Been cleaning driveways and house exteriors in Winnipeg, and I keep seeing the same mistake: people wait until the concrete is black with mold and grime before calling anyone — by then you're not just cleaning, you're fighting years of buildup baked into the surface.

A few things I've learned doing this full-time:

1. Concrete is porous. The longer algae and mold sit, the deeper they root. A driveway cleaned every season takes a fraction of the time (and cost) of one cleaned every 3-4 years.

2. Pressure isn't the whole story. Cranking PSI on old or cracked concrete does more damage than good. The right chemical pre-treatment matters more than raw power.

3. Windows and siding age faster in prairie winters. Salt spray, hard water spots, and freeze-thaw grime build up fast here — spring is the highest-leverage time to get ahead of it.

If you're a Winnipeg homeowner and your driveway hasn't seen a proper clean since last year, it's probably costing you more in the long run than you think. Happy to answer questions if anyone's curious about DIY vs. calling in a pro.