Cleaned by Pete: what a power washer does: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Selling Your Home? invest in a good external cleaning

Selling Your Home? invest in a good external cleaning.

Cleaning your home will be the best investment you can make. It will return more than any other improvement you can do on it. Cleaned by Pete spent today getting a home ready to be put up for sale. That first impression is the one that will last when people see it. If your home has the area's typical spotting on the siding of black algae and mildew, or the green mold and golden algae blooming on your driveway or sidewalks Cleaned by Pete can remove it. Leaving it ready for prospective buyers and agents to look at. Cleaned by Pete also whitened the gutters and fascia. You only get one time to make a first impression, making it count the most is what you should be looking for.

Better know a s curb appeal what is the prospective customer for your home looking for? Most of us really don't know that is why we hire an agent to sell and bring in clients looking to buy. I do know if you see something dull and dirty it stick in the back of your mind, you immediately downgrade it, the home falls into the bargain basement idea only to be looked at again if you can't find anything else.

Washing, cleaning, whitening and brightening, around the house will pay off. A agent once told me they can get 3% more for a clean and well cared for home, that has that "pop", "cub appeal" or what ever draw the client to the looks of the home.

Here are a few shots of the work we did on this home that will be going up for sale.

Does your home's siding show algae, mold or mildew spotting? Does your concrete show "Golden Algae" in bloom, green mold growing or "black Algae" taking root in the pours. Are you gutters and fascia more gray then white? Cleaned by Pete can help you with some much needed curb appeal. Photo Nixa MO.

Before the house washing Cleaned by Pete Nixa MO.

Before the concrete cleaning Cleaned by Pete Nixa MO.

Green mold, "Golden Algae" in bloom and "Black Algae" in the pours of this concrete driveway and side walk. Cleaned by Pete will remove and kill it, Nixa MO.

Before the house washing Cleaned by Pete Nixa MO.

After a concrete cleaning and house washing Cleaned by Pete Nixa MO.

After a concrete cleaning, gutter / fascia and house washing Cleaned by Pete Nixa MO.

Dirty concrete being cleaned Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete.

Let Cleaned by Pete work some curb appeal magic on a home the return on your cleaning investment will pay off.

Cleaned by Pete

serving the greater Springfield and the surrounding area in the Ozarks area

417.459.7869

On a side note I thought I would add to the blog entry I had the twin linked pumps running together today and gave the 24" surface cleaner a new 3 bar head. 24" of surface cleaning power being pushed by the twin Mi-T-M power washers at @ 3000 psi at around 8 gpm. Made short work of the driveway and sidewalk with great deep cleaning results. Just another improvement on our equipment to help serve our customers better and more efficiently.

Cleaned by Pete added a 3 bar head and is pushing it with the twin pump set-up to better serve our customers.

Cleaned by Pete added a 3 bar head and is pushing it with the twin pump set-up to better serve our customers, faster, deeper cleaning, more efficiently cleaning concrete.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Cleaned by Pete's Work

You can keep up with Cleaned by Pete and see a few of the jobs we are doing. Just visit our sister blog House Washing Springfield MO. I try to add some of the jobs we are doing there. You can always find us on "facebook" just look for Cleaned by Pete.

Cleaned by Pete

just a power washer serving the greater Springfield & surrounding areas.

417.459.7869

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

What Do You Want! :putting together a custom power washer

What Do You Want! :putting together a custom power washer. We all have different ideas of what we want to work with. We all have ideas to change our working equipment to be even better. If they only did this or that. Well the manufactures did not call me when they built it so it could fit just my needs. That leaves me to put a washer together myself the way it fits my needs.

Setting the stage I wanted a smaller footprint washer with power enough to do concrete and at the same time wanted reliability and a long-life for it and the components. Belt drives pumps turn at half speed this gives the pump drawing power and since it is not turning as fast you should double the life of a direct-drive washer. Belt drives are great but take up more space and with the pulleys and belt drive set-up. Added weight of the belt guards the tentioner brackets, the pulleys them selves and a larger stronger mounting plate to handle all this is something I was looking to avoid. I have had the "V-twin" over head valve motors and while proven I personally do not like them. I know right now some are ready to come to blows over that statement. More moving parts, a higher profile, and a bit top-heavy for my taste so to speak. This is what I am looking to solve in this build.

