THE DANGERS OF POWER WASHING YOUR OWN HOME OR BUILDING

A BIRD PROBLEM: THE EFFECT OF BIRD INFESTATIONS ON YOUR BUSINESS

By Admin • July 17, 2018

Most people don't think of birds as harmful. However, when a large flock of seagulls and pigeons congregates on your parking lot and begin to nest on your roof, these avian visitors become more than a nuisance — they can cause damage to your property and drastically diminish curb appeal.

Here are some of the ways a bird infestation could affect your business.

Property Damage

Bird droppings can cause permanent damage to property. Bird waste contains potent chemicals that can corrode metal, concrete, roofs, masonry, and other substances. Extensive corrosion can structurally weaken your property and create unforeseen liabilities.

Bird nests can also block gutters, ventilation, and drains, which can trigger a domino effect and affect other systems in your property such as air conditioning, heating, and drainage. The cost of repairing or rehabilitating your property can add up quickly and eat into your profits.

To avoid permanent staining, corrosion, and damage, find a professional commercial washing provider as soon as birds start to infest your property.

Negative Aesthetics

Bird excrement does not just damage property — your business's professional image is at risk as well. Whether on the roofs, parking lot, walls, cars, or other surfaces, accumulated bird droppings diminish your property's aesthetic appeal.

Unsightly business premises is a major turn off for customers. Employees will also not want to work in an area that looks rundown, unappealing, and hazardous.

Accidents

Accumulated bird excrement can cause your business premises to become slippery and increase the risk of slip-and-fall accidents for customers and employees.

As a business owner, you have a duty of care to ensure your premise is reasonably safe. The law may consider you negligent if you allow bird droppings to accumulate on your premises and may result in lawsuits that could put a huge dent in your business.

To avoid costly liabilities, clean your parking lot as frequently as possible and keep your premises neat and safe.

Food Contamination

In addition to slip-and-fall accidents, you may also be liable for breaching federal and state food, safety, and hygiene regulations if you do not take care of a bird infestation.

Foodborne diseases and contamination incidents could cause you to lose customers and, in extreme cases, result in a complete business shutdown.

Disease

Birds can spread many bacteria and parasites. Pigeons, gulls, and starlings, in particular, host mites and lice that can cause over s ixty potentially fatal diseases including Candidiasis, Salmonellosis, Yellow Mealworms, and West Nile Virus.

The risk of disease can have serious implications for your business in terms of customer perception, staff retention, and medical expenses, all of which will impact your revenue.

Customer Deterrence

Customers expect to feel reasonably safe, and if you cannot provide this, they will move on to your competitors. Many people refer to gulls as thugs of the bird world due to their tendency to attack and steal food.

Other birds such as starlings and young pigeons can also make customers feel physically threatened, which can have a negative effect on your business revenue.

While the gentle chirping of a graceful bird can be pleasant, a large flock of birds around your business premises can be a noisy and even dangerous nuisance that can put off customers.

Pest birds mark their territory using their own waste and will return to the same spot. Professionals who understand the problem can effectively eliminate excrement and deter birds from infesting your property with a thorough washing.

If you have a bird problem, let the power-cleaning experts at J & A Steam Cleaning take care of it. Call us today to let us know what your exact needs are and schedule a cleaning.

5 WAYS PRESSURE WASHING SAVES HOMEOWNERS MONEY

By Admin • June 20, 2018

Every homeowner wants to save money, but not at the cost of the appearance or value of their home. Luckily, pressure washing is an uncomplicated way to potentially boost home value while saving time and money too. Here are five common exterior household problems that pressure washing solves.

Save the Paint

The exterior paint on your house is at nature's mercy. The wind blows dust and debris against the surface, and birds leave behind their own calling cards. Shaded areas are at risk for algae and mold, and cobwebs, wasp nests, and other debris hang from the eaves. Over time, the paint becomes dull due to layers of the mess left behind.

Handwashing a house is a time-consuming chore. A garden hose only has enough pressure to remove the loosest debris. A pressure washer removes the built-on mess and reveals the true paint color again. If the paint is old and damaged, pressure washing can remove a lot of the paint along with the dirt and leave a smooth surface for a new layer of paint.

Save the Roof

Many people mistakenly believe the dark patches on their roof shingles are signs of water damage. In most instances, the streaks and stains are a type of algae. Remove the algae by pressure washing rather than replacing the shingles.

