Your driveway looked great the year it was poured. Now there’s a dark film where the tree shades it, tire marks by the garage, and brown leaf prints on the patio from last fall.
Concrete is porous. It drinks in water, and whatever the water carries. That’s how stains settle in, and why the shady spots stay dark. We clean driveways, sidewalks, patios, pool decks and steps in Evansville and the towns around it.
What we clean
- Driveways. Tire marks, drips, and the dark film along the shady edge.
- Sidewalks and front walks. Mildew, algae and dirt ground in by feet.
- Patios. Leaf stains, grill spots, rust marks under the furniture, and green film near the planters.
- Pool decks. Grime and the dark film on the side that gets the least sun.
- Steps. All of the above, plus the edges where dirt packs in.
How we clean flat concrete
On driveways, walks and patios we use a surface cleaner. It’s a round hood with spinning spray arms that rides just above the concrete. It cleans in an even path, so you don’t get the zebra stripes a wand can leave. Then we rinse the whole area.
Steps, edges and tight corners get a hand wand. Concrete can handle more pressure than a roof or vinyl siding can, which is why we treat them as different jobs with different tools.
Before
AfterWhat cleaning can and can’t remove
Everyday dirt, mildew and that black film usually come off well. Some stains are a different story:
- Old oil. A fresh drip lifts better than one that has soaked in for years. Old oil may fade but not vanish.
- Rust. It can lighten a lot or a little, depending on how deep it went.
- Leaf stains. These often lighten well, and the sun keeps fading what’s left.
Cleaning also won’t fix cracks, sunken slabs or a surface that’s flaking. Before we start, we’ll tell you which stains we expect to lift and which ones may stay. That way the result matches what you were told.
Why cleaning comes before protection
A protection treatment has to soak into the concrete to work. Dirt, mildew and old sealers sit in the way. NexaNano’s own steps for its concrete treatment begin with cleaning to “strip away dirt, grime, oil stains, mold, and failing coatings.” The treatment only goes on “once the surface is prepared and thoroughly dried.”
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association agrees on the drying part. It says concrete “should be reasonably dry prior to the application of a sealer.” So the slab needs time to dry between the wash and any treatment.
You don’t have to add protection. A clean on its own is fine. If you’re curious, read can you protect concrete after cleaning? or see our concrete protection page.
After the first snow
Salt off the roads rides home on your tires and drips onto the driveway and the garage slab. The concrete association’s advice is simple: “When conditions permit, hose off accumulation of salt deposited by cars on driveways and garage slabs.” A garden hose on a mild winter afternoon does the job. You don’t need us for that part.
Pair it with a house wash
If the siding needs attention too, we can do the house and the concrete in one visit. See house washing for how we handle vinyl, painted siding and brick.
You probably don’t need this if…
- It’s just leaves and loose dirt. A broom and a hose will handle that.
- The slab is cracked, heaved or sinking. You need a concrete contractor. We don’t repair or level concrete.
- You want color or a glossy coating on the garage floor. That’s a coatings company, not us.
- The only thing that bugs you is one old oil stain. We might only fade it, and that may not be worth a visit to you.
What happens next
Book a free exterior evaluation. We’ll walk the concrete with you, point at each stain, and tell you what we expect it to look like after. Or call or text Terrance at (812) 664-6222, Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Common questions
Will you get the oil stain out of my driveway?
Maybe not all of it. A fresh drip lifts better than oil that has soaked in for years. An old stain may fade but stay visible. We’ll look at it during the free exterior evaluation and tell you what to expect before you book the cleaning.
Do you pressure wash concrete?
Yes. Concrete can take it. We use a surface cleaner on flat areas so the result comes out even, and a hand wand for steps and edges. Roofs are a different story. We never pressure wash a roof. Shingles get a low-pressure soft wash instead.
Why does the shady part of my walk turn black?
Shade and damp. Concrete that rarely gets sun stays wet longer, and mildew and algae grow on it. Evansville’s average relative humidity is about 70% over a year (NOAA data for 1961 to 1990). A cleaning takes the film off. In the same shade, it can grow back over time.
Can you clean a pool deck?
Yes. Pool decks are on our list with driveways, sidewalks, patios and steps. Tell us what the deck is made of when you call. Plain concrete is one thing. Pavers or a painted surface may need a gentler approach, and we’ll check before we start.