Pressure Washing

  1. home
  2. blog
  3. Pressure Washing
5 Reasons to Keep Your Roof Clean Year-Round

5 Reasons to Keep Your Roof Clean Year-Round

, , No comments

With spring drawing close to an end, now is the perfect time to do some spring cleaning if you haven’t gotten around to it yet. From the contents of your cupboards to the mess in your garage, now’s the perfect time to sort it out! One essential part of your spring cleaning this year that you might’ve forgotten about, however, is your roof.

Keeping your roof clean can go a long way in making your house look nice for summer. Keep in mind, however, that there are a lot of other benefits to keeping your roof clean all year round that you might not be aware of.

1. Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal

One of the first, and most obvious reasons to keep your roof clean throughout the year is to improve its curb appeal. Whether you’re planning to sell your house, or you simply want to make a good impression on neighbors, keeping your roof clean will go a long way in making your house look great.

If you’re planning on selling your house, getting your roof cleaning can be an inexpensive way to increase the perceived value of your residence. Remember, even if your roof is still in great shape, a dirty roof will scare off potential buyers. Most people looking for a house to buy aren’t roofing experts, so a dirty roof will cause potential buyers to assume that the roof may need to be replaced. Replacing a roof costs a significant amount of money, and buyers will likely subtract this amount from your asking price.

Depending on the value of your house and other factors, getting a buyer for your house might take up to a year. Keeping your roof in tiptop shape throughout the time you’re looking to sell is an excellent way of ensuring your house sells for its full worth.

2. Roof Cleaning is an Important Part of Maintenance

You may think that the only benefit to cleaning your roof is that it looks better, but this is far from the truth. In reality, roof cleaning is an important step in prolonging the lifespan of your roof and keeping it in an overall good condition.

When left too long without being cleaned, your roof can start to show signs of serious moss and algae growth. Left uncleaned for too long, this unsightly problem can develop even further, causing lichens to form on your roof.

This will not only make your house look completely dilapidated, but will also cause a significant amount of damage to your roof tiles or shingles. Lichens contribute to general wear and tear on your roof. When left over winter, these growths can freeze, causing them to expand and induce frost damage to your roof’s surface.

3. Protect Your House Structures

As mentioned, keeping your roof clean is an important roof maintenance step. By keeping algae, moss and lichens at bay, you’ll help to keep your roof in good condition for longer. Your roof is your first layer of protection against the outside elements, meaning damage to your roof can spread once your roof is no longer in good condition.

Some problem roof damage that are caused by lichen and moss growths include:

  • Moisture damage: Seeing as lichens and moss attract moisture to the surface of your roof, they can eventually cause moisture damage if left for too long.
  • Separation of shingles: When lichen penetrates your roof exterior, it can start to grow between your shingles, causing them to separate. This can lead to roof leaks, ceiling damage and other structural complications
  • Shingle damage: Besides causing shingles to separate, moss on lichen growths will lead shingles to bend and look misshapen.

Once your roof is compromised, other structures in your home will be completely vulnerable to the elements. Rain, hail, wind, UV rays from the sun and other weather elements will start to damage your home rapidly. This can lead to roof leaks and moisture seeping into your walls. When left unattended, these new problems will eventually lead to mold growths inside your home, which can have multiple adverse effects on your health.

4. Save Money on Roof Maintenance and Repairs

When you keep your roof clean, you’re preventing a lot of roof problems that could drastically shorten the lifespan of your roof. The cost of getting your roof clean might not be cheap, but compared to replacing your roof, it’s very reasonable. By keeping your roof clean, you can expand its lifespan quite a bit, which will save you a lot of money on roof maintenance, repairs and replacements.

To give you an idea, the average cost of roof cleaning in Miami is approximately $250-750, depending on the size of your roof. Roof replacement, on the other hand, tends to cost between $5000 to $15,000. Whereas the cost of roof cleaning is largely dependent on the current state of your roof, as well as its size in square feet, the cost of roof replacement will depend on the size of your roof, the contractors you use and the quality of your roofing shingles.

What’s clear, however, is that the price difference between cleaning and replacing a roof is very big. Spending $5000 to $15,000 on replacing a roof isn’t something anybody wants to do more often than necessary.

5. Save Money on Insurance Installments

Many insurance companies place a lot of value on how well you maintain your property. Often times, insurance companies can send out inspectors to take note of the overall condition of your property. If an inspector drives by your house, only to see moss, lichen and dark lines on your roof, chances are your insurance company will assume you aren’t investing enough into maintaining your property. This can cause your premiums to go up, which will keep costing you unnecessary money in the long-run

Keeping your property in good condition can go a long way in enhancing your quality of life, meaning it’s an investment you’ll benefit from. Rather than spending extra money on insurance costs, it’s better to maintain your house and get the most out of your money spent.

Choosing a Roof Cleaner in Miami, FL

Now that you know the benefits of keeping your roof clean, it’s important to choose a good roof cleaning contractor to clean your roof. While your could try to clean your roof yourself, it’s a risky job with a high risk of falls and injury. Hiring a professional to clean your roof can also help you get a better end result.

When hiring a roof cleaning company in Miami, FL, it’s important to ensure you’re hiring trained professionals. Be sure to ask any contractor you’re considering whether or not they have insurance, as well as whether their employees undergo training to ensure they adhere to safety regulations and offer quality services.

Also find out about the different roof cleaning services offered by different companies. Some companies will provide a pressure washing service to clean your roof. Other companies will make use of a sprayer (much like a garden sprayer) and other equipment to clean your roof. A few companies might also be willing to offer both pressure washing or alternative roof cleaning methods depending on what you prefer.

Do your research about different methods of cleaning a roof to make sure that the company you choose uses a roof cleaning method that you’re comfortable with. In some cases, it can also be beneficial to contact your insurance provider and ask what roof cleaning methods they believe is best, as some insurance companies might penalize you for using roof cleaning methods they believe to be potentially harmful.

Even though spring is almost over, it’s not too late to book a professional roof cleaner to take care of the dirt and grime on your roof. Call Kleanway Pressure Cleaning today to learn more about our roof cleaning, pressure washing and window cleaning services.

5 Reasons to Keep Your Roof Clean Year-Round
read more
The Homeowner’s Guide to Pressure Washing A House

The Homeowner’s Guide to Pressure Washing A House

No comments

Pressure washing is a great cleaning option for homeowners who want to remove loose paint, mold, dust, grime, or mud with little effort. Instead of scrubbing away at unwanted dirt on the exterior of your home, it’s faster and more effective to target hard-to-reach areas with pressure washing.

There are also numerous other benefits associated with pressure washing your house, office or parking lot. You can find a lot of reasonably priced pressure hoses on the market for anyone who is interested in DIY pressure washing a house. But if you’ve never used a pressure cleaner before, you may be unaware of which one to purchase and what water velocity is required to adequately wash the area concerned. If this is the case, follow the tips below before you attempt pressure washing your house.

What You Need to Know About Pressure Washing

Gas or Electric-Power Pressure Cleaner?

A gas-powered pressure washer is more ideal than an electric-powered one because it has a higher flow rate (GPM), which means that it’ll be much quicker to clean the area than using an electric-powered one. Although gas pressure cleaners are more expensive, they are worth purchasing if you don’t want to spend twice or sometimes three times as much time cleaning the same area. You will want the flow rate of your gas pressure cleaner to be at least 2.3 GPM.

Keep in mind, however, that higher flow rates will mean more pressure and too much pressure isn’t ideal. If you use a pressure washer that’s too heavy duty for the job, it might actually end up damaging your home’s exterior surfaces. Unfortunately, this means you might have to settle for a pressure washer with a low to medium pressure intensity. While this would be more versatile, you’ll find it challenging to  clean areas like your driveway and sidewalk.

Which Nozzle Should I Use on My Pressure Cleaner?

Your pressure cleaner should come with numerous different colored nozzles which all serve different functions. Nozzles are often color-coded, so this is something you can look out for to understand your equipment better.

The red nozzle is the highest velocity nozzle that can cause damage to most materials. This nozzle is usually used to remove weeds from cracks in driveways. Next is the yellow nozzle, which is used to strip paint and clean concrete. The green nozzle is good for removing dirt from patio furniture and decks but the pressure is too low heavy duty jobs. The pressure of the white nozzle is even lower, so if you are unsure of the water velocity you’ll need, this is a good place to start and then work your way up from here.

