Slip & Fall: Sick Kids: mold, mildew, bacteria removal

Don't miss an opportunity for a photo op.

Slip & Fall, Sick Kids: mold, mildew, bacteria removal by Cleaned by Pete.

This entry is a branch from the previous entry. After posting and publishing the entry a member of the group Power Washing Community on Google+ offered a suggestion. I quote " Try to emphasize the fact that this is mold, mildew and bacteria forming on the bleachers and unless they are looking to have sick kids, they better get these routinely cleaned.  Would not want the school to be sued now would we!" Which did get me thinking the main reason for cleaning these bleacher was they just looked bad. That reason alone landed Cleaned by Pete the job along with a few other reasons as mentioned in the previous blog. 

 This is the way I use to approach and add opportunity based on looks while it is still a very viable add campaign we can change it also to health and safety. What is growing on your home? Autoimmune, respiratory, the rise in allergies, sinus headaches, kids unable to go out and play with out getting sick are all on the rise in this country. Can we as an industry make a difference? I believe so.

Cleaned by Pete Rogersville MO

With the suggestion sent me I started to look at things differently. Not wanting to let an opportunity to pass with out trying to get some traction off or it. I started to play around with the idea of health. When washing we all know how slippery the surfaces can get when mold, algae, and mildew are on it. Well the aluminium steps and walk-ways were the same. This led me to another reason to clean them and brings up the question are we cosmetic cleaners or do we do this for safety reasons. I would like to think safety first but looking at the reason why I landed this job it was not considered. 

Cleaned by Pete stadium bleacher cleaning 417.459.7869.

Safety cleaning should be a big push in our industry. Slip and fall due to lack of traction on concrete and other surfaces due to the growth of molds, algae, bacterial growth and mildew should be a big concern. How may times have we cleaned oil spills up cause they look bad? Slip and falls are one of the largest arenas for lawyers to go after companies not that there side-walk looks bad.

Slip and fall, sick kids let Cleaned by Pete help you head these concerns from happening.

In the same vain molds, mildew and bacterial growth in public places are a common problem not just schools. Respiratory illness is a big concern and airborne pollutants are here to stay. Here is an example your at the ball park where do you set your drink? Most bench bleachers are not deep enough to set it between your legs most of us will set it by our feet. Now look at the photos did you really notice what is under you seating area? Small kids crawl around and down think what is there? Park benches, picknick tables, out side patio furniture even playground equipment. Rain does a good job but more and more pollutants are in the air the rain helps to deposit them more then rinse them away today.

Safety reasons are a main reason we should be cleaning and washing.

External mold mildew and algae removal. Help free your home from these and others contaminates Cleaned by Pete mold removal 417.459.7869.

Are the days of "cosmetic cleaning" gone I don't think so everyone wants there properties to look good. Safety cleaning should be a reason or a trend we need to push for. As times change so we need to as an industry. Open up to new ways of looking at thing. Even cleaning a home a "house wash" removes molds, algae, mildew that is growing on your home. If you or your family members are having respiratory troubles or allergies this could be a contributing factor.

Cleaned by Pete Serving the greater Springfield MO area 417.459.7869.

Health and safety lets look at thing in a different light the service we can preform may be more important than you think. We are selling a service lets sell safety, heath, and prevention we need to promote these services more and drop the idea of an $89.00 dollar house wash. We need to remove contaminates as mold, mildew, algae, bacterial growth and other airborne agents from a house, concrete or other surfaces. As a benefit your home or property will be cleaned in the process. Selling the health or safety service. Do we need to be selling and promoting cheap house washing or a service to remove the air borne and contaminates growing and feeding on a home or property. Are we selling a $20 to $50 dollar drive way clean or are we selling peace of mind knowing the drive way is safe to walk on. After removing these organisms from the pours has renewed grip to help hold shoes from slipping. We can remove the contaminates giving you a safety factor and in doing so your drive will be restored to look good once again. This puts our service above the "water squirter". While cosmetic looks will drive most customers to our doors offering peace of mind, health and safety factors we will up our game as I see it.

