The Washed Out method for concrete cleaning.
The wand approach that most companies still use leaves stripes, uneven cleaning and blown-out joints. Our surface cleaners run at 3,500–4,000 PSI with hot water, 20-inch diameter, and even bar spin, you get one uniform pass, corner to corner. For pavers and travertine we drop the pressure and use the rotary at a wider gap to preserve the joint sand.
North County soil is red-clay heavy and coastal driveways collect a fine iron-oxide dust that stains white concrete pink within a year. We treat that stain pre-wash with an oxalic-acid solution, then rinse clear with the surface cleaner. Oil stains get a degreaser dwell before the pass; rust gets a targeted acid spot-treat.
Pool decks, Kool Deck, textured overlay, exposed aggregate, are the trickiest surface. We drop pressure well below 1,500 PSI at the tip, use a wide fan, and finish with a post-treatment that kills the algae in the pores so the deck doesn't grey back out inside three months.
Every concrete job ends with a post-treatment sodium hypochlorite rinse that kills organic growth in the pores. Without it, coastal humidity brings the streaks back within 90 days. With it, you're clean for 18–36 months depending on tree cover.
Pricing starts at $249 for a standard 2-car driveway or patio up to 500 sq ft, then $0.12 per sq ft over that. Sealer application, oil-stain treatment and paver re-sanding are available as add-ons. Every job is fully insured with a same-day photo report.
Services we offer:
- Concrete driveways & aprons
- Stamped & colored concrete patios
- Paver walkways & pool decks
- Brick, flagstone & travertine
- Oil, transmission & rust stain treatment
- Rotary surface-cleaner (no stripes)
- Post-treatment for organic re-growth
- Efflorescence & mineral scale rinse
- Sand & polymeric joint respect
- Optional sealer application
Brands & materials we treat
We work every hardscape material poured in Southern California:
Standard broom-finish concrete
driveways and walkways
Stamped & colored concrete
patios and pool decks
Belgard pavers
walkways, driveways, pool decks
Pavestone pavers
hardscape and outdoor kitchens
Angelus pavers
high-end hardscape
Kool Deck
textured pool-deck coating
Sundek
decorative concrete overlays
Exposed aggregate
driveways and walkways
Travertine tile
patios and pool decks
Flagstone
walkways and patios
Common issues we fix
Red-tire marks and dust stain
Iron-oxide dust. Oxalic pre-treat, rinse clear.
Black organic streaks
Algae in the pores. Post-treatment kills it long-term.
Oil and transmission drips
Degreaser dwell then rotary pass.
Rust from a planter or sprinkler
Targeted acid spot-treat, then rinse.
Efflorescence (white haze)
Mild acid rinse and neutralize. Can recur if drainage is bad.
Zebra stripes from prior 'cleaning'
Full surface-cleaner pass resets to uniform.
Our process
1. Sweep & inspect
Loose debris removed, stains mapped for pre-treatment.
2. Pre-treat
Degreaser on oil, oxalic on rust and clay, hypochlorite on organic streaks.
3. Surface-cleaner pass
Rotary at 3,500–4,000 PSI hot, uniform corner-to-corner.
4. Post-treat & photo report
Sodium hypochlorite rinse for lasting kill. Before/after photos texted same day.
Frequently asked
Will you leave stripes?+
No. We use a rotary surface cleaner, not a wand.
Can you remove oil stains?+
Almost always, the older the stain the less it lifts, but we get 90%+ on most.
Will you blow out my paver joints?+
No. Pavers get a lower-pressure setting to preserve joint sand. Optional re-sand available as add-on.
Do you seal after cleaning?+
Optional add-on. We use a solvent-based penetrating sealer that doesn't yellow.
How long does concrete stay clean?+
18–36 months with our post-treatment. Under heavy tree drop, closer to 12 months.
How much water do you use?+
About 4 gallons per minute, less than most garden sprinklers. We bring our own if you'd prefer.