Alright folks, grabbed the coffee this morning and finally tackled something that's been bugging me forever – the absolute state of my driveway. Seriously, it looked like a mud wrestling pit mixed with an oil slick convention. Time to figure out these driveway cleaning companies for real. Here’s how it went down.

The Mess I Was Dealing With

First off, took a good hard look out front. We’re talking thick green moss growing right up the middle, nasty oil stains from the truck near the garage door, and just… grime everywhere. Like, you could scrape it off with a shovel kinda bad. Regular hose work? Not cutting it anymore. Felt overwhelming, honestly.

Starting the Hunt

Hopped online thinking it would be simple. Typed in "driveway cleaning near me." Yeah, big mistake. Felt like falling into a rabbit hole. Pages and pages of companies with fancy names and loud promises – "Sparkle Like New!" "Stain Removal Guaranteed!" How do you even pick?

Decided to dig into actual reviews first. Scrolled through comments for about six different places. Took notes like:

• Joe's Jet Wash: Okay pricing, couple people mentioned they were late but got the job done.
• Premier Pressure Pros: Shiny website, but some reviews hinted at hidden fees popping up later.
• Grime Be Gone Guys: Cheapest, but mixed bag – "Didn't touch the moss," one guy wrote. Pass.
• Stellar Surfaces: Pricey, but tons of reviews raving about stain removal specifically.

Making the Calls (The Real Fun Begins)

Figured reviews only get you so far. Time to phone tag.

Called Joe's first. Guy sounded half asleep. Explained my moss-and-oil combo. "Yeah yeah, moss is extra." Didn’t even ask specifics. Gave a flat quote over the phone. Sketchy. Felt rushed off the call.

Phoned Premier Pressure. Super eager salesman voice. Started pushing some "deluxe surface protectant" before he even knew if I had concrete or asphalt! Wanted to send someone out "for a free estimate." Translation: probably a sales pitch. Said thanks but no thanks.

Finally tried Stellar Surfaces. Guy actually asked questions. "How big is the moss patch?" "How old are the oil stains?" "You know if it’s concrete or sealed asphalt?" Felt thorough. Booked them for an actual on-site quote because they insisted some stains need special treatment.

The Quote and Decision Time

Stellar guy showed up right on time – bonus points. Walked the driveway with me, pointed at the worst spots. Explained:

• Moss needs lower pressure and specific chems to kill the roots.
• Oil stains? Older ones need enzyme treatment, not just pressure.
• Basic wash won't cut it for either.

Got a clear, printed quote breaking down costs: Wash base price, moss removal charge per square foot, oil stain treatment fee per stain. Transparent, even if it stung a bit higher than Joe's guesstimate. They offered it right there. Went with them.

Job Day & The Real Results

They rolled up with two trucks – one for water, one with big tanks of stuff. Seemed professional. Took their time. Used that wand thing on the moss areas for ages, letting the chemical soak in first. The oil spots? Scrubbed in some thick paste by hand. Whole wash took over two hours. Loud, but thorough.

And the result? Night and day difference. I mean, the driveway is literally its original color again. Moss? Gone. The deep oil stains are about 90% faded – they warned the oldest one might not vanish completely without multiple treatments. But compared to before? Stellar lived up to the name.

What I Learned

This driveway saga taught me:

• Your mess matters:

What works for basic dirt bombs does NOT work for moss or oil. Figure out your actual problem first.


• On-site quotes beat phone quotes every time:

Especially for complex jobs.


• Listen to how they listen:

The folks asking questions usually know their stuff. The quick-buck artists show themselves quick.


• "Deluxe" packages are often fluff:

Stick to what you know you need. Get it itemized.

Saved myself a ton of headache and probably wasted money by digging past the ads. Driveway feels practically new now. Worth the effort figuring it out properly.