The black nozzle is used to dispense soap or detergent, water is released at a 65-degree angle. Finally, there’s the turbo nozzle, which usually is either blue or black. It’s much larger than all the other nozzles and like the red nozzle, should be handled with extreme care.

Detergents and Brush Attachments

It’s recommended that when using a pressure cleaner, you use detergent as well. This can be used in conjunction with the black nozzle attachment. Using detergent will make cleaning easier because it’ll require less time to clean the area than it would if you were just relying on water pressure. It will also pose less of a safety risk because using soap or detergent means that you require a lower pressure to clean the area. Just make sure that you use the right detergent for the materials you are cleaning.

Using a brush isn’t required but it’s useful for cleaning malleable materials where you don’t want to risk using a higher pressure nozzle. You can also purchase an extension wand for hard-to-reach areas.

Pressure Cleaning Safety Tips

Practice great caution while using a pressure cleaner, as the high velocity at which the water is released from the pressure cleaner could damage certain less durable surfaces and items, or even cause bodily harm.

It’s recommended to use safety goggles at all times when using a pressure cleaner because if you end up on the wrong side of the hose for whatever reason, it could cause extreme damage to your eyes.

Another tip is to avoid using ladders while using a pressure cleaner, as the push-back from the hose could cause you to fall. For cleaning hard-to-reach places, rather use an extension wand to avoid any injuries.

It’s also important to clear the area of anything besides what requires cleaning. This is important because if you are pressure cleaning the exterior of your house you would use a nozzle that’s pressure is higher than the one you would use to clean patio furniture and may end up damaging it.

Checking if your property was painted with lead paint is also something you should determine before attempting to clean the area. If your house is really old, i.e. it was built before lead paint was banned in 1978, then chances are that it still has a coat of lead paint on it, even if it’s hidden beneath layers of modern paint. Lead paint is extremely poisonous, so it’s important that no animal or human ingests paint dust or chips by accident.

The Benefits of Pressure Washing A House

Pressure washing a house offers many benefits. It’s the fastest way to blast away dirt from exterior surfaces. Maintaining the cleanliness of your home is about more than just a clean appearance.

It Increases The Market Value of Your Property

When buyers look at the a property, they take in the whole property holistically. Houses that stand out are ones that are in pristine condition, exceptionally well-kept. Even if you home is in perfect working order, an unclean appearance will decrease its value in the eyes of potential buyers. Remember, buyers aren’t won’t know your home is up-to-date with all its maintenance, so the cleanliness of your property will serve as a good overall indication of how well your maintain other things.

It Prevents Damage to Your Property

While the cleanliness of your home might not be an accurate indication of how well-maintained it is, home buyers who judge overall property value based on cleanliness aren’t too far off! The exterior of buildings continually face harsh weather and man-made elements, all of which all contribute to an ill-kept looking property, but there’s more to it than just looks.

Moss, algae and mold growth can all cause permanent damage to your property if left unattended. Not to mention the fact that small cracks or other structural damages might be hidden under a layer of dirt.

It Reduces Allergies and Improves General Well-Being

The general upkeep of your residential or commercial property also helps to protect the health and well-being of the inhabitants of the building. By removing health risks such as mold or mildew, you minimize allergies and improve the air quality. This is especially beneficial if there are any asthma sufferers living in your house, but anyone can benefit.

It Helps Prepare Surfaces

When considering repainting or varnishing any surface, it is important to ensure that the surface is clean and free of any dust, dirt, or residue. This includes those hard-to-reach places such as cracks and crevices. Pressure washing will prevent your beautifully repainted surface from being tarnished as a result of painting over particles of debris. Without thorough preparation, your newly painted home exterior or deck simply won’t look renewed and the paint won’t last nearly as long. Painting over an unprepared surface is worse than not painting at all. Pressure washing is a great way to ensure the surface is clean. After pressure washing, you can continue to sand down and prepare the surface as necessary.

It’s recommended to pressure clean your property once or twice a year and while pressure cleaning equipment is available for hire, in the long run, it is often cheaper and safer to hire a pressure cleaning service to take the hassle out of doing it yourself.

The Homeowner’s Guide to Pressure Washing A House
read more
The Ultimate Guide to Pressure Washing a House

The Ultimate Guide to Pressure Washing a House

No comments

It’s safe to say that pressure washers are one of those tools that everyone needs every now and again. Thanks to the elements, your home’s exterior succumbs to dirt, buildup over time. When this happens, a pressure washer is your best bet. They are great at removing dirt, even of the most resilient nature. With so many different pressure washers in the market, you certainly want to take the time to find out exactly which pressure washing equipment works best for you. If you’re considering to buy a pressure washing machine and do some of your own pressure washing, then there are a few things you’ll need to know about pressure washing equipment.

Pressure Washing Equipment: The Technical Terms

When you start shopping around for a pressure washer, it won’t take long before you come across two very important abbreviations – PSI and GPM. Understanding what they mean will assist you in choosing the best pressure washing equipment for you.

PSI (Pounds per Square Inch)

This number simply expresses how forceful the water is during cleaning. The higher the PSI, the better the cleaning power – but the greater the probability of damaging delicate surfaces like wood. Generally speaking, a PSI of around 2000 is good enough for most cleaning around the house.

GPM (Gallons per Minute)

GPM tells the volume of water dispensed per minute by the pressure washer. This is very useful because it lets you know how fast it will take the pressure washer to complete the job. You might think that a lower GPM is the way to go, however, it’s typically the other way around – the higher the GPM, the quicker your surface will be cleaned.
Now that you know what these are, you’ll be ready to learn more about pressure cleaning.

Gas vs Electric Pressure Washers

The pump that a pressure washer uses to increase the water pressure can be powered by either electricity or gasoline.

Gas Pressure Washing Equipment

Gas pressure washers have the ability to clean surfaces quicker and more efficiently compared to electric pressure washers. This is because they have higher PSI and GPM levels, which means that if you want a machine that has power, a gas pressure washer is great – you’ll have no problem getting through even the toughest dirt.
You also don’t have to worry about portability issues. Gas pressure washers rely on gas and are therefore cordless.

However, one thing to take note of is that gasoline engines require a lot of maintenance. The oil needs frequent changing. If you want to store the machine for a lengthy period of time, you’ll have to use the correct fuel additives to prevent damage. In addition, they are louder and produce emissions. They are, however, ideal for cleaning siding, decks, patios, fences, boats and vehicles.

Electric Pressure Washing Equipment

Electric pressure washers, as the name suggests, are powered by electricity. This means that you don’t have to worry about keeping up with oil change maintenance. There also aren’t any harmful emissions, so electric pressure washers are safe to use in poorly ventilated areas.

The downside to electric pressure washers is that they don’t have the capacity to clean large or excessively dirty areas. This is mainly because they don’t typically have the same power as gas pressure washers.

In other words, cleaning a large area would take a long, long time. Even after a long time cleaning, you might end up with unsatisfactory results. What’s more, since they need a power outlet to work, portability can pose a problem.

However, they are ideal for washing your car, outdoor furniture, plastic play sets and grills. They can also work for small decks and patios.

Pressure Washer Engine Size

You’ll have to choose an appropriate engine size, regardless of if you’re buying and electric- or gas-powered pressure washer. Remember, the total power of the machine is determined by the engine size. Engines can be categorized in four ways.

Light-duty

This pressure washer produces water pressure levels of less than 2000 PSI. You can use a light-duty electric pressure washer for cleaning your small patio or deck, or some outdoor household items every now and again. They are designed for light cleaning work.

Medium-duty

This pressure washer can produce water pressure levels of 2000 to 2800 PSI. Its higher pressure makes it ideal for cleaning your driveway, walkway, fencing and siding.

Heavy-duty

A heavy-duty pressure washer is perfect for removing stubborn dirt on large, hard areas. It can produce pressure levels of between 2900 and 3300 PSI, which makes if very powerful.

Professional-grade Pressure Washer

If you’re planning to do hours and hours of pressure washing, a professional-grade pressure washer is what you need. With a PSI of 3300 and higher, this pressure washer is the best choice for big pressure washing jobs like cleaning parking lots.

Pressure Washing Nozzles

The angle at which water flows when sprayed out is determined by the nozzle. Different angles affect how the water stream hits the surface you are cleaning.
For example, a narrow-angle spray is a lot more powerful compared to a large-angle spray. Choosing the right nozzle doesn’t have to be complicated though, because nozzles are universally color-coded based on how narrow and forceful the spray pattern is, making it easier for you to know which one to use.