Another concern is moss. Unlike algae, which is unattractive but harmless, moss can damage the roof. The material holds moisture and causes the shingles underneath to degrade. Remove the moss to stop the risk of shingles wearing out sooner than expected.

Protect the Porch

Even pressure-treated wood is at risk to the elements. Mold and algae will work their way into the grain of the wood even if it is pressure-treated. The lumber begins to rot once these spores are in the grain. If you use harsh products like bleach to clean your porch, this causes the wood to dry out and crack. If painted to cover the stains, the mold will continue to spread and be visible through the paint.

Pressure washing your porch will clear built-up debris without causing damage. Make sure that you know the right pressure washing setting so you won't cause the wood to splinter under too much stress.

Wash the Driveway

Many driveways have oil spots from leaky cars, and these stains are some of the first things people see when they come to your home. Pressure washing removes the stains for a clean, fresh look to the pavement. Pressure washing is also important before you reseal a driveway because the sealant needs a clean surface.

Consider cleaning any brick pavers on a patio or paved walkway at the same time as the driveway. Mold and algae often cover these walking surfaces and can make them slippery especially during wet weather.

Prepare the Pool

Pressure wash if a pool's algae buildup continues to return despite repeated treatments. The algae may have settled into the grooves of the concrete and will multiply quickly in the sunlight and turn the water green again. Drain the pool and pressure wash all of the concrete to reduce the number of chemical treatments needed later and to keep the water sparkling clean all year.

Hire an expert to pressure wash your home to prevent damage to the house or other areas. If not used correctly, a pressure washer can remove paint, dent siding, and cut grooves in the wood. If you hit a pane glass directly with the blast of water, you can break your windows.

At J & A Steam Cleaning , we can help to boost the curb appeal of your home with a simple, fast cleaning service. Our eco-friendly methods and products will not harm flowers or grass, and we practice water recovery to prevent waste. Contact us to learn more or to schedule a cleaning service today.

3 REASONS TO POWER WASH YOUR BUSINESS'S ASPHALT PARKING LOT PERIODICALLY

By Admin • May 21, 2018

You take great pride in your business and keep the curbside appeal of your building pristine for your clientele. Your parking lot is just as important as the rest of your facility, and an unkempt, dirty parking area can give potential customers the wrong impression of how you operate your business.

Power washing your business's parking lot periodically provides many benefits, which are described in this guide. You will also learn how often you should have your parking area professionally cleaned to maintain its beauty.

1. Power Washing Protects Your Parking Area's Surface

Over time, debris collects on your parking lot that can damage the material's surface. Salt, engine oil, and harsh chemicals get embedded in your parking lot's asphalt.

Oil, in particular, can be very damaging. When oil spills from vehicles are left uncleaned, the stains will cause the dirtied areas to become soft. The soft asphalt will eventually peel away, leaving potentially dangerous potholes as a result.

Hire a professional power washing company to use a mixture of chemicals to gently remove all surface stains from your parking lot. Not only will your parking area look cleaner as a result but also the asphalt will be protected against chemical and oil damage. With proper asphalt care, your parking lot should last up to 25 years .

2. Power Washing Makes Your Parking Lot More Attractive

The more use your parking lot gets, the dirtier the surface of the material will become. Dirt and other debris will cover parking space lines, gum and other litter will ruin your parking lot's appearance, and weeds and other plant growth will make customer parking spaces look unkempt and neglected.

You don't want your business's reputation to be ruined because of a dirty parking lot. Professional power washing services will remove all the surface stains on your asphalt parking lot, making painted parking lines easier to see, and the asphalt blacker and newer-looking.

3. Power Washing Is Effective

One reason to use a power washer to clean your asphalt parking lot instead of other cleaning measures is that power washing involves using high-pressure water (hot or cold, depending on the severity of your parking lot's cleaning needs) and gentle chemicals, which makes this cleaning method very effective.

Common household detergents, and even cat litter, can be used to clean your asphalt parking lot, but these remedies often leave behind a residue of their own. Do not use bleach and other cleaning chemicals to manage the stains on your parking lot; refer to a power-washing specialist for assistance.

Schedule an Appointment With a Power-Washing Specialist

Schedule to have your parking lot power washed once a year to maintain your business's curb appeal. Your power-washing specialist will give you specific instructions to keep your business's parking lot clean in between power washing sessions, and may recommend doing the following:

Hosing oil spills and stains as they occur
Sealing your asphalt for further protection
Removing garbage, weeds, and other debris daily

The best way to keep your parking lot clean is to regularly patrol the area and call your power-washing specialist right away if you notice antifreeze, large oil spots, or other chemical spills on your property.

