No matter where you live, your driveway will go through a lot over time. From being exposed to the weather to being driven over daily, your driveway needs care and maintenance like every other part of your home does. 

Many people don’t realize they should be cleaning their driveway, while others simply choose not to. While this may seem like a decision with few, if any, consequences, you may be surprised. Take a look at some things that can happen if you don’t clean your driveway.

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What Happens Over Time if I Don’t Clean My Driveway?

Reduced Curb Appeal

Without regular cleaning, your driveway will deteriorate and look run down. As the first impression of your home, your driveway should be well taken care of, or guests and potential buyers will assume the rest of your home and property is in disarray.

Growth of Weeds and Moss

Even with an asphalt, concrete, or cement driveway, it’s possible for weeds and moss to grow on your driveway. You may not even notice the little cracks that start to form over time, but weeds and moss will, and they’ll quickly move in. Once they start to grow, the damage they make will only worsen and can be challenging to repair. 

When weeds and moss start to take over your driveway, they leave behind lasting damage. This damage can be irreparable and shorten the lifespan of your driveway even if you act quickly and remove the weeds from your driveway. The best way to prevent the damage done is to clean your driveway regularly so that weeds and moss don’t have the chance to start growing.

Mold and Mildew Growth

You probably didn’t think that your driveway could grow mold or mildew. But, along with algae, mold and mildew can take over your driveway if you aren’t cleaning your driveway. While you may not notice the dirt and bacteria building up in the pores of your driveway, mold and mildew will, and just like moss and weeds, they won’t hesitate to move in.

Lasting Stains

Your driveway is exposed to materials that leave behind stains even without you intentionally doing so. Mud, dirt, and oil can all leave stains behind, so if you aren’t cleaning your driveway, these stains can become unremovable.

Taking the time to simply hose off or sweep your driveway can do wonders to prevent lasting stains, but routine cleaning is the best way to prevent stains from soaking in and sticking around for too long.

Increased Safety Hazards

As you walk across your driveway, your feet and shoes will pick up bacteria and other harmful materials that have made their home in your uncleaned driveway. This may include mold spores, mildew, and harmful growth. While you may not think anything of it, tracking these materials inside can significantly reduce the air quality inside your home and become a health risk.

Tracking dirt inside your home on your feet or shoes can be equally harmful. The unhealthy and hazardous materials that grow and live in the pores of your driveway can make you sick and introduce toxins into your home.

Slippery driveways are another safety hazard of not cleaning regularly. When your driveway is slippery, it increases the risk of someone falling and hurting themselves. With bacteria, mold, and weeds growing in your driveway, even small scrapes and skids can lead to infections.

Conclusion

You may not think of it often, but cleaning your driveway is essential to your health and the condition of your driveway. If mold, moss, weeds, or mildew are allowed to grow in or on your driveway, safety hazards increase, and your home loses value and curb appeal. To avoid the risk of increasing health and safety hazards, it’s best to keep up with routine driveway cleaning and maintenance, so give us a call today.