Red: 0-degree Angle

Red nozzles are the narrowest nozzles, which makes them very dangerous if misused, since the narrow water stream can cause a lot of damage to surfaces, even metal. Never use a red nozzle close to any surface. This tip is mainly suitable if you want to get rid of weeds in cracks on your driveway or walkway.

Yellow: 15-degree Angle

Yellow nozzles emit a 15-degree spray and are a good option for washing concrete around the house or for stripping paint. Again, be careful with this nozzle since it can cause damage to wood and other softer materials.

Green: 25-degree Angle

A green nozzle gives you a 25-degree spray. It’s great for general pressure washing around the house. Use this tip for washing your car, boat, fence, deck, siding, or outdoor furniture.

White: 40-degree Angle

With a 40-degree spray, the white nozzle is probably the most user-friendly nozzle you could use. Choose white if you’re planning on cleaning your windows or siding. Generally, this is the nozzle to choose if you’re unsure of the right one, then you can work your way up to narrower tips.

Black: 65-degree Angle

Black nozzles (aka soap nozzles) are the gentlest due to a spray angle of 65 degrees. The pressure is so low that it can’t actually remove dirt,. Instead, black nozzles are used for making a surface wet before cleaning and to dispense soap.

Take Note

When it comes to choosing a nozzle, it’s better to use the broadest, lowest-pressure nozzle that can clean the surface you’re working with. Avoid using a nozzle that’s too narrow. The narrower the nozzle, the easier it can cut into and damage the surface you’re cleaning. One way to help you make sure you’re using the right nozzle is to test it by spraying on a discreet area before spraying the rest.

Pressure Washing Detergents

Lastly, as powerful as pressure washers can be, you may still need to use soaps and detergents for a perfect clean.
The importance of only using detergents that are meant for your pressure washing equipment cannot be stressed enough. Using the wrong products, like bleach, will damage your pressure washer.

Furthermore, you must select a detergent based on the surface you want to clean. Different detergents are meant for different surfaces. For instance, the detergent you use to clean your garage floor can’t be the same one you use to clean your car, as cars need something milder.

Many pressure washers come with detergent tanks, making the application simple with just the push of a button.

Ready-to-use Detergents

These detergents are premixed and all you have to do is add it into your detergent tank.

Concentrated Detergents

These detergents should be mixed with water until the correct ratio is achieved. Read the instructions carefully to ensure you get the measurements correct.

Getting Started with Pressure Washing

These are just the basics of pressure washing equipment for the beginner pressure washer. No matter the type, all pressure washers do a good cleaning job, but like so many things, it’s not a one-size-fits-all. You must source the equipment that best suits your needs and make sure you use the right techniques so that you don’t cause damage to your home, or even yourself. Wear protective gear like gloves and goggles to guard against any flying debris.

If learning how to pressure wash seems like too much hassle, why not call a professional to help? Professionals have all the right equipment and years of experience in cleaning various types of surfaces.

The Ultimate Guide to Pressure Washing a House
read more
How Much Does Pressure Cleaning Cost?

How Much Does Pressure Cleaning Cost?

No comments

It’s nice when your home exterior or storefront is spotless from top to bottom. A clean building echoes a unique sense of finesse, pride and professionalism: a certain quality that’s distinctly lacking if your place is overdue for a clean. If you cringe a little when you see the dirt buildup and grime on your property exterior, it’s a good time to book a pressure cleaning. But how much does pressure cleaning cost in Miami? Having a rough idea of pricing could help a lot when you’re getting quotes from power cleaning companies.

How Are Pressure Washing Services Priced?

Pressure washing companies can use different pricing types for their services. While some companies will charge per hour, others might opt for a pricing system based on the size of your property. Other pressure cleaning companies will forego individual pricing altogether in favor of flat rate prices.

Different approaches to pricing among service providers can make it difficult for you to effectively compare rates. If you decide to get quotes from several companies, you’re likely to run into this problem.

However, standard industry rates should remain roughly the same for your property. Each company should be able to give you a good estimate of what the work will cost from start to finish.

Another thing to remember is that pricing isn’t everything. Unfortunately, the old saying applies and you often get what you pay for. The cheapest company isn’t always the best, so be sure to choose a reliable business with a good reputation to pressure clean your property.

How Much Does Pressure Cleaning Cost: The Average Cost of Pressure Washing Services

According to Homeguide, the average cost of pressure cleaning a house is approximately $0.40 per square foot. Prices can range between $0.35 and $0.77 per square foot, with both ends of the spectrum still considered reasonably normal.

When you call out a pressure washing company, you can expect to pay around $173 to $358 in total for house sidings. The actual amount will depend on the size of your property, of course, as well as how much work is involved in cleaning it. On average, homeowners spend approximately $211 for pressure cleaning their property.

If you’re looking to have your deck or driveway pressure washed, you can expect to pay between $108 to $262. Once again, pricing will depend on the size of the property and work involved.

Here’s what you can expect to pay, on average, for pressure cleaning different areas of your home exterior:

  • Decks and patios range from $119 to $244
  • Roofs range from $250 to $600
  • The house, or siding can cost between $173 and $358
  • Fences cost approximately $155 to $290

Although this should give you a good idea regarding the cost of pressure cleaning services, there’s still more to know before you settle on a pricing agreement.

Pressure Washing Cost Factors

There are a few things that can influence what you pay for pressure cleaning services. Factors that can affect pricing include:

  • Where you stay
  • What kind of property you own
  • What kind of pressure cleaning service you require
  • What area of the property you want to clean
  • The company you choose to hire

If you want to clean an area of a property that’s soiled in tough dirt, you can expect to pay more than if the area you want to clean is already quite presentable. Companies might also charge more based on the demand for their services.

In most cases, pressure cleaning companies won’t charge extra to travel to your property. Most companies service specific areas, as long as your property falls within the given service area of the company you choose, no additional travel fees should apply. If your property is outside of normal service areas, be sure to ask how much companies will charge extra for travelling to your location.

Location and Pressure Cleaning Cost

As a rule, goods and services are more expensive in metropolitan areas than rural towns. The demand for services and good will increase the larger the population of the city or town where you stay.

Even so, demand for pressure washing services in your area will be unique. The amount of pressure cleaning companies available can play a role in the pricing of cleaning services. Too many companies in a saturated market, and you can score yourself a bargain. Too few companies servicing a large area, and you’ll need to reach a bit deeper into your pocket for a pressure washing session.

Property Type and Pressure Washing Cost

While homeowners get a good average of $211, commercial property owners won’t always be as lucky. Some commercial properties, like small storefronts, can cost roughly the same as residential properties to clean.

Big properties, like commercial parking lots, can cost quite a bit more than the average home. While the price per square foot for commercial properties is often lower, with $0.05 to $0.30 all being well within the average price range, the properties are usually much bigger.

Commercial property owners should be more vigilant than homeowners when choosing a service. While some pressure cleaning companies are much lower in price, the work quality is also often lacking – not because these companies can’t provide good service, but because the property owners are paying for a lower grade service than they ideally require.

Pressure Cleaning Service Options and Pricing

Not all pressure cleaning is the same. Most consumers are unaware that pressure cleaning and power washing are, in fact, two distinct services.

Power washing is like a form of pressure washing. What distinguishes power cleaning from pressure washing, however, is the use of hot water in a power cleaning machine. This makes power cleaning a really good choice for removing tough dirt, degreasing surfaces and even killing fungi, like algae or mold.

Pressure washing is done with normal cold water as you’d get from a garden tap. While it’s still effective for a wide range of purposes, the lack of heated water means that high pressure is what makes pressure cleaning effective.

Power cleaning is typically a bit more expensive than pressure washing, but it can also be more effective sometimes. Because of this commercial property owners should insist on power cleaning for tough-to-clean areas like parking lots and commercial garages.

Save with Pressure Cleaning Special Offers

While you shouldn’t always choose a company based on low pricing, there’s one instance where you can take advantage of low prices without missing out on quality – special offers.

Pressure cleaning services won’t always have special offers available, so it’s important to put yourself in a position where you can see specially offers whenever they’re available

To stay up-to-date regarding special offers you can contact local services in your area and ask about annual special offers. You can also follow pressure cleaning companies on social media so that you’re first to see when there’s a special available.

Just keep in mind that not all special offers would necessarily be helpful to you. Some might apply specifically to decks and patios, whereas others might focus on driveways, for instance.

Choosing a Pressure Washing Service

When you hire a pressure cleaning service, the cleanliness and protection of your property should take priority. Always hire a company that fulfills all the necessary legal requirements to operate.

