Alright, let me tell you about my weekend. That concrete out back, the patio, the driveway… man, it was looking rough. Years of grime, some moss trying to make a home in the shady spots, and a few mystery stains I don't even wanna think too hard about. I’d been putting it off, you know how it is. But finally, I decided, enough is enough.

Getting Started with the Beast

So, I dragged out the power washer. Had this thing for a while, mostly used the wand for blasting stuff. But I remembered I had this circular scrubber attachment, the kind that looks like a UFO. Never really gave it a proper go on a big area. Figured this was the time. Hooking it all up is always a bit of a faff, isn't it? Getting the hoses connected without spraying myself, making sure the water's on. Standard procedure.

First thing, I cleared the area. Moved the bins, the old plant pots, a couple of forgotten kids' toys. You don't want to be tripping over stuff or blasting junk into next week. Put on some old clothes too, because let's be honest, you're gonna get wet and dirty. Safety glasses, always. Don't want grit in your eyes.

Unleashing the Scrubber

Once I got the power washer fired up, I attached that scrubber head. It just clicks on, pretty simple. I started on a section of the patio that wasn't too bad, just to get the feel of it. Pulled the trigger, and whoosh, the thing started spinning and hissing. It’s kinda like mowing a lawn, but with water and way more immediate satisfaction.

You just guide it back and forth, nice and slow. Not too fast, or it doesn’t clean as well. I found a steady pace was key. The water shoots down and the brushes inside do their thing, and you can see the dirt just lifting right off. It’s pretty cool to watch the clean path appear behind it. Way less messy than just using the wand, I’ll give it that. The scrubber contains most of the spray, so you’re not blasting mud all over the walls and windows, which is a definite plus. My wife appreciated that part, let me tell you.

Tackling the Tough Spots

Now, for the really grimy bits, especially where some algae had taken hold, I had to go over them a couple of times. Sometimes I’d linger on a spot, letting the jets and brushes work their magic. It’s not like it’s zero effort, you’re still pushing and pulling this thing, but it’s a whole lot better than being on your hands and knees with a stiff brush. My back was thankful, that's for sure.

• The sound wasn't too bad, more of a consistent hum and swoosh than the aggressive blast of a narrow nozzle.
• It used a fair bit of water, obviously, but I tried to be efficient with my passes.
• You do get a bit of a workout. My arms knew they’d done something by the end of it.

There was one old oil stain on the driveway. The scrubber lightened it up a lot, but didn't completely remove it. Guess some things are just too stubborn. But for general dirt, grime, moss, and that green slippery stuff? It chewed right through it.

The Aftermath and Thoughts

After a few hours, I had done the whole patio and a good chunk of the driveway. The difference was night and day. The concrete was back to its original lighter color, looking fresh. It’s funny how you get used to things looking a bit dingy, and then when they’re clean, it’s like, wow, that’s how it’s supposed to look.

Clean-up wasn't too bad. Just had to rinse off the scrubber head itself, disconnect everything, and coil up the hoses. The biggest job was just letting the concrete dry out. It looked even better once it was fully dry the next day.

So yeah, that power washer concrete scrubber attachment? Thumbs up from me. It’s not a magic wand, you still gotta put in some effort, but it makes a big, dirty job a whole lot more manageable and a lot less messy than just using a jet nozzle. If you’ve got a lot of flat concrete to clean, it’s definitely worth using. Made a tedious chore almost… almost enjoyable. Almost.