Cleaned by Pete

just a power washer serving the greater Springfield MO area

417.459.7869

Wash'n Wednesday with Cleaned by Pete

Wash'n Wednesday

 In these photos I'm trying to show you what I see while working the jobs so far this week, Cleaned by Pete 417-459-7869

Deck cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Deck cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Deck cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Deck cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Stucco cleaning, house washing Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Concrete cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Concrete cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Concrete cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Concrete cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Concrete cleaning Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

House washing working from right to left Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

House washing working from right to left Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Gutter brightening working from right to left Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

It's House Wash'n Wednesday on the other blog site.

http://housewashingspringfieldmo.blogspot.com/2014/05/hay-do-you-know-what-day-it-is-it-is.html

That right House washing Wednesday on House Washing Springfield MO

Let Cleaned by Pete remove that mold, mildew, algae, along with that dirt and grime, with our safe soft washing system. We are working from the ground no ladders on your home no crawling around on your home. Cleaned by Pete has a better safer way house washing Springfield MO 417.459.7869

Customer was thrilled with the results and even more when he heard that I would do this home from the ground. Told me the last cleaner had ladders up and was walking on the roof, in order to clean the higher areas.

Cleaned by Pete 

cleaning up Springfield MO one home at a time

Serving the greater Springfield and Southwest MO area.

417.459.7869

Should of Would of Could of?

Should of would of could of?

I should have written a new entry in the blog. I would have written a new entry in the blog but for the lack of time. I could still write a entry in the blog but I'm heading out to a job in a short bit. So what it taking up my time that keeps me from blogging? Spring is here weather is good and folks in the Ozarks are having things cleaned, it is great.
I then come home and work on the little service truck that went down on us a few weeks back. It has taken on a whole new life and it should be back in the field washing next week. Here is a quick shot of it, before and now.

Cleaned by Pete's little service truck doing it duty.

Same little service truck with a new flat bed, new 5 gpm washer, a new look and new equipment being mounted. There is more work to be done. Cleaned by Pete updating by adding new equipment and washers to serve our costumers better.

Cleaned by Pete working on the "little service truck". Helping this world out by saving gas, oil, water, and using safe and friendly cleaners. A smaller footprint means we are doing our part to help the environment. Do you need a big truck, pulling a full trailer, with a high powered pressure washer, to wash a house? Cleaned by Pete knows there is a better way to "safely soft wash" a home call us 417.459.7869 we can show you how.

Not done yet, mounting the equipment and a newer 5 gpm washer on it today.

Have more to finish off and more to work out but it's getting ready to hit the road. I'll post up the finished photos soon as it happens. With this setup we should be able to serve our customers better and save wear and tear on the pick-up and myself too, as Martha Stewart would say, "This is a good thing".

Cleaned by Pete

serving the greater Springfield and Southwest MO area

"cleaning up Springfield one home at a time"

417.459.7869

I felt I had to add this rebuttal to the blog after a comment was made to me about not being a "professional looking" power washer cause I don't pull a big trailer with a big pick-up, cause that is what is expected. I have a larger service truck with a Landa heated 18 hp, 5 gpm, 3500 psi, with a 110 volt generator, diesel fuel heated burner, with everything needed to wash or clean most residential and commercial accounts self-contained in and on it. I also have a trailer with water tanks, 110 volt generator, lights and its' own plug ins and fuse boxes and a Mi-T-M skid, similar to the Landa described above, but I chosen to use this smaller pick-up I built instead, so I'm considered by some as a nonprofessional.
 

Cleaned by Pete is making progress on the "small footprint" service truck. Lettering on today should be ready to work this coming week.

I was told that this is too small to work out of, that a "real professional" needed a big truck and a trailer. Why I asked and the answer was "Cause that is the way it is done". Well never being one to follow along, I know there are better ways of doing things and better ways of approaching things. Let's look this over and you can then be the judge on the matter.

What do you need to wash a home the safe soft wash way? Most professionals would say you can use a smaller pump but only a 5 gpm (gallon per minute) pump would work for them. OK this pump is rated at 5 gpm. You need a buffer tank OK I have a 35 gallon tank on-board, My question is why do you want a 300 gallon to 525 gallon tank full of water to use as a buffer tank? For most residential jobs the smaller tank will work fine. Landa who make some of the best equipment only have 3 to 5 gallon buffer or reserve tanks on their factory designed skids. Why don't they have 300 gallon tanks if is such a factor. Now before you say I need to haul in water for a job and need that much to get the job done. Well if I do not have a water source I don't take the job I refer it to another local company that carries 525 gallons of water.  One thing on a side-note here is water is @ 8.33 pounds per gallon that is 2499 extra pounds of weight at 300 gallons and for a big tank (525 gallons) 4165 pounds of weight. That is liquid weight moving and sloshing around when starting and stopping. The extra wear on the transmission and drive train alone is more of a reason to downsize the "footprint" size.

