Alright, let's talk about cleaning driveways with a pressure washer. I finally got around to tackling mine last weekend, and boy, was it an adventure. Folks always ask, "how long does it take?" and honestly, it really depends, but I'll tell you how my day went.

Getting Started: The Prep Work

First off, my driveway was looking pretty grim. We're talking years of built-up dirt, some lovely green algae in the shady spots, and a few mystery stains I don't even want to think about. It wasn't a tiny driveway, probably average for a suburban house, enough space for two cars, maybe a bit more. Before I even thought about firing up the pressure washer, I had to clear everything off. That meant moving the bins, a couple of old plant pots, and my kid's forgotten skateboard. That alone probably ate up a good 20 minutes, just making sure the coast was clear.

Then, I had to wrangle the pressure washer itself. I've got an electric one, not one of those super-powered gas beasts, but it does the job. Getting it out, untangling the hoses, finding the right nozzle – you know how it is. I probably spent another 15 minutes just getting set up and making sure the water connection wasn't going to spray everywhere but the driveway.

The Main Event: Washing Away the Grime

Once I actually started spraying, it was pretty satisfying, not gonna lie. Seeing that dirt lift off was great. But here's where the time really starts to add up. My driveway was pretty caked with grime. I started with a wider fan nozzle to get the loose stuff off and get a feel for it. That went okay. But for the really stubborn spots, those dark, algae-covered patches, I had to switch to a more concentrated spray and go slow. Real slow.

I found myself working in sections. It just felt more manageable that way. I'd do a square, then another, overlapping a bit so I didn't get those annoying zebra stripes. This part, the actual washing, took me a solid two hours, maybe a little more. I wasn't rushing. I wanted it to look decent. If your driveway is smaller, or not as dirty, you could probably blast through it much quicker. I've heard of people with small, fairly clean driveways being done in like, 30-45 minutes with a powerful machine. But that wasn't my reality this time around.

My machine is decent, but it's not a commercial-grade one. So, for the really tough bits, it took a few passes. If I had one of those super high PSI gas washers, I bet I could have cut that time down. But you work with what you've got, right?

The Aftermath and Total Time

After the main washing, I gave everything a good rinse down to get rid of all the dislodged gunk. You don't want that stuff drying back on. That was another 15-20 minutes, just making sure all the dirty water flowed away properly.

So, let's add it all up:

• Prep work (clearing the driveway, setting up the washer): Around 35 minutes.
• Actual pressure washing: A good 2 hours, maybe 2 hours 15 minutes.
• Final rinse: About 20 minutes.

All in all, I was out there for just about three hours from start to finish. And that includes a quick water break because, let me tell you, holding that wand for that long gets tiring on the arm and back.

The result? Man, it looked a hundred times better. Not brand new, but pretty darn close. It's one of those jobs that takes a chunk of your afternoon, but when you see the difference, it feels worth it. So yeah, for a moderately sized, pretty dirty driveway, with a standard electric pressure washer, budget yourself a few hours. If you're luckier, or better equipped, you might be faster. But that was my experience!