Driveway and Concrete Cleaning: How We Remove Oil, Rust, and Algae

Your driveway is the largest visible surface on your property. Here is what it takes to make it look new again.

Concrete is porous. Stains do not sit on top of it — they soak in. That is why rinsing rarely works and why each type of stain needs its own approach.

Organic growth: algae, mold, and mildew

The green and black darkening on shaded concrete is living growth. We apply a cleaning solution that kills it at the root, dwell it, then clean with a surface cleaner. Killing it is what keeps it from returning within weeks.

Oil and grease

Oil requires a degreaser and dwell time to lift out of the pores, sometimes over multiple applications. Fresh spills usually come out completely. Years-old oil that has soaked deep may lighten dramatically rather than vanish — we will tell you honestly which one you have before we start.

Rust

Rust from irrigation water, fertilizer, or metal furniture needs an oxalic or specialty rust remover. Standard pressure washing will not touch it and high pressure alone just etches the concrete around the stain.

Tire marks and traffic film

Hot-tire marks and general road film respond to a degreaser plus consistent heat and pressure. This is where a surface cleaner earns its keep.

Why a surface cleaner, not a wand

A wand cleans in a narrow arc, so overlapping passes leave the striped, zebra-print look you have probably seen on a neighbor's driveway. A rotating surface cleaner applies uniform pressure across a wide path, producing an even finish with no lines and no etching.

Finish with sealing

Cleaned concrete is the ideal moment to seal. A sealed surface repels oil and rust and stays clean far longer, which means fewer cleanings over the life of the driveway.

Royal Blue Washing is family-owned, fully insured, and local — and every job starts with a free on-site inspection and a written estimate, not a guess over the phone.