The pressure required to soft wash a house is around 800 psi or less why do I need a large skid with 4000 plus psi when doing a house. I need that for washing concrete yes your right! So when I wash concrete I put on and will bring another unit that will handle that. I have several washer to serve our customers needs and I bring the ones that are needed to handle the job that I'm doing. Not having one pressure washer trying to do the needs of all jobs but having the right washer for each job. Cleaned by Pete has 13 different washer to fit different needs, if you follow the blog you know or have seen our surface cleaners. So pressure and washer size is not a problem I bring what is needed that is why there is extra room on the flatbed. One other plus to our method is if one of the washers should go down, break, or have a problem I have another one with me to finish the job.

Professional use only the best equipment  and belt driven pumps are the industry standard. OK the main unit on the "small footprint" little pick-up is a Mi-T-M twin belt driven General Pump. The other pump I take along for house washing and general washing is a Hypro geardriven pump. Along with our Landa and Mi-T-M heated skids Cleaned by Pete has other belt driven units as well as direct drive units both gas and electric. All falling into the commerical if not industrial level of quality. Just because it is not on a skid does not mean it is not quality.

You don't have heat we have heat on our trailer! I have one heated unit that I can load up on the flatbed and it will maintain around 150 degrees of heated water using diesel fuel to heat it. I also have a propane heated unit and 3 dry steam or vapor cleaners I can use. I don't have to take them unless I need or may need hot water. I have an option and I still keep the "footprint" small. I have mounted a hosereel pictured below, and will have the entire truck plumed with a water supply provided by the external tap on the homeowners house or business location. 

I have another big advantage with the small "footprint" Friday I did a job where parking a truck and trailer on the street was not feasible.  Running hose to the home and backyard was also not really feasible, though it could be done with around 500 feet of hose which is no problem for Cleaned by Pete. Running it around the landscaping and all the plants and irrigation system at this home would make it hard. The drive way went up at close to 30 if not 40 degrees with no area to turn around or level out to park a trailer and truck on. I could how ever pull up the small pick-up and park in the far corner to work out of and the customer was able to get by when needed. If you are doing soft-washing and down-streaming your soap and cleaner 500 feet of hose would not draw. Gas is going up thus making a smaller footprint a big impact on the environment by using less gas and oil. It seems like a no-brainer here. There are places here in the Ozarks where you could not drag a trailer in and expect to get back out. We're are mobile cleaning / washing contractors getting to the job is part of what we have to do.

I guess I might just turn the question around, Why do you need a 4x4, crew cab large box pickup and a 16 foot trailer to pull to each and ever job, with that hot water, high pressure skid on it? When a "smaller footprint" would do "Earth-friendly" and helping to save money and time is more important to me than "A real professional needed a big truck and a trailer cause that is the way it has always been done". Sorry just maybe it is time to change, and change is coming more manufactures and power washing houses are offering smaller but as powerful washes that fit in to a standard pick-up bed. More contractors are looking for way to serve their customer base better with better cost effective means. The smaller "footprint" is coming.
I believe I have answered all the major issues that were put before me when I started to build this little service truck.

Now with all this being said is there a need for large trailers with powerful machines and large water tanks? The answer is yes there is we need these cleaners and there large service trucks to pull them. There are jobs that require there special designs and what they do. I am not saying get rid of trailers and pressure washing skids, I don't want to get rid of mine I need it at times. What I'm saying is you need what you have for what you do, I need and have what I need for what I do. Why do you look down on me, refer to my service truck as a low baller, why did you feel you had to refer to it as non professional? Is it because I'm doing things differently then you scared of change? Or maybe you see things starting to change but you don't want to, or have you put yourself so far above everyone else? It has always been funny that a few seem to know more about how you should run, work and what you should do with your business, as well as what will work for you even if they don't live here or do what you do. 

