Is It Better to Spray or Not Spray Before Pressure Washing? 4 Pros and Cons
Spray the driveway grime away
Pretreating your driveway can give you a leg up on fighting stains and make pressure washing more effective.
However, spraying before pressure washing might not always work on serious stains.
Using a pretreatment solution increases the cost of pressure washing.
For old or extensive staining, call a pressure washing professional.
Pressure washing is a great way to keep your driveway clean, but pressure washing alone isn’t always enough to blast away old or deep-set stains. If you’re dealing with stubborn oil stains, for example, you’ll need to spray them with a special cleaning agent before you break out the pressure washer. But is pretreating your driveway worth the extra work and expense? Let’s dive into the pros and cons and whether it’s better to spray or not to spray before pressure washing.
What Is Pressure Washing?
Pressure washing is a deep cleaning method that removes dirt, grime, and other buildup from outdoor areas. It uses a pressurized stream of water to blast debris off of hard surfaces, including concrete, brick, and wood decking. However, pressure washing is too harsh for soft or fragile materials, such as asphalt shingles and glass.
On its own, pressure washing your driveway can be enough to get rid of dirt and debris. However, if you’re dealing with tough stains (for example, oil or paint), consider pretreating the driveway before pressure washing.
| Pros of Spraying Before Pressure Washing | Cons of Spraying Before Pressure Washing |
|---|---|
| Helps remove difficult stains | Not guaranteed to work |
| Can reduce pressure washing time | Costs more |
Pros of Pretreating Your Driveway Before Pressure Washing
Spraying your driveway with a pretreatment solution can make pressure washing easier and more effective. Here’s how.
Helps Remove Difficult Stains
Pressure washing alone won’t always remove stubborn paint, rust, or oil spots from your driveway. Like pretreating a stain on your clothes, however, spraying the concrete before pressure washing helps clean the surface more effectively.
Can Reduce Pressure Washing Time
Without pretreatment, getting rid of tough stains can take more time and effort. However, when you apply a special cleaning solution before pressure washing, it can make stain removal quicker and easier.
Cons of Pretreating Your Driveway Before Pressure Washing
Pretreating your driveway has some downsides, too. Here are a couple to consider.
Not Guaranteed to Work
While often effective, spraying your driveway before pressure washing isn’t guaranteed to remove all stains. If you still have stains after pretreating and pressure washing, call in a pressure washing professional.
Costs More
You’ll need to buy special cleaning solvents to tackle tricky stains with a pretreatment spray, which will increase the cost of pressure washing your driveway. You can expect to pay between $10 and $20 per bottle.
Should You Spray Before Pressure Washing?
If you’re hoping to remove stains from your driveway, then yes—you should pretreat it with a special cleaning solution before pressure washing. However, if there aren’t any noticeable problem spots on your driveway, then pressure washing alone should be enough to clean it.
In some cases, though, it’s better to hire a pressure washing pro near you instead of tackling this project yourself—especially if you’re dealing with old or widespread stains. A pro will understand what you should spray before pressure washing and how to apply the right cleaning solutions to remove the spots effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the type of surface, but if you’re preparing to pressure wash a driveway, you’ll start by using a broom or leaf blower to get rid of dirt, leaves, and other debris. Then, move any nearby items (like outdoor furniture and potted plants) and cover in-ground plants with a tarp or plastic sheet. After that, you can apply degreaser spray or another pretreatment solution to any stains and scrub them with a stiff brush before pressure washing.
When pressure washing a concrete driveway, use a machine with 2,000 to 3,000 psi (pounds per square inch). If your pressure washer’s rating isn’t quite that high, you can still use it to clean your driveway, but it will take longer than it would with a more powerful machine.
You shouldn’t use a pressure washer on fragile surfaces or breakable areas like windows, electric meters, light fixtures, cars, generators, solar panels, or air conditioner units. You should also avoid pressure washing wooden patio furniture, fiber cement siding, and asphalt shingles—all of which could chip or break from the power of a pressure washer.
