Pavement is a pretty common component of any property. It provides a safe place for people to walk in the area and generally makes a community more inviting. Unfortunately, dirty pavement is common because exterior cement is exposed to everything the elements have to offer. Soiled concrete can affect health, safety, curb appeal, and business if it is not taken care of in a timely and professional manner.

The Dangers of Soiled Concrete

Concrete is one of the first things customers and visitors notice when they approach a property. If your pavements don’t look clean, they can seriously hurt your curb appeal in a number of ways. Dirty pavements can lead your guests or potential customers to think that the rest of the property is in ill repair as well, causing you to lose business or potential tenants.

Unsightly concrete can also hurt the moral and work quality of your employees. It has been proven that people work better in places where they feel the working environment is good. Clean pavements directly affect employee morale for the better. 

Even if you don’t own a business, your pavements are speaking for you. Dirty pavements are unsafe in a number of ways, leading to mold growth and perpetuating the presence of other allergens. These can make breathing unsafe and make concrete slippery to walk on. 

Dirty concrete is more susceptible to both staining and other deterioration, including water damage and cracking. Contaminants spread across the pavement’s surface, working their way into the pores and prying them open further. Soiled and stained pavements are significantly more likely to crack or chip.

In this way, dirty pavements can lower the value of the whole property. On the other hand, cleaning your concrete regularly is a great way to extend its lifespan, so making cleaning your pavement a priority is actually the more cost-effective option since you save the expense and inconvenience of repairs.

How Do You Clean Pavement With a Hose?

One way to clean dirty pavements is with a common garden hose. All you need is a bucket with a cleaning agent like baking soda or quality liquid detergent and some warm water. You can mix these together well and apply them to your dirty concrete with a scrub brush and some elbow grease, rinsing the concoction off with the hose.

This method is initially appealing because most people have all the necessary tools already at hand. However, cleaning pavement by hand is both time- and energy-consuming. It is also not the most effective method. To really give your pavements a thorough clean, pressure washing is the way to go.

Pressure Washing Dirty Concrete

If your pavement is simply a little dusty, cleaning with household cleaners and a hose may be enough. On the other hand, the power behind a professional pressure wash provides more thorough and lasting results for pavements. Some contamination cannot be seen clearly until the surface is cleaned, so you may not even know just how dirty your pavement is until it is washed. 

Pressure washing, when performed properly, is a powerful way to clear away dirt, debris, stains, algae, and mold without damaging the concrete itself. The way it can wash a slate clean is almost magical, tackling even the most stubborn stains. Dirty pavements are no match for a pressure washing machine in the right hands.

Can Pressure Washing Damage Dirty Pavement?

Often people’s biggest concern about pressure washing is that it will damage their property. This is a valid concern. The wrong pressure settings or nozzle can chip away at delicate components like roofing tiles and siding and even more hardy materials like concrete. In inexperienced hands, the risk of damaging your property irreversibly with a pressure washer is ever-present. 

That risk is compounded if damage to the concrete is already present. Applying pressure to cracked concrete is a sure way to exacerbate the problem, propagating cracking or chipping. Before you or a professional team begins the cleaning process, cracks should be addressed and repaired. A professional can also help you identify areas that need attention beforehand to minimize damage.

Professional Pavement Cleaning Services

When you let a professional manage your pavement cleaning, you can be sure that the risk of damage is neutralized. An experienced team knows precisely which pressure settings, nozzles, and cleaning solutions to guarantee powerful cleaning results for the concrete on your property. These will last longer than other cleaning treatments, ensuring that your pavements look brighter and cleaner for longer.