For the motor I picked the old Briggs 180* opposed flathead twin-cylinder motor. Very reliable lower profile a old work-horse of a motor. flathead motors have fewer moving parts and develop more tourk something I'm looking for. The 180* lay out means it is a smoother running motor also this is also a plus. To shorten up the footprint and still give the larger pump a greater lifespan I'm going with a RS500 gearbox to replace the belt system. This gearbox will now take the 3450 RPMs of the motor and reduce it to 1700 RPMs required by the pump. It will look much like a direct-drive power washer and take up much less room. I have chosen a K-5 unloader for this build simply because I had 2 sitting on the shelf. The last item is I wanted a big gastank nothing worst than running out of gas when you have 10 feet left to clean on a job. I happened to find this Sears Craftsman power washer and had the cage wheels and tank I had been looking for. An older gentleman bought it at an auction and never used it. I removed the pump and motor and mounted it on a old two wheel pressure washing cart a neighbor had given me and I'll try to sell at a later time. The pump I have a spare General 5.5 gpm at 3000 psi sitting here and will be using it for the build. Generals are good pumps and we have a part supply house here local with every part needed in stock to keep one up and running.

Cleaned by Pete putting together a new washer to serve the customers better with all the ideas and needs that I had to be filled.

Cleaned by Pete putting together a new washer to serve the customers better.

Have most of the parts to build up another power washer. Using the gear-box will give me a smaller footprint than the old belt drives but will still give me the longer life of the pump. 18 hp Briggs 180 opposed twin with custom manifold, General pump, K5 unloader, RS500 gearbox, large gas tank in a Craftsman frame. Have the sheet-metal and fan off the motor for the build. Have to see how it goes together now.

Well this is where I'm at today have most of the parts and fittings. I will start to build and see what I can create. I don't know if it will be better than others but I will only have one person to blame if it does not work out as I planned.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Perspective: what is an important or a big job?

Perspective: what is an important or a big job to each person is all in how one looks at it. While we clean and work to make money which helps our families and gets us to where we want to be. Sometime it is about a little more it was for me today.

Before the after sidewalk cleaning Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO

Before the after graffiti removal, Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO

To start with all job are important to a business man whether your a power washer or any other trade we rely on job and customers. While doing a job today this thought came to me. I was looking at it as a small job I could do in the rain. Make some money and get it done fast just a "bread and butter" type job. I was not seeing the whole picture though, please let me set this up.

I was at the desk today since it was quite cool and the rain was falling, I received a call on the phone. It started "I'm very sorry did I just call you?" I replied "No mam". In a what I could tell was an upset voice she asked if I could help with graffiti removal. I told her yes I did graffiti removal and she then said she had been call around to get it done that she had some foul language and signs on her side walk with an arrow leading toward her porch. We talked and then she said no one would take it because it was on the concrete sidewalk too small of job if they had to clean up the walk-ways too. She relayed no one would do both and I said I would run over since I was not doing anything else due to the rain and see what we could do for her.

I thought I would throw what I needed in the way of cleaners on the truck just encase. I knew I could do something but just what I didn't know till I got there.

I did a "mapquest" got the location and headed out. I saw several tags in the neighborhood and knew about what to expect. I got there and it was not as big as some I say the one across the street was twice the size. I was thinking no big deal here and gave her the price she seemed quite relived and asked if she added the steps, landing, walk up and front sidewalk how much more I gave her the price and she asked when I could do it. I said now it's not raining too bad. She could not believe it. Then she told me...

This is my first home I found it after it had been abandoned for some time. Due to the closeness to the college it was a rental and suffered from alot of neglect the landlord did nothing but collect rent. When it got to bad to rent is just sat there. She was very proud of the little home and the work she had put in to it over the last year. She told me it still needed more work but it was all her's and she was very proud of it. The graffiti or tagging to me was just another job something to clean but it was more to her it was an insult and she was wondering if she was sought out or if she was being made out as something she was not. The foul language was being directed at her. I reassured her there were other tags around and it was a random act I belied from other tags and graffiti I removed. She said the arrow leading up to the house is what upset her the most like pointing something out, that something was wrong with her pride she had for this first home. It was like her baby this is what she was working for and too great pride and joy in this home.

It made me realize each job is important but just how much and what it means to others we may never know. I take great pride in Cleaned by Pete what I have built and what I do. Why wouldn't others take pride and what the do and work on. As this lady taking the pride in owing and working on this home she was making for herself. I love working with my residential customers and take pride in their pride when I clean their homes and they just can not get over what a difference it makes. Now I'll have a different view on things too, maybe just a different perspective, walking in someones shoes so to speak.

It was very refreshing to see someone with so much pride in a home that when some "urban artist" took it upon himself to add some art to it, it upset the owner and hurt them in a way as such to almost cause injury to them. No job to small will take on a bit different meaning now to me.

Here are a few picture of what I did not a big job but a very important one none the less. I did not picture the vulgar langauage or tags left (not worth giving the "urban artist" any points or promote their work. Just to say it was in forest green spray paint and applied quite heavy here.

Tag / graffiti removal followed by a sidewalk cleaning Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO

Cleaned by Pete

serving the greater Springfield area

power, pressure, house, and soft washing

417.459.7869

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Gutter Brightening Republic / Billings Missouri

Yes Spring is coming in and was able to to some gutter brightening. This is not the biggest of jobs but it helps set you back into the work force. These gutters man not appear too bad but they were some of the dirtiest I have come across in a long time. Taking pictures of dirt verse clean gutters is one of the hardest shots to get you can see it but the camera just does not relay the dirty factor. In any case here are some photos.