Any company you hire should have some form of business insurance and be a licensed service provider for your area. Without these two qualifying factors, you shouldn’t even consider hiring a company.

Additionally, it’s good to work with a company that has experience in the pressure cleaning industry. While it isn’t an absolute must, pressure cleaning mistakes are likely to leave damage on your property. Working with experienced professionals is your best bet if you want to avoid any unwanted mishaps.

How Much Does Pressure Cleaning Cost?
read more
How to Clean a Wood Fence the Right Way

How to Clean a Wood Fence the Right Way

No comments

Painted or varnished, wood fencing is timeless and can add a lot of character to your garden. To keep your wood fence looking as good as new will require some maintenance though. Some of the most important maintenance tasks for wood fencing include cleaning and repainting every once in a while. While fence maintenance might seem easy, you should know how to do it properly. Using the wrong cleaning techniques for a wood fence could cause the wood to crack or warp, so it’s important to know how to clean a wood fence the right way.

Wood Fence Problems: Maintaining Your Wood Fence

Unlike plastic or steel, wood is a plant-based material. The fact that it’s derived from an organic source makes it prone to rot and other forms of decomposing. After all, in nature decomposition of dead organic matter is necessary and helpful. This doesn’t mean that wood isn’t durable, but it takes extra effort to preserve its condition when compared to other materials. Wood can rot, mold, crack and fade quickly when not cared for properly.

When dealing with warm, humid climates (which are often found close to the sea) it’s especially important to clean your wood fence regularly. Cleaning will prevent mold growth and rot.

But while humid weather can cause rot, excessively dry conditions will make your fence to crack and become dusty more quickly. Dust is a sore eye and can mask more serious problems, like cracks.

Hot, sunny conditions also tend to be an issue for wood fencing. UV damage can cause your wood and finishes to fade more rapidly. To fix this, you’ll need to redo the finish on your fence annually or bi-annually. If you’re wondering when you need to repaint, simply check if your current finishing is faded, scratched, chipping or coming off.

When your finishing starts to create bubbles, it’s sign that the wood underneath has absorbed moisture. Don’t leave your fence if you see bubbles in the finishing. Waiting will only cause the wood to start rotting more, in which case you might need to replace your fence all together.

The best way to keep track of the condition of your fence is simply to clean your wood fencing regularly. You’re sure to spot potential issues during cleaning that demand your attention.

How to Clean a Wood Fence Yourself

To clean your wood fence yourself, you will need a wire brush, fence cleaner, garden hose and a soft plastic brush.

For a wood fence cleaner, you can use a commercial product specially designed for cleaning wood decks and fences. Alternatively, you can use oxygenated bleach (dilute according to manufacturer instructions) for a homemade solution. If you want a more natural solution, you can dilute vinegar in water, although this is unlikely to be as effective as other options.

Step 1: Preparing Your Fence

To start cleaning your wood fence, use your wire brush to remove large dried clumps of mud and other debris. Be careful when brushing. Don’t apply too much pressure, as this can scratch and damage the surface of your fence.

Once there are no more clumps of debris on your fence, use your garden hose to rinse it well. Also check for spiderwebs during this stage and rinse them away where possible.

Step 2: Apply a Wood Fence Cleaning Solution

Now that your fence is ready, you can apply your fence cleaning solution. If you’re using oxygenated bleach, apply it all over your fence with a large paint brush. Wait 15 minutes for it to work.

If you’re using a specialized wood deck and fence cleaner, use according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. You should be able to buy a specially formulated wood deck and fence cleaner from your local hardware store.

If you opt for the eco-friendly vinegar and water option, you can make your mixture with half a cup of vinegar diluted in a gallon of water. Use a larger ratio of vinegar to water if your fence is particularly dirty. To wash your fence, apply the mixture using a sponge. Wait 15 minutes.

Step 3: Brush the Fence Down

After waiting for 15 minutes to let your cleaning solution work, it’s time to scrub it. Use your plastic bristle soft brush and thoroughly scrub your fence all over. You can use a bucket of water to dip your brush occasionally while you scrub.

Check your fence for mold, stains and other dirt while scrubbing. Focus on these areas to make sure your fence is properly clean.

To protect yourself, always wear a protective mask while cleaning mold. A gas mask will work best, as it will ensure you aren’t breathing in any spores. Some forms of mold can be very dangerous to your health.

When working with bleach and other harsh chemicals, you should also wear protective gloves. Wear your protective gloves throughout the process, both while applying your solution and while scrubbing the fence.

Step 4: Hose Down with a Hose Pipe

Once you’re satisfied that you’ve covered all the different areas on your fence, it’s time to rinse it down. Rinsing will remove the cleaning solutions and dirt that remain on your fence after scrubbing.

Simply use your hose pipe with an adjustable nozzle that allows you to control the water pressure, or a spray gun attachment. Just make sure you have high enough pressure to properly rinse down the residue left on your fence.

After the final rinse, check your fence again for any remaining stains or mold. Spot treat problem areas with more cleaning solution and repeat the process for these areas.

Pressure Cleaning a Wood Fence

If manually cleaning your wood fence seems like too much effort, why not try pressure cleaning? The benefit of pressure cleaning is that pressure washing your wood fence will blast away dirt quickly and effortlessly compared to manual cleaning. A downside of pressure cleaning is that it can be dangerous. The water beam from the pressure washer nozzle is powerful enough to injure you or damage your fence.

To avoid injury or damage, it’s best to call in a professional power cleaning service to clean your wood fence. Professionals are quick and efficient. As an added bonus, you won’t need to spend your free time doing maintenance work. If there are any other areas around your house that need cleaning, such as your driveway, deck or sidings, you can have the pressure washing company clean them too.

Ask your power cleaning company what cleaning solution they use. If your fence is close to your garden or grassy areas, you’ll need to prevent cleaning chemicals from damaging your garden. One option is to cover your garden with a waterproof plastic cover, although this might not entirely prevent damage to your plants. Another way is to ask your power cleaning company to use eco-friendly cleaners that aren’t damaging to your plants.

Cleaning a Wood Fence before Repainting

You might’ve heard that it’s important to clean your wood fence or deck before repainting it. This is true. Once your fence is clean, you need to sand down the current finishing to remove it before you paint again.

You can also remove paint using a paint remover. Ask an assistant at your local hardware store for a paint remover that’s best suited for wood surfaces. To use paint remover on wood, apply a thick layer of remover with a large, inexpensive paint brush. Wait for about 20 minutes, or until the paint begins to bubble, then use a scraper to gently scrape it off without damaging the surface of the wood.

Another method of removing finishing is with a heat gun. For this method, you will need a heat gun. Follow the instructions of the heat gun manufacturer for how far you need to keep it from your fence. Once you’re done with the heat gun, you’ll need to scrape the fence. Unfortunately, this method is dangerous, so you’ll have to be careful to avoid burning yourself.

Even if you use a paint remover or heat gun, you might still have to sand down some of the finishing that remains once you’re done.

There are multiple ways you can clean your fence for great results. While one way isn’t necessarily better than another, there are ways that are certainly easier. When deciding how to clean your wood fence, consider factors such as how much time you’re willing to spend and your budget. When deciding what cleaning solutions are best, consider the state of your fence. If you have lots of mold, a bleach solution or wood deck and fence cleaner is best. However, if you have a garden, you’ll need to protect it. Consider using a cleaner that’s not damaging to your plants.

How to Clean a Wood Fence the Right Way
read more
Pressure Washing Checklist for Your House

Pressure Washing Checklist for Your House

, No comments

Spring might just be over, but it’s not too late to pressure clean your house for the summer! Pressure cleaning your house will improve its curb appeal and prevent buildup of algae and moss growth. A clean house will also boost your confidence and make you feel better about your residence whenever you invite over friends and family.

While the idea of pressure washing your house seems simple enough, there can be a lot of things that need to be cleaned. Don’t miss a spot! Follow this checklist so your house will be the cleanest you’ve ever seen it.

Pressure Washing Your Home Exterior

When pressure washing your house, starting with the home exterior is the obvious choice. Surprisingly enough, there are areas of your home exterior that you might forget to pressure wash. Make use of this checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Exterior Walls/Sidings

The walls and sidings are the first area that will come to mind when you think about pressure cleaning your house. Pressure cleaning can be a great way to wash away dirt and grime to make your home’s exterior look brighter again.

