Mossy Driveway Cleaning

Help Around the House : Episode ARH-222 -- More Projects »
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Moss is a combination of bacteria, mildew and mold that can grow in damp areas with little sunlight. Use a strong bleach solution to clear it off a driveway. (click to enlarge)
Help Around the House host Henry Harrison comes to the rescue of a homeowner whose driveway is so covered with moss that it becomes slippery and hazardous after a rain. On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this job a one.

Tools:

stiff-bristled push brooms with synthetic bristles
pump sprayer
measuring container (such as a half-gallon plastic drink container)
garden hose with spray nozzle
bleach
rubber gloves
safety glasses

Steps:

1. Sweep up any debris and remove as much of the moss as you can with the push broom.

2. Next thoroughly water any vegetation near where you'll be spraying the bleach. This helps protect the vegetation from burns if you accidentally overspray the bleach. In fact, this project is best handled on a rainy day so the surrounding ground is nice and wet.

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Figure A (click to enlarge
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Figure B (click to enlarge
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Figure C (click to enlarge)
3. Put on gloves and safety glasses and make a mixture of one part bleach to two parts water (figure A). This is a strong mixture, so be careful.

4. Pour mixture into pump sprayer. Screw on lid of sprayer and pump it up to build some pressure (figure B).

5. Give the bleach about 15 minutes to work, then rinse away with water while scrubbing the driveway (figure C). This should get rid of the moss and prevent it from coming back any time soon.

Also in this Episode
Help Around the House : Episode ARH-222
•Rain Gutter Replacement
•Staircase Spindle Repair
•Mossy Driveway Cleaning
•Toe Nailing Tips