20 Things to Pressure Wash Around a Commercial Building in Asheville, NC

Nothing screams clean like a freshly power washed sidewalk or brick siding. I mean…is it just me, or is a power wash clean unlike any other clean? So satisfying!

And now that springtime is upon us here in Western North Carolina, it’s time to break out the pressure washer and get to work.

Luckily, there are many items and things around a commercial building that can be pressure washed to prepare for the busy spring and summer months. This is especially helpful as we know the tourist and foot traffic increases this time of year — so clean up now before the rush!

In this article, we explore 20 things commercial businesses can power wash here in Asheville, NC (and well beyond).

Let’s jump in!

The Many Benefits of Pressure Washing

There are many reasons and benefits why you should pressure wash instead of hand wash certain items around an office or commercial building. These include:

• Pressure washing is highly effective at cleaning and protecting your commercial property exteriors

• Enhancing the exterior aesthetic, look and feel, and “curb appeal”

• Quickly and effectively removes damaging grime such as mold, mildew, and algae, increasing the life of your property and outdoor items.

• Improves the safety and health of your property. Removing things like mold and mildew from sidewalks and parking lots helps prevent and reduce slips and falls. It also removes allergens from around the property, creating a healthier work environment for all.

• Saves you time and money!

• Helps with pest and bug control. Power washing helps to remove bees nests, spider webs, and organic materials that draw bugs and rodents to the property.

• And so much more!

When’s the Best Time to Pressure Wash?

Honestly, any time!

But the best time to pressure wash a commercial building and property is right before springtime to wash away and clean up after winter season. This helps remove dirt, dust, grime, snow salt, and so much more, giving your building a refreshed look for warmer, more active days.

Another great time to power wash an office or commercial building is right before winter, when you’re putting items like outdoor furniture away. This prepares the outdoor areas, your building, and the items around for the coming months. It also makes springtime cleaning much easier (saving your business time and money).

Use Caution When Pressure Washing

This is very important. If you decide to pressure wash on your own, be very careful and use caution. The pressurized water that comes out of the machine is meant to cut through tough dirt and grime — and it does it very well! So that means painted items and sensitive materials like wood and glass are susceptible to damage.

Be sure to read the owners manual before operating the pressure washer. Or, if in doubt, contact a professional commercial power washing company, like The Go-To Janitor, to take on the job. We’d be happy to help!

20 Things to Pressure Wash Around a Commercial Building

Now let’s take a look at some of the items that can be power washed around an office building. Some might surprise you!

1. Dumpster Pads

If anything around your commercial building is going to get…gross…it’s a dumpster pad. Accidental spills, trash leakage, and just the ooey gooey mystery liquids can buildup. And, if left, can become an eyesore and, not to mention, a stinky addition to the property.

Power washing can do the job. First, pick up and remove any loose trash and debris. Wear protective equipment (mask, goggles, cleaning bibs, and gloves), and spray away the ew. While you’re at it, give the dumpsters an exterior spray as well.

For best results, plan to pressure wash dumpster pads at least once a month.

2. Loading Docks

Commercial locations like grocery stores and retail businesses, rely heavily on large delivery and semi-trucks to bring food and other goods to stock their shelves for customers. Overtime, and with constant use, loading docks are often neglected leaving them quite dirty — especially when food is involved!

You can keep your loading docks clean with regular power washing. Ideally, a loading dock that is used for unloading food, a daily spray off is ideal.

For deep cleans, we recommend power washing loading docks at least once a month.

3. Parking Lots and Garages

Where there are cars, there will be dirt, oil, and grime buildup on parking lot concrete. And those dark, oily spots left behind by motor vehicles can make your parking lot or deck looking and feeling dirty.

Power washing is one of the best ways to revive a parking lot. The pressurized water lifts and removes dirt, grime, and oil, washing it all away.

Gas stations benefit greatly from regular pressure washing around the areas where cars park to fill up. This helps wash away gas spills, oil stains, tire marks, trash, and more.

We recommend pressure washing a parking lot or garage at least once a year.

4. Door and Floor Mats

Wipe your feet!

