highly-Rated Pressure Washers for Homeowners

Greenworks 1500 PSI Pressure Washer – Under $100
TEANDE Electric Powered Pressure Washer – 4 Nozzles for Different Jobs
Westinghouse 2050 PSI Max Pressure Washer – With Soap Tank
Greenworks PRO 2300 PSI Pressure Washer – TruBrushless Motor
Westinghouse 3200 PSI Gas-Powered Pressure Washer – With Soap Tank & 5 Nozzles

What Is The Difference Between Power Washing and Pressure Washing?

The difference between power washing and pressure washing is the heated water used by a power washer. That heated water adds another level of cleaning power for tough stains, dirt, and grime.

Power washers and pressure washers both use pressurized water to clean. And, they can both be sold with different PSI’s.