Eventually, pressure cleaning alone won’t be enough anymore and you’ll need to repaint your house. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pressure clean it though. Pressure cleaning is a great way to prepare your house before you repaint it.

Windows

Windows are built into the walls, so it’s quite surprising that homeowners sometimes forget them when cleaning the home exterior. It’s easy to overlook windows, or to assume that pressure cleaning your sidings will simultaneously clean your windows as well, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

Pressure cleaning windows properly helps to ensure you get the spotless finish you were hoping for. When pressure cleaning windows, it’s important to use the right technique to avoid stains, dust or even damage are left behind after cleaning.

Always make sure that the caulking is still in a reasonable condition before pressure cleaning your windows. Also avoid using a pressure setting on your pressure washing machine that’s too high.

Decks and Patios

A deck or patio can be the perfect place to spend your time during the summer. Having barbeques and al fresco meals on the deck or patio is way more alluring during the warmer months. You and your family (including your pets) are likely to spend way more time outside during summer.

Pressure cleaning your deck or patio is a great way to get it ready for the summer. After not using your outside space for so long in the winter, there’s a good chance you’ll find cobwebs and everyday dust and grime.
Don’t just prepare your deck or patio for summer, though. After using your deck or patio so often during the summer, there can be a lot of dirt from all the outside meals you enjoyed. Food and drink spills are often oily or sticky, so they can be tough to get rid of without a pressure washer. Pet dander and dust can also accumulate in small crevices – pressure cleaning can help to remove such dirt effectively.

Don’t Forget Your Roof!

Chances are you don’t put a lot of thought into your roof. You probably don’t take a moment to look at your roof regularly, so it’s mostly out of sight and out of mind. If you really want to pressure clean you house properly, though, you’ll definitely make sure your roof also gets a good clean.

Pressure cleaning your roof avoids build up of moss and algae. If you leave your roof too long without giving it a clean, it will eventually develop lichens, which is a combination of algae and moss that presents itself as thick growths that look like mossy plants on your roof. Regularly cleaning your roof will control this problem, which will help to prolong the life of your shingles.

While you’re busy cleaning the roof, it’s good to also have a look at your gutters. Cleaning out your gutters will help water drain from your roof more easily – in turn, this will also help to slow down the algae and moss growth on your roof. Algae and moss readily grow anywhere with constant dampness and moisture, so ensuring your roof is well-drained will inhibit the growth of these unwanted fungi.

Areas Around Your Home to Pressure Clean

A lot of people pressure wash their homes, but forget to wash other areas around the house. If your house is spotless, but its surroundings are grimy, your property will still look neglected.

Driveways and Walkways

Driveways and walkways can be particularly prone to staining. Especially if you have a motor enthusiast at your residence who enjoys to work on cars. Oil spills from vehicles, dust and grime often build up on driveways. Whenever you drive to go anywhere in your car, your tires pick up dirt from road surfaces, a lot of which will end up on your driveway.

When cleaning your driveway, it’s important not to forget your garage floor as well, as this is another areas that’s prone to gathering dirt and stains.

Pressure cleaning is a very effective way to clean driveways. Even oil stains, paint stains and other tough marks can be cleaned or significantly reduced in just one wash.

Outdoor Furniture

Why clean your deck or patio, only to leave the furniture you put on it? Pressure cleaning outdoor furniture is a great way to get an effective, quick clean. Just be sure to keep the pressure on a low setting, as using a setting that’s too high could ruin the finish or even leave chips and marks.

Even outdoor pillows made from heavy duty fabrics can be pressure washed, so you won’t need to worry about taking them to the cleaners.

Fencing
Fencing can add a nice touch of character to your property, but like any other area around your house, it must be maintained. Cleaning your fencing with a pressure washer is great. As with garden furniture, you’ll need to use a lower setting to avoid damage.

Garbage Cans

It’s not surprise that garbage cans collect a ton of dirt, bacteria and even bad odors. Still, if the odors are getting so foul that it smells like a rat died within a few feet of your garbage can, taking out the garbage will become an absolute nightmare.

Pressure cleaning your garbage can is a good way to get rid of the nasty smells while keeping some distance. After all, the prospect of taking a scrubbing brush or sponge to clean the garbage can hands-on is appalling.

Play Areas and Garden Statues

Play areas are best kept clean. You wouldn’t want your child to come home with stained clothes from going down the slide or sitting on the swings. As with most other outdoor things, pressure washers are effective at cleaning play areas.

If you have any outdoor decorations, such as garden statues, fountains or ornaments, pressure washing can get rid of algae and dirt buildup.

Pressure Washing: Should Your Go DIY or Hire a Professional?

With so many things to pressure wash and so little time, hiring a professional is definitely an attractive option. Apart from time and costs, there are other things you should consider when deciding whether you want to do your pressure cleaning yourself or hire a professional.

The first thing to consider is your own experience with pressure washing. If you’ve never picked up a pressure washing machine before, don’t assume it will be easy. Pressure washing isn’t like normal cleaning work. It’s not something you outsource just to save time and get optimal, professional results.

If you want to pressure clean your own property, it can cost you a lot more than time and “optimal results”. Property damage and even personal injury are both very real risks you must take into consideration.

However, you also can’t hire any company. Be sure to check reviews and ask about all the necessary licensing before hiring a Miami pressure washing company. Doing will help you get the best results without the risk for injury and property damage.

Photo Credit https://www.bmstores.co.uk/

Pressure Washing Checklist for Your House
read more
Causes and Removal of Black Stains on Roofs

Causes and Removal of Black Stains on Roofs

, , No comments

The outside of your house is your first opportunity to make a good impression on passersby, guests and neighbors. If you’re planning to sell your house, a clean and well-maintained exterior is all the more important.

Keeping your roof clean is a simple, but effective way to improve the curb appeal at your residence. Black stains on your roof can unsightly, and make an otherwise perfect house seem neglected. But what causes black stains on your roof, and how can you fix them?

What’s the Difference Between Mold, Mildew and Algae?

While many homeowners believe that black roof stains come from mold, mildew or even soot, it’s actually caused by an algae. There are a few important differences between algae, mold and mildew.

The good news is that algae is less harmful than mold and mildew, making it more of an aesthetic problem than a health concern. The bad news is that sometimes homeowners struggle to tell the difference between mold, mildew and algae.

What is Mold and Mildew?

Mold and mildew are both fungal growths that can appear in your home. While mold is a broad term which includes a wide variety of different types of fungal growths, mildew is a particular kind of mold which grows mainly on organic materials.

Mold can be very dangerous for your health, especially black mold (also known as stachybotrys chartarum) which often grows in different areas inside the home. Other common household molds include penicillium, aspergillus, alternaria. Many different mold types can appear black, so it’s often difficult to tell the difference between stachybotrys chartarum and other mold types.

Scientifically speaking, mildew grows only on plants – especially certain varieties of plants predisposed to mildew problems. However, when it comes to your house, any flat-growing mold growth can be referred to as mildew. Mildew can also growing indoors can have negative consequences for your health – coughing, headaches and allergies are common symptoms. It’s generally not as dangerous as black mold, but it can be hard to tell the difference.

Common household molds penetrate surface of an area where they grow, with spores reaching even beneath the surface. Mildew, on the other hand, only grows on top of surfaces.

Both mold and mildew are a cause for concern, but if you have a growth in your house and you’re uncertain whether it’s black mold, or just black mildew, a simple bleach test can help. Put a few drops of bleach on the area where you see the growth and leave it for a while. If it becomes lighter, it’s likely to be mildew. Growths that stay dark after applying bleach are more likely to be mold.

If you suspect you have mildew, it can easily be cleaned with some cleaning equipment. Just be sure to wear gloves and a face mask while cleaning. Use bleach, a scrubbing brush, sponges or cloths to clean – whatever works best for you. Just be sure to discard of all your cleaning materials when you’re done, as reusing them on other surfaces can spread spores, causing growths to appear in new areas.

If your fungal growths appear to be mold. It’s always best to call a professional cleaning company. Cleaning mold yourself could cause a major health hazard and any improper practices while cleaning could help the mold spread throughout your house more.

If you’ve performed the bleach test and you’re still uncertain if the growth you have is mold or mildew, have it tested to make sure what you’re dealing with.

How is Algae Different?

By understanding a bit more about mold and how it grows, distinguishing between mold and algae will be easier.

Algae usually grows only on the outside of your home. It’s unsightly, but it causes no threat to your health. Whereas mold and mildew can lead to health problems, algae is nothing but a nuisance.

