To clean paving and driveways, sweep off debris, treat oil and grime with a degreaser or heavy-duty cleaner, scrub or pressure-wash, then rinse — and if you plan to seal, let the surface dry fully first. Regular cleaning keeps paving looking good and stops algae making it slippery. This guide covers routine cleaning, oil stains and cleaning before sealing, using All-Rite or Industrial Degreaser.
How do you clean paving and driveways?
Sweep the area, wet it, apply a diluted cleaner, scrub or pressure-wash to lift dirt, grime and algae, then rinse off with clean water. For routine cleaning, a diluted, low-foaming cleaner such as All-Rite works well through a pressure washer and rinses cleanly without harming nearby plants. Work in sections so the cleaner does not dry on the surface, and give shaded, algae-prone areas a little extra dwell time. A stiff broom or a pressure washer provides the agitation that does most of the work.
How do you remove oil and grease from a driveway?
Oil drips need a degreaser scrubbed into the stain and rinsed off, repeated on older marks that have soaked into the surface. For stubborn petroleum oil on a concrete or paved driveway, solvent Industrial Degreaser penetrates deepest; for fresher grease, All-Rite Heavy Duty Degreaser does the job. Concrete and porous paving hold oil below the surface, so more than one cycle is often needed. The full method is in how to remove oil stains from concrete.
How do you get rid of algae and moss on paving?
Scrub algae and moss off with a stiff broom and a cleaner, or lift them with a pressure washer, then keep the area clear so they do not come straight back. Green and black growth thrives in damp, shaded spots and makes paving dangerously slippery. A diluted All-Rite wash combined with mechanical scrubbing removes it, and improving drainage or trimming overhanging plants slows its return. Sealing the paving afterwards also makes future growth easier to clean off, because the sealed surface is less porous.
Should you pressure-wash paving?
A pressure washer is the fastest way to clean paving, but keep the nozzle moving and not too close, or you can erode jointing sand and damage softer surfaces. Pressure washing pairs well with a low-foaming cleaner like All-Rite: apply the diluted cleaner, let it dwell, then rinse and lift the grime with the washer. Afterwards, top up any jointing sand that has washed out of block paving. On old or flaking surfaces, use a wider fan and lower pressure to avoid doing damage.
Can you clean natural stone, slasto and clay pavers the same way?
Yes, but softer and more porous surfaces like slasto, sandstone and clay pavers need gentler treatment — a milder dilution, softer agitation and lower pressure — because they mark and erode more easily than concrete. A water-based, non-acidic cleaner such as All-Rite is the safe choice here, since harsh acids can etch and discolour natural stone. Test a small hidden area first, keep a pressure washer on a wide, low setting, and rinse thoroughly. These porous surfaces also benefit most from sealing after cleaning, which slows staining and makes the next clean far easier. For the sealer options, see the stone sealer guide.
How do you clean paving before sealing it?
Clean the paving thoroughly, remove all oil, algae and loose material, and let it dry completely before applying a stone or paving sealer. A sealer applied over grime, oil or damp will not bond and will trap the dirt underneath, so cleaning is an essential first step, not an optional one. Degrease any oil stains, wash off algae and dirt, rinse, and allow the surface to dry for the time the sealer requires. Then seal to protect the paving and make future cleaning easier — see the stone sealer guide.
How often should you clean paving?
Give paving a general wash once or twice a year, deal with oil spills as soon as they happen, and clean algae from shaded areas before it builds up. Regular light cleaning is far easier than tackling years of ingrained grime, and it keeps a sealed surface performing longer. Sweeping regularly and rinsing off spills stops stains setting in. If your paving is sealed, a simple wash with diluted All-Rite keeps it looking new; if it is not sealed, consider sealing it to cut cleaning effort in future.
Where to buy
Get All-Rite (750 ml to 25 L) or Industrial Degreaser (5 L, 20 L) with national delivery. Visit our paint shops in Table View, Cape Town and Edenvale, Johannesburg, or call +27 84 985 6141. For the full cleaner range, see the degreaser guide.