On a side-note; driving this around town the last couple of days it has drawn quite a bit of attention and lots of positive remarks. Most of the people who have seen it, think is is a neat looking rig. Getting alot of double takes which should help in the advertising area, the more visible and memorable you are the better. My idea was to be able to work with this but also to have a impact that appeals to others that will help promote our business. Everything form the vintage rotating caution lamp, the aged lettering, the vintage saltflat discs to the washer and tank placements are all set up to get the biggest and best attention to help remember it. Being able to park it up front at stores, instead of along side the building or out in the parking lot where a large truck and trailer always seems to be in someones way, is a good thing too. Still a bit of work to do but it should all come together soon.

Cleaned by Pete adding a hose-reel on our "little service truck"

House Washing Wednesday in Springfield MO

House Washing Wednesday

The cleaning season is in full swing so I thought I would revive "House Washing Wednesday" showing you what I do on Wednesday. It finds me washing a home and a small detached garage, in Springfield MO. Below are some photos of the job. 

House washing Springfield MO, Cleaned by Pete.

Soft washing to power washing Cleaned by Pete in Springfield MO.

Mold, mildew or algae removed from a homes siding call Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO.

Gutters brightened, homes cleaned / washed in Springfield MO and the surrounding area, Cleaned by Pete pressure washing and more.

Safe soft washing on all exterior surfaces Cleaned by Pete Springfield MO.

What are these little wiggly lines on my house?

What are these little wiggly lines on my house?

I was asked this question the other day and my answer about flipped out the home owner.

Have you heard of algae eaters? Snails and slugs eat algae from homes leaving these little wiggly line where they have eaten. This is one way to remove algae from your vinyl siding, Cleaned by Pete is another way to remove your home' algae, mold, moss and mildew problems.

Cleaned by Pete house washing / cleaning Springfield MO

Pictured above are the lines in the mold that the home-owner was asking about. The wiggly lines appear in what was growing on the siding of this home. What was doing this?

Slugs and snails feed on your home making those lines as they feed on the mold, Cleaned by Pete house washers. Picture form http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slug.

Yes snails and slugs feed on what is growing on your home. Do you want to stop the free banquet your house provides these creatures? If you want the mold, mildew, algae or just dirt and grime remove from you home's siding call:

Cleaned by Pete

Cleaning up Springfield MO one home at a time.

417.459.7869

Don't Forget to Look for Cleaned by Pete on Youtube

Don't Forget to Look for Cleaned by Pete on Youtube

It is that time of year we need to get the word out "Spring Cleaning"  will be here soon and Cleaned by Pete is your one stop cleaner for your needs. Cleaned by Pete has several videos of his work on Youtube there are a few listed videos on the right of the page. Look for the entire listing of videos on Youtube or Cleaned by Pete Youtube (click on either link to open our page). You will see the different types of cleaning jobs we can handle. We will leave you with one thanks: Cleaned by Pete 407.459.7869

Don't forget "Spring Cleaning" will be here soon, Cleaned by Pete gives free prompt estimates for your cleaning needs 417.459.7869.

House washing in Springfield & Southwest MO Cleaned by Pete 417.459.7869

A Simpler Time with Advertising

A Simpler Time with Advertising

One thing a power washing company needs most to survive is customers. How do we get customers is a big question, keeping them is easy you do your best for each and everyone, then do just a bit more. Our customers are who we work for and they are our boss. Each customer has specific needs that we accommodate and strive to fill. Cleaned by Pete has different equipment to meet different needs of each of our costumers, but this entry is not about that. It is how can we get new costumers to call and use our services. Some may find this off track but I believe it is part of the power washing game. It is what I do and I know others face the same problem. I just took matters into my own hand.

So how do you get someone to call? Word of mouth is the best form of advertising we use, when one customer tell another person about our service and call us it is very rewarding. Lettering on our trucks, fliers, and talking to people while we are doing a job often helps also. Pete is putting together a few ideas of an add hoping to promote things till spring arrives and cleaning can start once again. Not being a big company will millions to spend on a "Super Bowl" add or needing vast exposure since we are a small local service business, we need not contact the large add corporations that are scattered about. Sitting back and looking at things from eyes that have been around awhile I came to the conclusion to make an add that would stick in a persons mind. Now what to do ........ I'm not Larry Tate or Darin Stevenson from Bewitched or Simon Roberts the Crazy Ones, not even Donald Draper from Mad Men all add men that could always pull that magical pitch out of the sky when needed.