Although algae can grow anywhere, it prefers to grow in warm, humid weather conditions. This makes Miami, FL one of the worst affected areas in America when it comes to mold growth on rooftops.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to get rid of mold growth on your roof permanently. Spores are always present in the air. In time, algae will reappear on your roof, even if you had it cleaned. How soon after cleaning the algae comes back can depend. In weather conditions that are favorable for algae growth, it tends to reappear sooner.

Mold can spread inside your home if it’s currently growing on the outside surfaces, such as your roof, sidings or deck. Check the inside of your home for any growths. Especially areas that are dark or moist – your bathroom, basement or any other area of your home that’s often exposed to moisture are good places to keep an eye on.

If there’s any mold or mildew growing inside your home, a good clean both inside and out might be necessary.

Gloeocapsa Magma: The Stain-Forming Algae

Keeping an eye out for mold and mildew can save you a lot of effort and money. By identifying and controlling mold growth on your home’s exterior, you could prevent mold from spreading inside as well.

However, black stains on your roof most often aren’t a cause for concern. Usually, these unsightly marks are caused by a kind of algae called gloeocapse magma (often called blue green algae).

It’s usually hard to see gloeocapse magma in the early stages of growth. After a while, however, the growth will begin to show as black streaks on the roof. This is because gloeocapse magma forms a outer layer that’s darkly-pigmented. This coating offers protection against UV rays, helping the algae survive on your roof.

Algae growth can be found on any roof, but it’s most common on asphalt shingles. This is because asphalt shingles contain fillers such as limestone and crushed fiberglass. These fillers, especially the limestone, made asphalt shingles much cheaper, but they provide the perfect place for algae to thrive.

If algae is left uncleaned, it can combine with all kinds of different fungi and form lichen on your roof. Because lichen can have roots, it can be harder to clean than only blue green algae, so it’s always best to take care of algae problems as soon as possible.

How to Clean Black Roof Stains?

Cleaning black roof stains can be done in multiple ways to clean a roof. Using bleach is effective, as it kills off algae and other growths present.

Many professional roof cleaners make use of pressure washers to clean roofs. Pressure washing is combined with a special cleaning agent to kill off fungal growth and spores. While this method can be effective, it’s important to ensure that the company you hire has trained professionals. Too much pressure can damage your roof, which will do more harm than good.

If you don’t want a professional roof cleaner to use a pressure washer to clean your roof, ask about cleaning with a pump-type garden sprayer. This method can take much longer and will probably cost quite a bit more, but there’s less risk of damage to your roof.

If you’re up for a challenge and you have free time on your hands, you could also try to clean your roof yourself. However, this isn’t really recommended, as you can easily slip and fall while cleaning.

If you can put some safety measures in place to prevent a fall, you can clean your roof using bleach and water. Mix bleach and water. One part bleach for 5 parts water is a good ratio for dilution. Using a garden sprayer, you can spray your whole rood down with the bleach solution. After leaving it for 15-20 minutes, you can return and spray down the roof with a garden hose fitted with a spray nozzle.

When cleaning your roof, it’s important to wear protective gear. Gloves, slip resistant shoes and protective clothing are all necessary for protection. Once you’ve treated your roof with the bleach solution, it can become very slippery – avoid walking around on your roof as much as possible. Also consider the safety of your garden, as cleaning chemicals like bleach can run down your rooftop into your garden, poisoning your plants.

Why Hire Professional Roof Cleaners for Algae Removal?

Cleaning your roof yourself is very dangerous and the results won’t be as good as if you hire a professional. If you clean your roof thoroughly on a regular basis, you can prolong its lifetime and avoid the need to replace shingles.

Even though it seems simple, there are many things to take into consideration when cleaning a roof. Practices to reduce the risk of falls, minimize health hazards and protect the integrity of shingles all combine to provide a clean, perfect result. Another important area of consideration is preventing the cleaning solution from running into your garden, where it can cause damage to grass and plants.

For the well-being of your roof, it’s always best to hire professional roof cleaners for your Miami, FL roof. Hiring professionals not only ensures the best results, it also protects you from the potential hazard of falling. Call Kleanway Pressure cleaning today to schedule a cleaning for your roof. By regularly cleaning your roof and home exterior, you’ll not only have the cleanest house in the street, you’ll also control algae and prevent lichens from forming.

Causes and Removal of Black Stains on Roofs
read more
Cleaning Grease from Restaurant Establishments

Cleaning Grease from Restaurant Establishments

, No comments

Seeing as restaurants serve food, customers and authorities have high expectations for the cleanliness of these establishments. After all, no one wants to eat food if it wasn’t prepared in a hygienic environment.

However, the sheer workload restaurants have to handle on a daily basis can lead to a lot of greasy dirt buildup. To make matters worse kitchen staff such as cooks are often responsible for kitchen cleanup after a long day, leading to rushed efforts to clean the cooking area before heading home.

All these problems add up. Sooner or later, many restaurants owners find themselves scratching their heads, wondering how the place got so dirty so fast and, perhaps more importantly, what can be done to clean the mess up.

Grease in Restaurant Kitchens

The problem with restaurant kitchens is that there’s always movement. Oil is constantly used in cooking for frying and preparing food. As such, almost all the areas of the restaurant, like as windows, kitchen floors and even carpets regularly need a good clean.

Cleaning grease can be rather difficult, though. Which is why many restaurants struggle with a grease problem. However, there are some ways that restaurant staff can improve their daily cleaning routines to more effectively clean grease.

Use Different Mops

It helps to have a different mop for the kitchen and dining area, seeing as the kitchen mop is much more likely to be dirty. By marking mops to distinguish between them, the greasy mop used in the kitchen won’t dirty the dining area. Compared to the other mop, the kitchen mop should regularly be replaced. This same method can be used for all cleaning supplies, like cleaning cloths and squeegees too.

Clean Twice Daily

When faced with the problem of restaurant staff not having enough time to clean properly at the end of a work day, the solution can be as simple as getting someone to come in early each morning to clean all the areas missed the previous evening.

Only one person needs to come in early to clean and staff can rotate the responsibility according to a weekly schedule. Even just 30 minutes of cleaning before the day starts can make a difference to the overall cleanliness of the restaurant.

Using the Right Products

Water alone isn’t effective at cleaning grease. As you might’ve noticed, oil and water don’t generally tend to mix. This is because oil molecules are “water-fearing” meaning they aren’t attracted to water molecules. What this means for your grease cleaning, is that a good cleaning product specifically designed to dissolve oil must be used to clean in the restaurant.

Products that are effective at dissolving grease include:

  • Dish soap for general grease cleaning
  • Baking soda and vinegar for tough, old oil stains
  • Alcohol mixed in water for dissolving grease
  • Special de-greasing products

The most important thing is not to try and clean grease stains only with water and products that aren’t effective at cleaning away grease. Because the whole restaurant kitchen can have grease stains, a solution of dish soap (or other mild cleaning agent) and water should be used in all areas of the kitchen, such as counter tops, stoves and even walls.

Cleaning Grease from Floors

Greasy floors can be a problem area in restaurant kitchens. A greasy floor can pose a slipping hazard, so it’s important that the floor be properly de-greased during daily cleaning.

As with any other area in the kitchen, using good cleaning products with de-greasing properties helps, however, following an appropriate cleaning routine is also important. Always clean the kitchen from top to bottom, meaning counters and higher areas should be cleaned first and floor should be left for last. This will help avoid new dirt from getting on the floor when the counters are wiped down, so the floor won’t have to be revisited for cleaning.

For restaurants with carpeted dining areas, occasional food and oil spills can also be a problem. To properly keep carpets clean, it’s important that they are professionally cleaned every once in a while. However, to manage everyday stains between professional cleanings, a waterless carpet cleaner can be used, which can be added on to the stain, left for a while and vacuumed out later. Using such products should help manage the problem until the next professional clean.

Cleaning Greasy Restaurant Windows and Glass

Windows and glass panels are an area often forgotten during daily cleaning. In restaurant kitchens, windows often become full of oil splatter buildup, which can be very tough to clean if left for too long. To manage this problem, it’s important to wipe windows with a de-greasing agent once a day during regular cleaning.

A lot of restaurants have a layout where a glass panel allows customers from the dining area to see into the kitchen where the staff are preparing food, this is often a problem area where grease is exceptionally prone to accumulate. However, any windows and glass panels close to where the food is being prepared are a potential problem area and should be checked for dirt buildup regularly.

