While scrubbing with a brush can clean small patches, pressure washing is significantly more efficient for larger paved areas. Manual scrubbing fails to penetrate porous surfaces like concrete, leaving deep dirt untouched.

Pressure washing, however, removes debris from small crevices with ease. The only time scrubbing becomes preferable is when the paving is delicate or when a pressure washer could cause joint sand displacement. A combined approach—detergent application followed by light pressure washing—often yields the best results.