commercial property cleaning Archives

August 12, 2021 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

SLUDGE SUCKER

There are some occasions on pressure washing projects where having the SLUDGE SUCKER is very handy. It’s usually a commercial property parking lot, but can also apply for some residential driveway cleaning jobs. In low lying areas usually water is gathers, puddles up, and isn’t able to adequately drain off with the rest of the property. It will generally be filled with mud and dirt because the water sits there and has nowhere to go.

HOW TO MOVE IT

The usual attack for standing water is to just use a pressure washer to spray it away. This can be frustrating, time consuming, and sometimes makes the property look worse than when you started. So sometimes its best to break out THE SLUDGE SUCKER. Also known as the sludge pump, this is an easy way to turn your pressure washer into a water pump. With it, it becomes very easy to move, displace, or relocate large amounts of standing water. There is no filter so dirt, leaves, debris and such is sucked up into the large hose and relocated quickly and easily.

HOW OFTEN

The sludge sucker is not something we use often. It does tie up some space on your truck or trailer, and we do not keep it with us for every job. It’s a tool that I know I have and as I do estimates for commercial properties, I can see if it would be important to have. But the last thing you want to do is leave a big puddle behind on a commercial parking lot. This is a poor reflection on your business so you’ll want to have a strategy in place to remove low lying standing puddles of water.

ONLINE VIDEO SCHOOL

If it interests you, take a look at my online video school with over 250 videos. You can drastically cut your learning curve and get set up for success right out of the gate as you start your pressure washing business.

July 13, 2021 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY CLEANING TIPS

This video features commercial property cleaning tips on a large, metal building with some unique challenges. There is a lot of limestone split face block which is very dirty because of its highly porous nature. Another description folks use for this is decorative block. Notice in the video the before and after photos that will give you a great feel for this project and how effective our cleaning methods turn out.

ADJUSTABLE CONE NOZZLE

I explain how we use an adjustable cone nozzle for cleaning this decorative block. Using a dedicated pump with the adjustable cone nozzle allows you to apply a gentle mist for this porous surface. We apply a 50% bleach mix mist so that the mix is not bouncing off the wall or running down onto the ground. I also show how we use an extension wand for this application method. We use the KINGSLINGER soft wash system to apply the mist mix. You can find the Kingslinger specifications and purchase options here.

DON’T FLOOD THE SURFACE

There is no need to flood a surface with bleach mix. This is especially true when applying solutions for roof cleaning. The goal is simply to get a nice, small coat onto the surface so that the bleach and the oxygen from the air can work together. In golf lessons, they usually advise something like “don’t try to kill it.” In other words, overpowering your swing is counterproductive. This also applies to the amount of bleach mix you put on the surfaces that you’re cleaning. Don’t kill it or overpower it.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WALLS

We could see both black and green mold or mildew colors on the metal walls. This is very common on surfaces where there is little exposure to the sun. Our first attempt at downstreaming was ineffective, so the Kingslinger came in handy for this part of the job as well. We apply a 30% with the 10 GPM Kingslinger soft wash system with the 0020 nozzle. There are more tips so be sure to check out the entire video! If you are interested in learning more about all the training options we provide, check out our extensive FAQ page.

May 22, 2021 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

Commercial Building Wash

Does your pressure washing business offer COMMERCIAL BUILDING WASH as a service? If not, you should definitely consider adding it. And if you do, you’ll want to consider including window washing as well. Here are some important tips to remember if you ever end up pressure washing commercial properties. With over 25 years of experience, I have learned a thing or two and enjoy passing these lessons along to others. My hope is that what I share will greatly reduce your learning curve.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

The first thing that we clean when providing a commercial building wash is the sidewalks and the entry way area. This way after the building wash, rinsing both the sidewalks and the building at the same time saves time. Also, cooler concrete cleans up better. So the earlier the concrete is cleaned, the better! In addition, pushing a surface cleaner in the hottest part of the day is least desirable. Streamlining your work to cut down on steps saves time, makes you more profitable and conserves your effort and energy. The doors for the entry way into this building were exposed by missing some of the gasket and insulation material. So we taped the door way to seal it off so water does not intrude into the building. Always remember to pressure wash in the direction of away from the doors and the building. In case of wood flooring, you have to be extra cautious to prevent water intrusion. And don’t use high pressure directly on the doors. We hand detail doors and windows, which is a high level of superior customer service than what most companies do.

EXTRA MILE

Even in cases where we are not cleaning the parking lot, there is a little some extra special we do. We always cleaning the handicap parking spots. This makes the area just a little big safer and a little less slippery as people are getting in and out of their cars. For this particular job, we also cleaned the dumpster area and mailbox at no extra cost and which was not part of the original written proposal. Be sure and watch the entire video for even more COMMERCIAL BUILDING WASH tips! Here is the link to my online video school if you are interested in learning more.

April 18, 2021 by Doug Rucker Doug Rucker

COMMERCIAL PRESSURE WASHING SETUP

One thing that every job must have is some sort of water source. Either it’s on the property, or you’re hauling the water. Recently we overcame a few challenges getting water on large commercial property. So this commercial pressure washing setup post and video will help other pressure washing professionals do the same.

THREE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

First, what are your water source locations? Second, how much water pressure flow volume are able to get from each location? Third, what is the distance from the water sources to the cleaning areas? The answers to these questions help determine how you set up for commercial jobs. This will help determine the ideal setup location based on how many times will you need to move setup in order to keep cleaning. As you examine water sources, check for leaks and let the owner know about those issues.

TOOLS NEEDED

One important tool to possess for commercial pressure washing setup is a water key. A four way sillcock key is another term for this tool that opens enclosed water sources on many commercial properties. But these are usually available at home improvement stores or hardware stores in plumbing. You really need to watch the entire video to gain more practical information for commercial pressure washing setup. The video provides an aerial schematic of the various water flow options along with back flow. These can be difficult to locate on commercial properties. If you are new to the pressure washing industry in need of a website, consider this!

For more tips and tricks on commercial pressure washing, check out this video.