Door and floor mats are great for keeping dirt and grime from being drug in by shoes and work boots. But regular foot traffic can quickly bring in outdoor dirt and grime, leaving your door mats and floor mats begging for a deep clean.

The thing is, door and floor mats work well when their fibers aren’t clogged up, meaning regular cleanings are essential to their efficiency.

Plus! Keeping them clean extends the life of your mats, saving you money in the long run.

Every month, especially in the wintertime, we recommend giving your door and floor mats a good deep clean. To do this, vacuum them well. Then, take them outdoors and give them a good shake. Drape the mats over a banister and beat them with the stick of a broom to loosen even more dirt, dust and grime. Shake once more. Next, pressure wash your door mats and floor mats.

Let air dry completely before putting them back.

With regular power washing and cleanings, you’ll notice a major difference in the cleanliness of your floors!

5. Outdoor Furniture

Rocking chairs, picnic tables, lounge chairs, hammocks, and other outdoor furniture can be and should be pressure washed before springtime. Pressure washing removes mildew, dirt, and grime before your employees and/or customers enjoy sitting and enjoying the outdoors around your commercial property.

We recommend power washing outdoor furniture after wintertime to remove seasonal gunk and dirt before use during warmer months. You should also pressure wash before storing them away, just before cold months arrive.

Note: Power washing is best suited for wicker, concrete, and plastic outdoor furniture, but some wood pieces, like picnic tables, can be pressure washed with care.

6. Storefronts

Your storefront is a reflection of your business. Customers coming and going take notice of the look and feel of your doors, windows, and exterior walls.

Keep it clean and first impressions will naturally be positive.

We recommend deep cleaning via power washing a storefront at least once a year, if not more frequently throughout the year.

7. Awnings

Awnings provide shade and protection from the sun, rain, and snow. They’re a great addition to your storefront.

Keeping them clean and free from mold and mildew adds to the aesthetic of your building.

So, yes, awnings can be power washed!

We recommend pressure washing awnings once a month, maybe every other month for regular maintenance.

8. Business Signage

Yes! Business signage can be power washed. Not to mention, keeping your signage free from mud and other outdoor debris keeps it visible to customers.

Pressure wash business signage at least once a year.

Note: Please use caution (and commonsense) when pressure washing signage that is hooked up to electricity and/or lights. In fact, avoid pressure washing anything that is electrified. Instead, consult your signage manufacturer for proper cleaning procedures to avoid damage and personal injury. Pressure washing is best suited for metal or plastic standalone business signage.

9. Trash Cans

Another icky item that needs regular deep cleaning is office trash cans. No matter how large or small the trash cans, power washing is a quick and efficient way of cleaning them.

Plan to pressure wash trash cans (especially those in the break room and bathrooms) once a month. At a minimum, we recommend pressure washing all office trash cans every six months.

10. Stairs and Handrails

Talk about foot traffic dirt and debris, stairs and stairwells need annual deep cleanings via power washing (at a minimum). Plus, you can use the pressure washer to clean off handrails, which is great for blasting away germs and dirt from constant use.

We recommend power washing stairs, stairwells, and handrails at least twice a year for best results.

11. Sidewalks

If we’re being honest, pressure washing a sidewalk is the most satisfying offering we have at The Go-To Janitor. To see a dirty sidewalk come back to life after a deep clean adds so much value and aesthetic beauty to your storefront or commercial building.

It’s best to power wash sidewalks after wintertime to wash away dirt, grime, and snow salts. This will help keep your indoor floors and door mats cleaner!

We recommend power washing sidewalks at least twice a year, if not more often. The number of times your sidewalks are cleaned really depends on the amount of foot traffic your business has throughout the year.

12. Exterior Siding

Your storefront is important to keep clean, but if you have several sides to your commercial building, then you’ll benefit from pressure washing all exterior siding.

All different types of exterior siding can be power washed, including brick, vinyl, wood, cement, and stone.

Plan to pressure wash exterior siding at least once a year.

*This service is also available to residential customers! Contact us to learn more.