Keep in mind that your business's sidewalks should be periodically power washed in addition to your parking lot. Discuss the many ways power washing can benefit your business with your power-washing specialist.

Keeping your business clean on the outside is just as important as keeping the interior pristine and inviting. The right power-washing specialist will be able to address all your business's exterior cleaning needs.

Schedule an appointment with our skilled power washing experts at J & A Steam Cleaning today. We will help you keep your parking lot in beautiful condition.

DON'T OVERLOOK THESE CLEANING NEEDS AT YOUR RESTAURANT

By Admin • April 19, 2018

Your restaurant's reputation is only as strong as the image your establishment creates. This image is portrayed in the food you serve, the efficiency and kindness of your staff, and perhaps most important, your restaurant's appearance.

A clean restaurant is not only desirable; it's a necessity. Unclean areas will attract bugs and rodents and will make your establishment undesirable and unhealthy for your guests. While you have your crew do side work to keep the interior of your restaurant clean, there is more that you can do for your eatery's cleanliness.

Dumpster Cleaning

Your restaurant's dumpsters may not be attached to your building and may be out of sight of customers, but these units need to be professionally cleaned regularly anyhow. Bacteria that can harm your employees and cause unsavory odors will build up inside unwashed dumpster bins, permeating the air.

Hire a professional cleaning company to use pressure and power washers, along with anti-bacterial chemicals, to thoroughly clean the inside and outside of your restaurant's dumpsters. Line dumpsters with commercial bags to prevent seepage from leaking into the bins themselves for future dumpster maintenance.

Exterior Cleaning

Smoke, oil, and other residue from your kitchen's ovens, grills, and exhaust systems gets released into the outside air so your guests and staff are not bothered inside. The residue that escapes your building creates stains and unattractive black marks on the sides and back of your building where vents and chimneys are located.

People passing by your restaurant from a side or rear view won't get a proper representation of your eatery if they see grease stains and smoke residue on your restaurant's exterior. A professional cleaning crew will use a power washer to gently and effectively clean the exterior of your building, removing sticky residue while restoring your restaurant's building to a beautiful allure.

Ask your cleaning specialist how often your restaurant's exterior should be cleaned. With regular maintenance of your building, you can keep the exterior as clean and pristine as the inside of your building.

Sidewalk Cleaning

Whether you serve diners outside on a sidewalk or patio during warmer days or not, keeping your sidewalks clean is important to customer safety. Spills can leave your sidewalks dirty and slippery, which can cause customers to fall outside your building. Dirty sidewalks also provide an unwanted attraction that you your restaurant doesn't need.

Concrete is porous, so stains left untreated on your restaurant's sidewalks will quickly make the entry leading to your establishment dingy and ill-kept. Spray your sidewalks with a hose regularly as part of your regular employee side work.

Your cleaning specialist will also power wash your restaurant's sidewalks to remove grime, stains, sticky residue, and even mold and mildew buildup. After spraying down your concrete, have the surface of your sidewalks professionally sealed to make future cleaning much easier.

Your cleaning specialist can also provide interior services for your restaurant, including pressure washing your kitchen walls behind your stove and washing areas. A clean kitchen creates a more pleasant atmosphere for your employees to work in.

There are many ways you can improve the reputation of your restaurant by keeping your eatery cleaner and more organized. Your cleaning specialist will recommend a cleaning schedule that works best for your restaurant's maintenance budget, size of your eatery, and how busy your restaurant is during certain times of year.

Have your cleaning specialist attend to your power and pressure washing needs during the least-busy times of day, or make arrangements to have your restaurant cleaned outside of business hours. For all your professional cleaning needs, rely on our experts at J & A Steam Cleaning. Call us to make an appointment today.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RETAIL STOREFRONT CLEANLINESS

By Admin • March 21, 2018

If you own or manage a retail store, then you may take great strides to keep the interior of your store clean and organized to keep customers satisfied. However, if you don't put much effort into keeping your exterior storefront clean, then you likely do not understand that a clean storefront is just as important as a clean store interior.

Read on to learn just how important storefront cleanliness is and learn three storefront cleaning tips.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A CLEAN STOREFRONT

There are two main reasons you should keep your storefront clean: customer satisfaction and premise liability law.

