What should I pretreat my driveway with before pressure washing?

What should I pretreat my driveway with before pressure washing?

Pretreating a driveway before pressure washing significantly improves results and reduces how much pressure you need to use overall. For general dirt and light staining, a biodegradable, pressure-washer-safe all-purpose detergent applied with a pump sprayer works well as a first pass. For oil stains specifically, a dedicated concrete degreaser breaks down petroleum residue far more effectively than general detergent alone, and should be allowed to dwell for the time specified on the product label, typically 10–15 minutes, before rinsing. For algae or mildew staining, a bleach-based or specialized mildew-removing solution outperforms standard soap. Whatever you choose, avoid letting any pretreatment fully dry on the surface before rinsing, since that can make it harder to remove rather than easier, and always test a small area first if you’re using a new product.