13. Windows (Exterior Side)

As you probably know, we’re professional window cleaners inside and out.

But did you know that your exterior windows can be pressure washed? Absolutely! But with great care, of course.

A pressure washer can be used to deep clean window glass, tracks, exterior window panes, etc.

It’s a quick and chemical-free way of adding a clean touch to your business’ exterior.

We recommend deep cleaning business windows (either pressure washing or other methods) at least once a month. This will help keep the exterior of your windows looking clean and shiny.

Read more about why clean windows matter in 5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Commercial Window Cleaning Company.

*This service is also available to residential customers! Contact us to learn more.

14. Playgrounds

Children spend lots of time enjoying playground equipment at schools and daycares. When they’re dirty, slides, swings, and other play things can leave children’s hands and clothing dirty (which, can lead to unhappy parents!).

So, it’s best to keep all playground equipment clean and free from dirt, mildew, mud, and other outdoor grime.

The best way to do this is by pressure washing them. As a commercial cleaning company, we can also add soap and/or sanitizing chemicals to the machine to enhance the cleanliness of the playground.

To keep children safe and playgrounds clean, we recommend pressure washing them once a month if not more frequently.

15. Gutters

It doesn’t take long for gutters to get clogged up reducing their ability to move rainwater. Cleaning them out (removing leaves, sticks, and animal nests — yes, squirrels and birds love living in gutters for some reason!) then pressure washing them is the best way to keep them running smoothly.

Plan to mark your calendar every six months or so for gutter cleaning. This depends, however, on the location of your commercial building. If you have woods and trees nearby, we recommend cleaning them more often.

*This service is also available to residential customers! Contact us to learn more.

16. Exterior Doors

Exterior doors get dirty if they aren’t cleaned regularly, especially if the business is near a busy street.

We recommend pressure washing exterior doors once a month for best results.

17. Porches and Patios

Just like your storefront, keeping a porch or patio clean is important to the aesthetic and first impressions of your business. Power washing a porch or patio keeps dirt, mud, and grime from attaching to customer shoes and being tracked inside.

Pressure washing removes leaves, dirt, debris, mold and mildew. But use great care, especially if the porch or patio has been stained or painted as a pressure washer can damage and remove paint. But if you’re planning to paint afterwards anyways, pressure washing is a great way to prepare your porch or patio for grabbing and holding onto the paint or stain.

For regular maintenance, however, we recommend pressure washing a porch or patio at least once a year. Twice a year is best, but an annual deep clean is recommended at a minimum.

*This service is also available to residential customers! Contact us to learn more.

18. Drive-Thru Lanes

Often overlooked and not thought of — power washing drive thru lanes! Fast food restaurants, local grab-and-go type of businesses, and bank teller lanes benefit from regular cleanings.

And just like parking lots, regular pressure washing is recommended. Plan to deep clean drive-thru lanes at least once every six months.

19. Fencing

It’s amazing how quickly an outdoor fence can get dirty! The elements, rain and snow especially, can cause green mildew to grow over time, especially here in Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas.

To keep your fencing looking beautiful and like new, take a pressure washer to it! We recommend that fencing be deep cleaned with a power washer at least once a year, typically after wintertime.

Note: Use extreme caution when pressure washing painted fencing. In this case, it’s best to call a pro!

*This service is also available to residential customers! Contact us to learn more.

20. Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are beautiful and useful when they’re kept up. But often with neglect, they become dirty and overgrown with briars, mildew, and other overgrowth. Pressure washing can remove all of this and bring a retaining wall back to life.

Plan to pressure wash retaining walls every year for best results.

On the Hunt for Commercial Power Washing in Asheville NC? Call The Go-To Janitor!

If this list seems overwhelming, it can be! But not to the pros.

At The Go-To Janitor, we live and breathe cleaning, janitorial services, window cleaning, and…you guessed it…power washing right here in Asheville NC!

So if you’re searching for commercial power washing Asheville NC, you’ve come to the right place.

Just head over to our Free Estimates page to request more information, or give us a call at (828) 682-8407. We’d be happy to spray down all of your items and get your business clean and ready for the warmer months ahead.