Customer Satisfaction

No matter how many regular customers you currently have, you are likely always looking forward to gaining new customers to increase store revenue. You may not realize that the key to attracting those new customers could be as simple as cleaning your storefront up.

Ninety-five percent of shoppers take a storefront's appearance into consideration when deciding whether to even enter the store or not. In addition, over half of all retail shoppers surveyed stated that they have chosen not to enter a store simply because the storefront was not clean.

Premise Liability Law

In addition, all business owners are required to keep their properties free from hazards that could lead to the public injuring themselves on the property. Slip-and-fall accidents are extremely common, and about one million Americans experience slip-and-fall injuries each year. Many of these falls occur in store parking lots.

While you may take care to fix parking lot potholes and cracks that could lead to slip-and-falls your business could be held liable for, you may not realize that your business could also be held liable for slipand-fall accidents that occur due to a customer slipping on a liquid such as oil in your parking lot or tripping over debris on your lot.

STOREFRONT CLEANING TIPS

Keeping your storefront clean doesn't have to be difficult. Try implementing the following tips

1. Sweep and Inspect the Parking Lot at Least Every Morning

Be sure to clear your parking lot of debris every morning before your store opens to remove items your customers could trip on during the course of your business day. While clearing debris, also inspect the lot for spilled liquids, such as oil that may have leaked from cars, and clean up these spills promptly to prevent slip-and-fall accidents.

Also, have employees check the lot often throughout the day for new debris and fall hazards, and have them clean it up promptly.

2. Have Graffiti Removed Promptly

Graffiti is a large problem in California today. In fact, in one recent year alone, over 32 million square feet of graffiti had to be cleaned up in the city of Los Angeles alone. If you frequently or occasionally arrive at your store to see that your storefront has been vandalized with graffiti, then it is very important to have it cleaned up by professionals promptly.

Graffiti removal professionals have an array of graffiti removal products and techniques they can use to restore the exterior surface of your building back to its original condition without damaging it.

The longer the graffiti remains on your storefront, the more shoppers the graffiti will likely deter.

3. Have Your Parking Lot Professionally Cleaned Annually

No matter how often you sweep your parking lot and clean up spills, it can be tough to remove embedded dirt, tire marks, and stains that accumulate on its surface. This makes it important to have your parking lot cleaned by a cleaning company at least once a year. After professional parking lot cleaning , you may be surprised when many of the parking lot stains you thought were permanent are able to be removed easily with the right professional cleaning products.

If you are a retail business owner or manager, then realize that the cleanliness of your storefront is just as important as the cleanliness of the interior of your store. Contact J & A Steam Cleaning for all of your retail store exterior cleaning needs.

REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BACTERIA AND VIRUSES TRACKED INTO THE HOME

By Admin • February 14, 2018

A home is a refuge from the stress of the outside world. Many people to want their house to be as clean and comfortable as possible, which is why it is important for people to realize how something as simple as walking through the front door could be undoing all the hard work they put into housekeeping. Here are how shoes contribute to an unhealthy home.

INVISIBLE SIDEWALK HORRORS

One look at the soles of any shoe makes it clear that the outside world is a dangerous place. A study of the bacteria found on shoes showed that the average footwear has approximately 421,000 units of bacteria on their exterior. This bacterium comes from a variety of sources including wildlife, humans, and carelessly discarded food and other waste.

This long list of bacteria includes those that cause pneumonia, digestive illnesses, and bloodstream infections. These disease-causers do not remain on just the soles of shoes, they are left behind whenever someone walks into their home and these germs transfer from the floor to people, pets, and furnishings throughout the home.

DIRTY DOOR STOPS

Not everyone spends their days on city streets or lives close to heavily populated areas, so this concern may seem irrelevant to some people. Unfortunately, that is not the case. The University of Houston discovered that many home doorsteps of all types were contaminated with a specific bacterium, C. difficile , which causes digestive infections. In addition, several of its strains are antibiotic-resistant. It is not something anyone would want in their home.

The study discovered that 40 percent of the doorsteps tested were contaminated with this bacterium compared to 39 percent of shoes. The result is likely caused by wiping off shoes at the door.

HELPFUL CLEANING SOLUTIONS

The first step to reducing the risk of bacteria is to remove all shoes at the door. Wash the soles of the shoes or put any washable shoes through the laundry before storing any shoes in the closet.

