Spring season is here, which means it is time for you to give some TLC to the exterior of your facility. Below are three (3) areas you don’t want to neglect this spring:

Parking Garages and Parking Lots  

Imagine a customer pulling into your parking garage and lot, and all they see is trash, dirt, and debris. Not only is this an unsightly appearance, but this can also result in unwanted dirt and debris making its way inside your facility.

Power sweeping is the preferred method to extract dirt and debris from parking surfaces. It is also a recommended process to have performed before you power scrub to remove tough stains. All parking areas, entrance, and exit areas need to be addressed using top of the line equipment operated by skilled and trained personnel. Blowers should be used for corners and edges to remove all the dirt and debris, such as salt, sand, trash, leaves, and cigarette butts.

In conjunction with power sweeping your parking garage, it is also recommended that you power scrub the surface areas. Power scrubbing and pressure washing are two recommended processes to use to ensure your garage has an improved appearance by removing dirt, oil, grease and grime from building up on your surfaces. These processes can also help to eliminate some of those unsightly oil stains, which, if not treated, result in a major eyesore, and can emit an odor if not properly handled. By using the right approach with a trained technician, your parking lot and garage will not only have less harmful dirt and debris, but they will also have a lower risk of staining, cracking, and formation of potholes.

Restriping Parking Spaces and Curb Painting

Parking lot restriping and making sure your curbs are properly painted is not only good for appeal, but it also increases the safety of your business environment. When parking spaces and curbs are properly marked and painted you help reduce the number of accidents. Also, customers are less likely to block entrances, sidewalks, and intersections.

Maintaining the appearance of your parking spaces and curbs is key. The more foot traffic or severe weather you experience, the faster these areas will deteriorate. Also, keeping up with pavement markings can help you avoid unwanted citations from your local government, especially with stenciling and the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) requirements.

Typically, re-striping and repainting curbs are recommended every 12-18 months, as long as the temperature is above freezing, and it is not raining outside. As always, it is recommended that you hire a reputable contractor that has experience performing these jobs. When you hire the right contractor, you can expect a better outcome using the right materials and equipment to ensure your parking surfaces and curbs provide an excellent impression each day.

Exterior Window Cleaning

An area of maintenance that is commonly overlooked is exterior window cleaning. Over time your windows accumulate dirt, debris, dust, bird droppings, spider webs and more. Removing these items with a thorough exterior cleaning of your windows will not only improve the appearance of your windows but will also help to bring in more natural light.

If your facility is built with concrete, then you also run the risk of having several minerals that are used to manufacture concrete, such as calcium, leaking out of the concrete walls over time. This will cause streak marks on your windows, which can result in unsightly stains. The longer these stains remain on your windows, the harder it becomes to clean and remove them.

By having your exterior windows cleaned on a frequent basis, you will help keep your windows free of these minor mineral deposits by removing them before they become permanently imprinted in the glass.

In terms of process, you don’t always have to opt for the window cleaning service that requires cleaners to be hanging on ropes from attached roof anchors causing a distraction among employees. If your facility is four (4) stories or less, you can use an environmentally friendly, pure water system that eliminates the use of chemicals for exterior window cleaning. This system provides a clean, streak free surface using state of the art extension poles to clean your windows from the ground up.

Mister Kleen is a leading provider of contract cleaning services to Commercial and High Security facilities since 1976. Our primary service area is the DC Metro region. We also provide a variety of interior and exterior specialty services.