Property managers and business owners know that pressure washing is a key component of creating a welcoming atmosphere, but the question remains: “How often is enough?” The simple answer is that most businesses in urban areas need pressure washing about twice per year to keep mold, mildew, and grime at bay.
However, this general guideline doesn’t work for every industry or every building. Some businesses need cleaning more or less frequently and understanding the unique needs of each commercial property helps you develop a plan to keep it immaculate year-round.
The Semiannual Standard: Why Pressure Washing Twice a Year Works for Most Businesses
A semiannual pressure washing schedule addresses the common challenges faced by most office parks and commercial buildings. There are a few reasons for this baseline recommendation, including the following factors.
- Seasonal Headaches. Every season brings different environmental debris, such as pollen in the spring and leaf residue in the fall. A semiannual pressure wash erases these seasonal reminders and leaves a property reliably clean year-round.
- Mold and Algae Growth. Mold and algae commonly accumulate on hard surfaces, and pressure washing is the most effective method of removing them before they spread. Erasing these growths improves appearance immediately and helps to mitigate the damage they cause over time.
- Urban and Traffic Related Pollutants. Properties near major thoroughfares accumulate exhaust soot, dust, and airborne pollutants more quickly than suburban properties. A semiannual pressure wash removes these elements before they become lasting stains.
- Stains & Grime Accumulation. Professional pressure washing twice per year eliminates the noticeable “dirty phase” that occurs between ad-hoc cleanings. This helps to promote a professional, welcoming environment all year.
During a semiannual cleaning, a professional pressure washing company will remove accumulated dirt and grime from the building face as well as hard surfaces, like parking lots, sidewalks, and entryways. This is sufficient for most businesses, but others have special needs that require more frequent treatments.
Businesses That Demand More Frequent Cleanings
Certain industries, like those with heavy traffic or pollutants, are more susceptible to grime buildup. These properties need to be cleaned more often to achieve a consistent appearance and prevent dangerous contaminants.
Food Service Establishments and Drive-Thrus
Drive-thru restaurants face some of the toughest cleaning challenges of any industry due to a combination of high traffic, food, and grease. Accumulated waste makes the property appear dirty or unsanitary far more quickly than a standard office park, and it also contributes to accidents like slip and falls.
An unkempt appearance can deter customers, and even impact health inspection results, so drive-thrus should invest in more frequent cleanings for certain areas of the property. The drive-thru lane and entryways may need to be cleaned weekly depending on traffic, while dumpster pads typically need a quarterly scrub. The building face, however, can generally remain on a semiannual cleaning schedule.
High-Traffic Retail Establishments
Retail businesses with heavy foot traffic often accumulate more dirt, chewing gum, and litter than a standard business. These eyesores are detrimental to the customer experience and can even deter new customers from choosing to shop. Luxury retail properties, in particular, must remain extremely vigilant in their exterior maintenance programs to support their upscale images.
High-traffic retailers often choose to have entryways and sidewalks cleaned quarterly. They may also schedule additional cleanings during busy times to maintain a pristine appearance or combat graffiti. Like drive-thrus, these businesses can generally relegate building cleaning to the standard semiannual schedule.
Certain Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities
Industrial sites have varied cleaning needs depending on their operations. Properties that generate their own dust, soot, or specialized debris may need cleanings more frequently than standard office parks to maintain compliance with regulations or protect surfaces from corrosive residue. Similarly, busy warehouses may require more frequent cleanings due to a heavy volume of trucks and foot traffic.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to industrial cleaning since the uses of these properties vary considerably. Instead, each facility should work with their commercial maintenance partner to develop a customized cleaning schedule that fits the unique operations of the business.
Properties with Heavy Organic Debris
Regardless of industry, properties with a significant number of trees that overhang the building or parking area may need additional cleaning engagements each year. Pollen, tree sap, and other organic residues can create significant issues for these properties that require regular remediation.
Businesses That May Need Less Frequent Cleanings
While many types of businesses need pressure washing more frequently than average, some properties can remain clean with fewer services per year. By reducing the number of cleanings, these properties can optimize their maintenance budget.
Office Parks with Minimal Foot Traffic
Small office parks and those that don’t cater to customers can have less frequent cleaning needs than larger, customer-facing spaces. An annual pressure washing schedule, with cleanings at the end of spring or fall, often achieves the desired result.
Low-Traffic Properties in Suburban Settings
Office parks, multi-family buildings, and medical facilities that are located away from major roadways generally accumulate grime more slowly than similar locations in urban settings. For this reason, these properties may comfortably use an annual cleaning schedule depending on the setting and level of foot traffic.
As these examples have shown, semiannual pressure washing may be the standard, but it doesn’t work for every industry or business. To determine the right cleaning frequency for your space, work with an experienced commercial maintenance company to assess your surfaces, environment, and traffic.
Put Pressure Washing on Autopilot with Terra CPS
At Terra Commercial Property Services, we help property managers and business owners determine the right frequency for their pressure washing needs. Our experienced maintenance managers have worked with businesses of all sizes and types of structures, so we have the first-hand knowledge needed to recommend the right frequency for you.
Once you know how frequently your property needs to be cleaned, we will help you schedule service in advance at times that don’t impact operations. Along with pressure washing, we can schedule your full exterior maintenance plan and provide a simple monthly billing option.
To learn more about our exterior cleaning solutions and get started with commercial maintenance on autopilot, contact a member of our team today.