Gutter brightening Billings / Republic MO area. The photos really don't show how gray and completely covered with years of grime these gutters are. The house is located near a major high-way and a train track that hauls coal, the home sits in an open field so it attract all the airborne dirt.

Cleaned by Pete brightening some gutters in the Billings / Republic MO area, before starting.

Gutters now being cleaned by, Cleaned by Pete

You can see by the photo cleaning is making a big difference here. Gutter brighten Billings / Republic Missouri area Cleaned by Pete.

You can see by the photo where I have cleaned up to. Gutter brighten Billings / Republic Missouri area Cleaned by Pete.

Gutters now cleaned!

Cleaned by Pete brightening some gutters in the Billings / Republic MO now white and bright as I'm finishing.

If we can help you with a cleaning project and you are in the greater Springfield MO area please to give us a call 417.459.7869 and see if we can help you.

I bet we can Cleaned by Pete your #1 house washer for South-West Missouri.


Everything is nice, bright and white Cleaned by Pete power, pressure, soft, or house washing in the Billings / Republic MO area.

Cleaned by Pete

417.459.7869

Monday, March 9, 2015

Spring May Be On The Way?

Spring may be on the way?

Well we have heard this over and over here in the "Greater Ozarks Area" and it also applies to the greater mid-west too, but to no avail it just kept snowing this year. I was able to get a few jobs done here and there but winter wrapped us all up and the gloom and doldrums set in. The blog suffered some but brings me to the point of this blog. What does a power washer do in the winter? I can shine some light on that question.

In past winters we had server warming trends and not near the snow recorded this year. Jobs could be done and equipment could be taken out. This year we had temps we never made it out of the teens. Taking equipment out to wash even the simplest jobs can turn into a nightmare with ice and slip and falls. It seemed better to keep it packed up but then you start to suffer from not getting out and you start to worry about this, that, and play the what if game. You know what if this happens? What if we don't do as much? What if a piece of equipment goes down? Too much time to think.

Boardum sets in and you start to get down. I try to use this time to work on web sights and boost pages. Most of the time you will not see any returns on your efforts till the weather breaks and jobs start coming in. This also helps to bring you down by over-thinking again. You work and see no instant improvements. When we wash a house or concrete we can see results right a way giving us gratification. Try to keep your spirits up is a must. As power washer we all face the slow and lean times it is easy to say, don't let it get to you but it is a lot harder to act on it.

The new season is around the corner things will get better work will be rolling in. You will make, it you will adjust, and you will grow.

I know we all need a pick me up from time to time I hope this short blog helps you get up for what is about to start happening, "A New Washing Season" is just around the corner.

These pictures were of the last snow fall of 4" with sheet ice and sleet in between the layers you could not go anywhere. We had just melted off about 8" of the 12" the last storm wave brought when we received this one. I know in some areas this is not much but in the South-West MO area it is not good. Temps from -6 with high in the teens is also unusual for our are for the month of February. Just can't squirt water in weather like this.

Still snow and ice here as of last week but able to get outside and do some work on the service truck. During some of the down time, I was able to build and get this stacking unit ready for the upcoming season. I was able to mount and get some of the hoses ran with a few breaks to run in and warm up.

You can still see the tanks have antifreeze in them as temp still fall into the 20's at night here.

Today the weather is starting to turn for the better here, snow is gone still a bit of stubborn ice hanging around but I'm outside and able to do some work. Even yesterday I was able to clean some concrete, though it seemed I shoveled/power washed more sheeted ice off than anything. The local Classic Rock Coffee Company was having a "big event" and needed all the salts, grime, ice-melt, and the rest of the ice off their walkways. Wasn't any to warm but felt good to have work. I was cutting ice off the walkways with the spray and it was flying out into the parking lot while cleaning the grime off. So on a side-note a power washer can double as a snow shovel it seems. So anything you can get done or do outside in the winter is like a greater accomplishment. Winter made me a bit stir-crazy, so even something as small as mounting this old hand-carried fire-hose reel from the 30's, to the service rig, if done outside takes on some form of mythical grandeur. I took a cue from the carpet cleaners and some of their hose reels, I seem to like them much more, than the ones made just for power washing. I had this antique fire-hose reel kicking around here forever now. It's time to put it to some use. Again during some down winter time I was able to do some mods to it and convert it from holding a flat firefighting hose, to today's standard round garden hose. Now mounted on the service rig with at-least 135 feet of supply hose on it. Just being able to get out do something gave me the intensive to come in and work on this entry of the blog tonight.

Yes "Spring is on the way!" as I type the weather-girl on the TV said it is 41* now.