Okay, folks, let's dive into my little adventure with starting a concrete cleaning business. It wasn't exactly planned, more like stumbled into, but hey, that's how some of the best things happen, right?

It all started with my own driveway. Seriously. It was looking rough – oil stains, grime, you name it. I tried cleaning it myself with a regular hose and some soap. Nope. Didn't even touch it.

So, I started looking into pressure washers. Did some digging, watched a bunch of videos, and figured, "Why not?" I bought a decent one, not the cheapest, not the most expensive, just a solid mid-range model.

The first wash was a game-changer. I mean, it was like magic! Years of dirt and gunk just blasted away. My driveway looked brand new. My neighbor saw it and was like, "Whoa, can you do mine?"

And that's how it began. I did his driveway, then another neighbor's, and then a few more. Word of mouth is a powerful thing, let me tell you.

I quickly realized I needed to up my game. Just a pressure washer wasn't going to cut it for some of the tougher jobs. So, I started researching different cleaning solutions. There are tons of them out there, some specifically for concrete, some for oil stains, some for mold and mildew. It was a bit overwhelming, to be honest.

I ended up trying a few different ones, experimenting on small patches to see what worked best. Some were duds, some were okay, and a couple were real winners. I learned that you gotta be careful with some of these chemicals, though. Wear gloves, eye protection, the whole nine yards. Safety first, people!

• Got a decent pressure washer: Not top-of-the-line, but good enough to get the job done.
• Experimented with cleaners: Found a couple of go-to solutions for different types of stains.
• Learned the hard way about safety: Gloves, eye protection, always!
• Used my good-look driveway to impress the neighbors.

The business side of things kind of evolved naturally. I made some simple flyers, put them in mailboxes, and even started a basic social media page. Nothing fancy, just some before-and-after pictures and a way for people to contact me.

It's been a learning process, for sure. I've made some mistakes, like underestimating how long a job would take or accidentally spraying a flower bed with cleaner (oops!). But I've also learned a ton about concrete, cleaning techniques, and running a small business.

It's not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it's honest work, and it's satisfying to see the results. Plus, I get to be outdoors and work with my hands, which I enjoy. It's still a side hustle for me, but it's growing, and who knows where it might lead?