Concrete cleaning calls for powerful pressure washers featuring high pressure levels of 3000 PSI. However, if you will be using the power cleaner to maintain a range of surfaces in addition to concrete, choose one with adjustable pressure levels and set it to about 3000 PSI when you need to clean concrete.
Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI
This classification ranges from as low as 2,000 PSI to as high as 2,800 PSI. You can use a medium-duty pressure washer for almost any surface. They're great for cleaning concrete, brick, and wood.
Our recommendation ranges from as low as 3,000 PSI to as high as 4,000 PSI.
Concrete and asphalt require more cleaning power. You'll want to use the turbo nozzle on the 1600 PSI for hard-to-clean driveways, sidewalks, and patios as well as brick paving. For wood decks and painted surfaces, switch to the gentler 40-degree nozzle.
Any machine capable of producing at least 1,500 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure can clean concrete, but the work will go much faster if you choose a model producing 2,500 to 3,000 psi, like the gas-powered option below.
Concrete cleaning calls for powerful pressure washers featuring high pressure levels of 3000 PSI. However, if you will be using the power cleaner to maintain a range of surfaces in addition to concrete, choose one with adjustable pressure levels and set it to about 3000 PSI when you need to clean concrete.
There's no doubt that electric pressure washers from 1,300 to 2,300 psi can wash a concrete driveway, but it'll take longer. If you have a large driveway with lots of stains, you'll want more power to do the job faster. I chose the 3,100-psi gas pressure washer and cut the job time in half.
1000-2000 PSI
Good for light cleaning jobs or for jobs where the surface to be cleaned is soft and easily damaged. This pressure range is good for cleaning decks and siding and for light-duty auto cleaning.
People frequently do not realize that you can actually damage your concrete driveway, patio, or other concrete areas by pressure washing. Most people believe that concrete is solid and almost invincible.
To clean concrete effectively, use a power washer with a pressure rating of at least 3000 psi and a flow rate of at least 4 gallons per minute (gpm).
5,000 PSI. Used in special construction applications, including some large-scale commercial and industrial properties, 5,000 PSI can withstand heavy impact and extreme wear and tear.
A medium-duty pressure washer is strong enough to blast greasy, grimy stains from residential areas. Homeowners can safely clean sidewalks, concrete driveways, decking, and siding with a 2,000 to 3,000 PSI washer.
Powerful pressure washers with too much PSI will damage concrete when power washing. Most residential driveways require no more than 3000 to 3500 PSI for proper and thorough concrete washing. Heavy-duty commercial pressure washers and other power washing equipment are too strong for the average residential driveway!
The higher the PSI the more durable your concrete will be and will thus be resilient to cracking. The average residential project uses a minimum of 2,500 to 3,000 PSI; however if you're concerned about cracking then we recommend talking to your concrete contractor about stronger products on the market.
If you want to clean your driveway quickly and efficiently, use a pressure washer of at least 3100 PSI. Using pressure washers with pressures ranging from 1000 to 2300 PSI will also help you clean your driveway, but it will take a long time.
Dish soap and water: Dish soap is a degreaser, and it works well to clean oily and grimy concrete. Create a cleaning solution of warm water and few drops of dish soap and apply it to the surface. Let it sit for a while, then mop the patio and rinse it with fresh water. Repeat the process as many times as needed.
Generally, you'll want your concrete driveway pressure washed at least once a year. This lets you treat sunbaked dirt, grime buildup, and stubborn oil stains, making regular cleaning in between professional washes much more manageable.
Simpson SuperPro Roll Cage 3600 PSI 2.5 GPM Gas
The best pressure washer for concrete and driveways is partly about combining mid-to-high-level PSI with excellent flow rates. As a professional, if you can score one that's easy to roll on and off the trailer multiple times a day, you're in business!
Car washes typically blast out their liquid at 1,000 to 1,200 PSI, although pressures can go up to 2,200 in some situations. For this reason, along with the squirts of hot wax and slaps from towels, we do not recommend going through a car wash on foot.
Mid-Range Power: 2,000 to 3,200 PSI
The most versatile category of pressure washers, those ranging from 2,000 to 3,200 PSI effectively clean cars (including the most well-used off-road vehicles), home siding, fences, boats and grimy garage floors. Those closer to 3,200 PSI work effectively on tough stains, too.
The RYOBI 1800 PSI 1.2 GPM Electric Pressure Washer is the perfect powerful yet portable option to get the job done. This pressure washer is ideal for light duty applications like cleaning small driveways, sidewalks, decks, windows, patio furniture, campers, bikes, boats, and many other recreational applications.
Residential - yep. Commercial - probably not. As a caveat, you might be able to get by cleaning some commercial, provided that it's not totally filthy and you pre- and post-treat it. You won't be able to touch oil/grease stains or pop gum though.
To get the job done right, you need a pressure washer rated at least 3,000 PSI with a flow rate of at least four gallons per minute (GPM). Hotsy Water Blast can provide you with an electric, gasoline or diesel pressure washer that delivers sufficient power.
Pressure washing using 500 to 1000 PSI is recommended for cleaning masonry. Many professionals use 100 to 1500 PSI to avoid damage. 2,000 PSI is the absolute maximum, and that's for experienced pressure washers only.