If all windows are still looking good, wiping them once a day should be good enough. But if any windows are found to be exceptionally dirty, it’s always best to call in the help of a professional window cleaning service.

Booking regular cleanings will not only help keep all your windows clean, but will also ensure that window areas that are missed during regular cleaning don’t go unwashed for months at a time. Often times, even hard to reach windows that are high up can accumulate some greasiness, especially when they’re located close to the stove.

Restaurant Grease Buildup: When to Call in Professional Help

Training staff to follow a proper cleaning routine, stocking up on effective degreasing agents and often replacing greasy cleaning equipment are all effective ways to control grease in your restaurant on a day to day basis. However, every now and then, it’s good to call in professional help to do some spring cleaning.

Professionals can help clean all the areas often forgotten during daily cleaning and can also assist in hard to clean areas where staff are unable to reach, or dirt is too tough.

Restaurant Power Cleaning for Fire Safety

Scheduling regular cleaning sessions with a professional cleaning company will control potential health hazards in the restaurant in more than one way. Everyone knows that keeping a restaurant kitchen clean is important to control mold, bacteria and other harmful pathogens from growing in the kitchen, but keeping the kitchen clean of grease is also important to control fire hazards.

Oil and grease are both highly flammable substances. When set alight, the resulting fire can spread rapidly. Health and safety comes first in such situations and the fire can spread so fast, staff members are unable to reach for a fire extinguisher before fleeing the scene.

Luckily restaurants do have built in safety equipment to control potential fire hazards. Restaurant hood systems are responsible for ventilating air in restaurant kitchens, maintaining lower levels of oil and smoke in the air.

Restaurant hoods also control the risk of gas fires by cutting gas flow when a fire risk arises. Lastly, most restaurant hoods are equipped with a secondary fire extinguishing system to dispense a fire extinguishing mixture to put out grease fires when necessary.

Hood systems are an integral part of safety in all commercial kitchens and should be kept clean to ensure the safety of staff and other building occupants. However, the restaurant hood does tend to accumulate a lot of grease while performing its function. Left uncleaned, this grease buildup presents an extreme fire hazard.

This is where restaurant power cleaning comes in. Power cleaning is an effective way to clean grease buildup from restaurant hoods, walls and other areas, ensuring that safety measures are met and fire grease hazards are controlled effectively.

Power Cleaning Other Restaurant Areas

Cleaning restaurant hoods is important to ensure fire safety, but there are other areas of the restaurant that might need to be cleaned regularly. Walk in fridges and freezers, restaurant fryers hard and even floors might need a proper cleaning on a regular basis.

For instance, daily floor cleaning might control dirt on floor tiles, but grouting between tiles will also accumulate dirt and grease buildup over time. As with grease in the restaurant hood, grease on the floor can also pose as a fire hazard, although less extreme than in the case of a greasy hood. Another potential health risk associated with greasy floors is a slipping hazard. Although it might not seem so serious, staff members could get very hurt from slipping on a greasy floor – especially in a kitchen area, where stove tops, counters and other objects are always close by.

For restaurant power cleaning in Miami, Kleanway Pressure cleaning is here to help. We provide professional power cleaning services, using the best cleaning equipment for every job. We also offer window cleaning to ensure that all restaurant windows are kept free of dirt. Contact us today to book regular cleaning sessions for your restaurant establishment.

Cleaning Grease from Restaurant Establishments
read more
How Often Should You Pressure Wash Your House?

How Often Should You Pressure Wash Your House?

No comments

When thinking about your cleaning checklist for your home, it’s easy to only think about the inside. However, your home’s exterior is just as important as the interior, requiring the same attention. A great way of removing dirt and buildup from your home exterior is to pressure wash your house. Pressure washing gets rid of stubborn dirt and stains that can’t be removed by simply scrubbing it. But what exactly can you pressure wash and how often should you pressure wash your house?

What Can You Pressure Wash?

The exterior of your house is constantly exposed to the elements. Problems like mold, mildew, algae, dust and debris are common. Apart from these issues, bird droppings, pollution, smoke, oil stains and chemical residue also cause your home exterior to get dirty. Over time your house will start to look dirty.

Ignoring a dirty house can have potentially serious consequences, so having a pressure washing schedule is essential for your home’s maintenance. In Florida, the salty deposits from the ocean (which are present in water vapor in the air) can also exacerbate natural buildup of dirt. The salt naturally present in the air can cause steel structures, like garage doors or steel roofs, to rust when left too long.

When it comes to pressure washing your house exterior, think about more than just sidings. Many areas of your house can be pressure washed, including your roof, wooden fencing, deck, patio, pool area, statues, railings, walkways, driveways, garage floors and outdoor furniture, for example.

Weather and Pressure Washing

Although it might not seem like it, the weather plays an important role in pressure washing your house. In fact, the weather even determines when you should pressure wash.

The humid climate in Florida creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew accumulation. This makes frequent pressure cleaning an important task in the Sunshine state.

Florida region also experiences a lot of strong winds, which adds dust, debris and dirt on your home’s surface. A good idea is to pressure wash after the rainy season when hindrances will be limited. The fall or spring seasons are good options due to the better climate and temperatures.

How Often Should You Pressure Wash Your House?

How often should you pressure wash your house? Generally speaking, pressure washing once a year can be enough. However, since location and climate determine the frequency you need to pressure wash, it depends on your situation. This is why it’s good to clean whenever it’s necessary rather than strictly doing pressure washing once every year.

Just take note that you don’t over-clean as well, as cleaning more than is necessary can cause wear and tear.

The Area You Live In

Because of Florida’s humid climate, houses in Florida deal with a lot of mold, mildew, and algae. Be watchful of when these start growing and use that to determine the timeframe between each cleaning. The frequency in which you should pressure clean ultimately depends on where you live.

Before Repainting Your House

Pressure washing is ideal for when you’re planning to repaint your house. A thorough clean before repainting helps remove dirt from the surface. This ensures there’s no residue between the old and new layer of paint. If there’s any residue on the surface you’re repainting, the new paint will cling to the residue rather than the building, causing it to peel away more easily.

So, always pressure wash before applying any new paint – even if you recently had your house cleaned and it still looks clean.

If You Want to Resell Your House

Nobody wants to buy a dirty, nasty-looking house. The dirtier it is, the less appealing it will be to potential buyers.

Cleanliness can increase the value of your house substantially. When potential buyers look at a house that isn’t kept clean, they easily assume the overall maintenance of the property is lacking. As a result, they’ll lower their bidding prices, seeing as they expect to pay a lot of maintenance to get the house up to snuff.

Construction

If there’s a lot of construction in your area, or you’re having some renovations done, you’ll know it can get dusty. The dust and other debris can cling to your house and cause it to look extremely dirty. If this happens, you’ll need to clean your home regularly to get rid of the mess.

Alternatively, you can wait for the construction work to stop before scheduling a cleaning. If you’re having your house renovated over a three-month period, it makes sense to wait until construction is done. But if a new building is being built next to your home over a year or more, it’s best to schedule more regular cleanings.

Pressure Washing Your House: The Benefits

Improves Your Curb Appeal

Dirt buildup may seem insignificant initially, but as time goes by, it can become more visible. One of the main reasons to frequently pressure wash your home is probably the most obvious – it makes your home look good.

In a way, your home is a representation of who you are. Making a good impression on passersby and guests is important. Besides that, it just feels much better to come home to a beautiful, fresh and clean house.

Keep Your Family Healthy

Mold and mildew are very dangerous to your health and should not be left untreated. Harmful airborne contaminants like dust and byproducts released by algae, allergens, rot, and mold can cause respiratory problems, which can be life-threatening.

Pressure washing can prevent dirt from spreading and contaminating the air inside your home. Additionally, if not removed, mold can grow within your walls as well, which means it can affect your home’s interior too.

Keeps Your Home in Great Shape

Cleaning prevents your home from deteriorating and becoming unsafe to live in. Also, it keeps your home safe from contaminants responsible for mold growth and dry rot, which can lead to the breakdown of materials such as wood.

Over time, your driveway or walkway may become slippery from algae growing on it, which presents a serious slipping hazard for you and your loved. Algae removal can prevent slipping incidents from occurring.

Save Money

Regular pressure washing helps you keep your home in tip-top shape. Cleaning can help you detect potential issues sooner, before they become worse. Anything from a misplaced roof to paint chipping off your sidings is easier to see when your house is clean.

By having small issues fixed sooner, you’ll prevent bigger, more expensive problems.