Some studies have determined that bacteria levels were high inside the shoes too. To combat this issue use disinfectant sprays on the interior of the shoes.

It is still necessary to clean the exterior of the home even if the shoes are not worn inside because it is not just the soles of shoes that track in germs. Barefoot walkers and pets also bring in bacteria every time they come inside. The only way to reduce the risk is by cutting the number of bacteria lurking outside the door.

There are still hazards even in rural areas without a lot of foot traffic. Bird droppings, pet waste, and contaminated soil contribute to the large numbers of bacteria people find on their doorsteps and inside their home. Clean any paved areas in the yard as well as the steps and all entry areas to remove as much of the bacteria as possible.

A basic garden hose or a rainstorm is not enough to wash away the problem. A hot water pressure wash removes the stuck-on debris and helps to kill the bacteria. When used on the driveway, solid-surface walkways and around the entries it can substantially reduce the number of bacteria and viruses that are brought into the home.

The equipment at J & A Steam Cleaning can help you sterilize your home’s exterior. Our power washing services are effective and environmentally friendly.

Keeping a regular cleaning schedule does lower the risk of infectious diseases entering the home and it improves the look of any house and yard. We can help you keep your home clean. Contact us today to schedule a cleaning service.

WHY CLEANLINESS MATTERS IN STAFF-ONLY AREAS

By Admin • December 27, 2017

Business owners know the importance of cleanliness in the areas where their customers or clients visit. Clean and organized businesses look professional. Of course, hygienic practices should carry into staff-only areas too. This includes often neglected spots like loading docks and dumpsters. Here are four reasons why maintaining high standards in these areas matters too.

Maintain Odor Control

Dumpsters hold a large variety of garbage including food waste. You will not be able to eliminate all odors because the refuse the containers hold will smell due to the length of time items remain in the sunlight and heat. Most of the time, odor is manageable by not tossing out loose material and scheduling a pickup of the waste before it overflows.

Schedule regular dumpster cleaning to prevent odors from becoming detectable indoors or around the exterior of the building. Cleaning services remove solid matter, wash the container thoroughly, and allow the interior to dry before the dumpster goes back into service. Clean the dumpster pad as well to remove any debris that may have fallen underneath.

Avoid Pest Infestations

Dirty dumpsters attract all sorts of pests. Mice, rats, raccoons, skunks, and insects like cockroaches and flies love to hang around these containers. The odor is part of the lure because it sends a signal that dinner is available. The mess continues to attract any creature that wants nesting spots, nesting material, or a food source.

Infestations are a potential health hazard because they expose anyone that uses the dumpster to animals that could carry a number of diseases. Another concern is that infestations do not always remain outside. Once a dumpster is empty or inclement weather arrives the creatures may move inside for more food or a safer shelter.

Prevent Additional Problems

Close the lids to prevent rain from filling the containers and causing contaminated water to overflow onto the lot. Closed lids also prevent rodents from gaining access to the bin. Add a lock or enclose the dumpsters in a locked, fenced area if loose debris is a problem due to illegal dumping from people outside of the business.

Stop Inventory Contamination

Loading docks are busy areas that are exposed to the weather, vehicles, and foot traffic. Spilled boxes and the dirt and debris carried in with every shipment add to the mess. If cleaning is not a priority, inventory could get contaminated or damaged.

The risk of contamination is not just a concern for people working in the food or medical supply industry. All products become unusable when they are covered in dirt, mud, or grease or are exposed to the leaking contents of other shipments. This easily avoided loss of sales takes profit away from the company.

Keep Equipment Operational

Dock cleanliness is also a matter of safety and performance. Unmaintained workspaces lead to physical hazards from slip and fall injuries. Equipment malfunctions when grime collects on moving parts and sensors, reducing productivity. Steam clean the platform and all surrounding equipment and hardware to reduce accidents and to detect equipment problems sooner.

Deep cleaning these areas is important, but so is doing the job correctly. Employees hosing down areas like this is not only ineffective, as hosing areas may even lead to environmental contamination. Wastewater collection is a serious matter and could lead to expensive EPA fines.

At J & A Steam Cleaning , we use the equipment and the procedures necessary to thoroughly clean dumpsters and docks. We also perform an effective wastewater recovery service at the same time to eliminate any legal or health concerns. Let us help you to establish a custom cleaning schedule that will improve the look, smell, and safety of your entire business

4 REASONS WATER WASTE RECOVERY AFTER PRESSURE WASHING IS ECO-FRIENDLY

By Admin • November 22, 2017

Pressure washing can make your home or business shine, but pressure washing also has the potential to leave a lot of wastewater slogging around your property and going down storm drains. Wasted water may not seem like a big deal, but pressure washing on a regular basis without water recovery can have an impact on the environment.