Save Time and Effort

Another fantastic benefit of pressure washing your home is that it saves you a lot of time. Compared to other cleaning methods that demand a lot of elbow grease, pressure washing makes cleaning your surfaces simple and fast.

DIY vs Going Professional

Anyone can buy a pressure washing machine and clean their home, but it’s safer to hire pressure washing experts. Professionals can clean your home and surrounding areas without causing damage to your property.

Pressure cleaning can be dangerous, the high pressure water beams from the machine can literally inflict injuries and damage property. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can remove paint off your walls, chip away pieces of wood off of your deck, knock siding loose and even cause mortar to break away if you have a brick house.

So, without taking the risk, call in an expert who’ll easily take care of everything. The cost of hiring a professional is well worth it.

How Often Should You Pressure Wash Your House: Conclusion

You can’t focus on your home’s interior and ignore the exterior. The outside of your home is endlessly vulnerable to the environment and that takes its toll eventually.

Pressure washing can be likened to a restart button that makes your home look brand new again. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to maintain your home, reduce health risks from mold, preserve your home’s appeal and give it an instant facelift. Most importantly, regular pressure washing helps you protect your investment. Be sure to always pressure clean your house before repainting and whenever it seems dirty.

How Often Should You Pressure Wash Your House?
read more
Miami Warehouse Cleaning: How to Clean a Warehouse Floor

Miami Warehouse Cleaning: How to Clean a Warehouse Floor

, No comments

At Kleanway, we offer various cleaning services for both residential and commercial properties. As for as commercial property is concerned, there’s one area that seems to be problematic for property owners: warehouses. We offer Miami warehouse cleaning services to pressure clean warehouse floors and other problematic areas. To help warehouse owners and managers, we’re dedicating the post today on how to clean a warehouse floor. We’ll discuss ways to maintain the cleanliness of your warehouse, as well as why maintaining a clean floor is essential. Furthermore, we’ll go over when it’s time to schedule a warehouse clean.

Why Keeping a Warehouse Clean is so Difficult?

Warehouses are big and often stacked with a lot of things. This is the first reason why keeping a warehouse clean can be such a difficult task. There’s never a time when a warehouse is empty, so there are always spots that collect dust and other debris.

Another reason why keeping a warehouse clean is so challenging, is because it’s always busy. A lot of warehouses ship goods that people order from online stores. People are always buying from online stores and expect their deliveries to arrive promptly. As a result, many warehouses operate seven days a week, often with long hours.

To make matters worse, there are always fork lifts and other light vehicles operating on the warehouse floor. These light vehicles often spill oil onto the floors. Warehouses where foods are stocked may also gather dirt buildup on the floors due to spills.

Many warehouses don’t have dedicated cleaning staff, so on top of all the factors that contribute to dirty floors, there’s no one to make sure everything stays clean.

Why Warehouse Cleaning is Essential?

Despite the understandable difficulty of cleaning warehouses, it’s still imperative for many warehouses to stay clean.

Warehouses that store foods, medical supplies and other health-related products must stay clean to adhere to safety standards. The thought of rats or coachroaches in a warehouse that stocks comestibles and health products is unsettling – vermin and pests must be controlled at all costs.

But even warehouses that don’t stock health products have to stay clean. Dirty floors can pose a health risk to staff. One of the main health risks associated with dirty warehouse floors is slip-and-fall accidents. Floors dirtied by oil spills or packaging materials are especially hazardous.

The National Floor Safety Institute states the following:

Compensation & medical costs associated with employee slip/fall accidents is approximately $70 billion annually.

Maintaining the cleanliness of your warehouse is, of course, much cheaper and safer than paying out injured employees.

Another concern in warehouse cleanliness is air quality. A warehouse that isn’t regularly cleaned is at risk for mold and other growths. Once the spores fill the air, they’ll pose a risk to the respiratory health of warehouse employees.

Clean Warehouse Floors Boost Efficiency

One reason why some warehouses are surprisingly filthy is because many warehouse managers simply don’t realize how important clean floors are for the warehouse to operate at full capacity. Dirty working conditions can slow down turnaround times on work. Poor hygiene in the warehouse can also mean employees will fall ill more often. As a result, employees might regularly call in sick.

Keeping the warehouse floor clean and well-organized should be considered part of the standard maintenance schedule. A clean floor will offer a better work environment for employees and boost productivity.

If customers occasionally visit the warehouse, clean floors will also help make a good impression. Clean floors look professional, whereas dirty floors can come across as a lack in professionality. No one would like to buy from a shop that’s dirty. People expect clean shopping environments, so why should the warehouse where the shop’s supplies come from be any different?

How to Clean a Warehouse Floor: Everyday Maintenance

To start off with, all warehouses should ideally have some cleaning equipment. It’s also good to assign the responsibility of cleaning to a group of employees. To ensure that floors stay clean, supervisors must inspect the floors every day.

Sweeping is an important daily cleaning task in warehouses. Neglecting to sweep before cleaning the floor will damage the floor surface. Over time, the scratches will make the warehouse floor appear dirty even when it’s clean.

When you logically think about it, you can’t effectively clean any floor without sweeping first. The dust and debris on the floor will simply mix with water when the floor is being cleaned. This means that cleaning will simply muddy the dirt and spread it out on the floor rather than removing it.

Once the floor is swept, workers can proceed to cleaning the scrubber. It’s important that warehouse managers acquire all the necessary cleaning equipment for daily sweeping and scrubbing. Without the right equipment, managing the cleanliness of warehouse floors will be near impossible.

Areas where sweeping and scrubbing machines can’t operate will, however, still need to be cleaned manually with industrial cleaning equipment.

Lastly, oil spills and other possible slipping hazards should always be cleaned from the floor immediately to avoid accidents.

Pressure Cleaning Warehouse Floors: Developing a Schedule

While daily sweeping followed by scrubbing is good to maintain floors, it’s not enough to keep them clean permanently. A lot of warehouse managers feel discouraged by dirty floors, even after implementing rigorous cleaning protocols. To clean warehouse floors properly, warehouse managers must schedule regular professional cleaning sessions.

Pressure cleaning a warehouse floor is an ideal way to remove grit and dirt that’s left behind after everyday cleaning. The pressure of the water blasts deep cleans floors and removes even the toughest dirt and stains. Hiring a Miami warehouse cleaning service will ensure warehouses are cleaned properly and that all dirt residue is removed from floors.

Your warehouse cleaning schedule will depend on how clean you want to keep the warehouse. While some warehouses can afford a bit of dirt, others have to be kept spotless. The cleaner a warehouse needs to be, the more often warehouse floors will need to be pressure cleaned.

Unfortunately, floor areas that need to be pressure cleaned have to be empty. All stock in these areas will have to be removed. As most warehouses can’t be emptied out entirely for cleaning, the warehouse floor might need to be divided into sections so each section can be emptied before cleaning.

If cleaning the warehouse floor involves sectioning it off to clean it one section at a time, cleaning might take longer, but the results will be well worthwhile.

Benefits of Pressure Cleaning Warehouse Floors

Pressure cleaning is a great way to remove tough grit, oil stains and other dirt from concrete floors. Because most warehouse floors are concrete, floors can be pressure cleaned at high pressures, allowing for a flawless finish.

Assuming the surface of a warehouse floor isn’t scratched to a point where it’s coarser than it should be, oil stains can often be removed completely after one cleaning session.

Pressure cleaning is also a good way to control mold and other respiratory hazards. The deep cleaning nature of pressure cleaning means it’s ideal for warehouses where strict hygiene is essential. Various cleaning agents can be used to deliver a hygienic end result where mold, bacteria and other organisms are significantly reduced.

Is Pressure Cleaning Suitable for Painted Concrete Floors?

Painted concrete floors can also be pressure cleaning. As with any other concrete floor, everyday cleaning for a painted concrete floor should involve sweeping it before cleaning it with a scrubber. There’s little difference between cleaning a painted floor compared to one that isn’t painted. The only really difference is maintenance – a painted floor will need to be repainted when the paint gets old. As far as cleaning goes, everything can be done the same.

Miami Warehouse Cleaning

Kleanway has many years’ experience pressure cleaning various commercial properties and can assist with all your Miami warehouse cleaning needs. We provide professional pressure cleaning services that will ensure your warehouse is always in an immaculate condition. Our team can work with you to establish a suitable cleaning schedule for your commercial property based on your specific needs.

Miami Warehouse Cleaning: How to Clean a Warehouse Floor
read more

Get a FREE Quote







    Kleanway Cleaning Services.