Here are four reasons why pressure washing with wastewater recovery is the best, most eco-friendly option.

PROTECTING BEACHES AND WATERWAYS

Wastewater that's not reclaimed can wash down storm drains, where it's likely to end up in a river or other waterway in the same condition the water was in when it went down the drain. Unfortunately, natural aquatic environments aren't equipped to handle motor oil, tar, heavy metals, harsh chemical cleaners and other types of contaminants that can go down the drain.

Because of this, water recovery is needed to keep the water from going down the drains. Contaminated water can harm rivers and streams, kill plants, cause oil slicks, disrupt the natural environment and make recreational areas unusable. A nice lake or beach that you used to swim in could become stinky and unusable for swimming and other water activities if there's too much contamination.

Wastewater recovery helps prevent possible contamination of beaches and water areas.

KEEPING WILDLIFE SAFE

The wildlife who live in affected waterways can have their lives ruined by contaminated water. Even worse, pollution could cause animals to mutate or cause species to become extinct altogether.

It's not just the animals who live in the waterway, either; all wildlife in the area require water to stay alive. If that water is polluted, animals have no way to filter it like humans can. Wastewater recovery helps to keep their drinking water clean.

PREVENTING HAZARDOUS ALGAE BLOOMS

Another reason that keeping polluted runoff out of the environment is important is that the excess nutrients often found in wastewater can cause something called nutrient pollution that leads to algae blooms. These are events where too much algae is growing in the water. If there is too much algae, it blocks out all light and can kill the native fish, plants and other aquatic life.

Algae blooms are also hazardous because they can be toxic to humans as well. For example, blue-green algae of certain types can cause photodermatitis and, worse, can act as a neurotoxin. These health issues can cause a crisis for individuals and communities that are close to algae blooms in water.

When you hire a pressure washing service, you can do your part to reduce nutrient pollution and algal blooms by making sure you hire a company that's expert at recovering all the wash water.

PROTECTING DRINKING WATER

Drinking water quality is not only an environmental issue but is a personal health issue as well. Although wastewater is not as likely to wash directly into your drinking water source as it is to end up in a stream or river, your wastewater does have the potential to pollute a source of drinking water if not collected and properly treated.

As you can see from these four reasons, capturing and treating pressure washing wastewater is a critical part of a pressure washing company's environmental responsibility. Following the EPA regulations and ensuring that all wastewater is cared for correctly is something that J & A Steam Cleaning takes seriously.

Whether you'd like to know more about how we recover wastewater to protect the environment or whether you have questions about our services and how we can help your home or business, reach out to us to request a consultation for free.

3 BENEFITS OF PRESSURE WASHING THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME

By Admin • October 18, 2017

Cleaning the exterior of your home can be difficult without a little assistance. Cleaning off the siding on your home, as well as your patio, deck, driveway, and fencing can take a lot of work if you do it by hand. Pressure washing is a fast and effective way to clean the exterior of your home.

1. INCREASE THE CURB APPEAL OF YOUR HOME

You should clean the exterior of your home at least once a year. Cleaning the exterior of your home is an easy way to increase the curb appeal of your home.

Pressure washing removes built-up layers of dirt from the siding on your home that can make the paint on your home look dull and older than it is. Pressure washing can give the exterior of your home back its luster.

Cement also collects and absorbs dirt. If you have a cement patio, walkway or driveway, pressure washing is one of the most effective methods of removing all the built-up layers of dirt on these surfaces. Pressure washing can remove deep-set dirt from your concrete, brightening its appearance.

Your fencing should also be washed at least once a year. Washing off your fence, be it a wood, metal or glass fence, is a great way to remove all the dirt and debris that gets blown onto your fence throughout the year. A clean fence looks newer, which can help increase the curb appeal of your home.

2. ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME

Pressure washing is not just about making your home look good for the short term. Pressure washing your home is also a way to add value to your home when paired with a few other maintenance tasks.

Enhancing the exterior of your home can increase the value of your home 2-5 percent. Pressure washing your home is just one part of enhancing the exterior of your home, but is a valuable part of the process.

To ensure you increase the value of your home a full 2-5 percent, you will need to also touch up the paint, mow the lawn, trim the bushes and add fresh mulch to your garden beds.

These simple tasks can actually increase the value of your home, which can help you out if you want to take out a loan against your home or if you want to sell your home. The more valuable your home is, the more you can get for it.

3. GET RID OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES

Pressure washing can also help you get rid of harmful substances that are present on the outside of your home.

For example, if you have mold or mildew growing on the side of your home, you can use your pressure washer to remove and treat the mold and mildew. You can use a general all-purpose vinyl cleaner with your pressure washer to clean and remove the mold and mildew on your home. You can also make your own cleaning solution out of water and white vinegar.

Mold and mildew also likes to grow on wood. You can use a pressure washer to apply a bleach solution to your deck to remove and kill the mold. After that, you are going to want to sand down your deck and seal the wood. This should prevent mold from growing on your deck in the future.

Even if you can't see harmful substances on the siding, decking, fencing and driveway of your home does not mean that they are not there. Pressure washing your home on a yearly basis is the most effective way of removing harmful mold, mildew, and bacteria from the exterior surfaces of your home. This will help keep your family and pets safe.

If you don't own your own pressure washer to clean up the exterior of your home, or don't have time to clean all the surfaces that need to be cleaned on the exterior of your home, the professionals at J & A Steam Cleaning can assist you with this task.

GRAFFITI REMOVAL FROM YOUR OFFICE'S EXTERIOR

By Admin • September 21, 2017

When customers and clients come to your office or building, these people want to see a clean exterior. If your exterior office space looks dirty or is otherwise uninviting, it won't send the type of message that you want your customers and clients to get.

When the side (or worse, the front) of your building is covered in graffiti, your business is losing some of its curb appeal. Even though graffiti is a type of art, it isn't anything that you've commissioned or asked for. It distracts from exterior design and may, in some cases, offend potential customers or clients.

What can you do about graffiti on your business's building? Take a look at why you need to call in a professional to take care of the tags and how you can make sure that your office's exterior is a clean slate.

REPAINTING THE EXTERIOR

Rolling a coat of paint across offensive artwork, tags and designs that are taking up your building's blank space is a tempting fix. It's fast, it's easy and it's something that you can do yourself. Along with these benefits, buying a can or two of paint isn't expensive. That means you may see repainting as an easy way to take care of your graffiti problem.

Even though repainting the exterior may seem like a simple solution, it isn't always the best one. Some graffiti, especially if it's bright or dark, isn't easy to hide. You might think you’ve gotten rid of the design at first, but as the paint dries the graffiti may come through. Adding more layers still might not do the trick. In the end, you may need to have a professional cleaning service come get the graffiti off anyway.

ainting over spray paint designs may waste your money and your time. Instead of hoping that your paint job covers the designs or accidentally choosing a paint color that's too dark for the building, consider an alternative.

CLEANING WITH CHEMICALS

Chemical cleaners and solvents can dissolve the paint and remove it from the surface. Even though there are a variety of chemical cleaners that are commercially available, these are best left to the pros.

A professional cleaner knows which chemicals to use on your specific surface and knows how to safely handle them. If you use chemicals without the knowledge of how to properly use them, the chemicals may cause injury or illness.

While it may seem like a DIY approach is a cost-effective strategy, your health isn't worth saving a few dollars. Call a professional cleaner as a safer approach to your problem. If you have any concerns about the products that the pros are using, talk to the technician about what chemicals they're removing the graffiti with and how the cleaners may adversely affect anyone near the building or the environment.

Keep in mind, the pros have the experience and knowledge they need to get rid of the graffiti in the safest way possible.

PROTECTING THE SURFACE

Protecting your building's surface is another major reason to hire a professional graffiti removal service. Chemical cleaners, solvents and strippers may get the graffiti off, but they may also take the surface coating of your building with it. This can lead to damage and a dull effect. The pros know how long to keep cleaners on the surface and how to protect it from potential problems.

Keeping the Building Clean

Your building is clean, and the pros have made sure that your office is graffiti-free. However, if you don't take steps to protect your business, you may see a repeat performance sooner than you'd like.

Anti-graffiti coatings create a nonstick surface that can repel the spray paint that graffiti artists use. Along with a coating, you can install noticeable security cameras to deter taggers from marking your office's exterior.

Do you need a professional to clean your graffiti-covered building? J & A Steam Cleaning can help.