As I see it the world has gotten complicated maybe to complicated at times. What we need is a time that was more laid back and easier going. Something to take you back in time and give you a small laugh of say wow I remember something like that. If you see it and it connects to a small part of your past the add did its' job. Now go in and explain something like this to your add people. What I see now is bright print, vivid color, high tech lettering put together and it is as unforgettable as the last add. I thought I would do something myself that way I only had myself to blame if something did not look right. I started in with "Clip Art" for those of you who may not know what that is, it's a collection of graphics, lettering, characters, boarders and such that is available for use in the printing and add communities allot of the images are free to use not copy-written, in other words free press. You never want to steal or use someone else's work of pictures without permission or pay it is simply a form of stealing.

I found three images a house a service provider and a power washer and started in to combine them into one image I could use. With windows drawing program I came up with this not to bad for the first try but it was not quite right yet. It has been a long time since I used my graphic arts and layout education.

Cleaned by Pete's first add attempt

With a few more tries and some luck came up with this image.

Cleaned by Pete's second attempt I now had a working image

 This image is allot better it has that nostalgic look to it. The main focus is now on the house instead of the washer, you can still see the washer behind the service man who is proud of what he is doing. The lettering is old style poster art to fit in with what I was trying to find. Now you can start to play with things. This is not a logo but an add they are two very different things. The job of an add is to reach a person at some personal level and draw a link to it. A remembrance or item they already have then linking the new image with the old personal remembrance you have a add that will keep working. Playing with color also has the same impact on emotion. Different colors will have much different reactions within people you need to find that one color that stands out without being harsh or obnoxious and works with your add.

Our working image clean but looks quite harsh in just black and white. Cleaned by Pete power and pressure washing Springfield MO

Changing just the color give the add a whole different field. Cleaned by Pete power and pressure washing Springfield MO.

The blue image make you feel different than the stark black and white it is more relaxed and smooth. I have been playing around with this and that, working and tweaking and have had several stabs at it so to say. Here are the working add that have came out of the image the was created by Pete. Using different backgrounds and ideas we are now getting ready to print them on our lazer-jet or put them on a stick and head to the printing shop. Using good semi gloss paper will make the add look like a million dollars. Doing most of the work yourself will help save on the advertising budget.

The wanted poster, Cleaned by Pete power / pressure washing Springfield MO.

Cleaned by Pete power / pressure washing Springfield MO spring cleaning add.

Cleaned by Pete power / pressure washing Springfield MO having fun add, you and your prospective customers should have fun too. Out to get some attention.

Cleaned by Pete power / pressure washing Springfield MO, variation on the spring cleaning add.

Cleaned by Pete power / pressure washing Springfield MO, variation on the wanted poster

Thank you for the view please remember these adds are property of Cleaned by Pete. With a little work and imagination you can make your own adds a small businessman has many titles and jobs. I enjoy all mine. You may ask why I wrote this entry and showed my images? Someone could copy them or use them. Well the answer is two fold; since this is a published blog the images are now associated with Cleaned by Pete and are being registered and copywritten. Your work is automatically copyrighted here in the US from the minute you complete and first show it anywhere. The second part is if Google or other search engines pick up the images it make for great exposure getting Cleaned by Pete out there on the net.

Always playing around with the working image to see what it can do.

Cleaned by Pete and do that honey do list for you. House washing Springfield and Southwest MO.

Cleaned by Pete house washing, patio & BBQ cleaning, concrete washing let us help you with your honey do list serving Springfield and Southwest MO we can meet your soft washing, safe washing, power washing, pressure washing, cosmetic cleaning and even your steam cleaning needs.

Power Washing and the Weather

Power Washing and the Weather

One thing we can not do is rely on the weather, living here in the Ozarks is sometime a challenge. I have seen weather change form one extreme to the other in less than hours.  I was washing concrete Wednesday for a construction clean-up. They needed it done for a grand opening today. In any case started out around 9:00 and the temps were at 50 plus we had some clouds since a front was on the way. reached almost 60 degrees till the wind kicked up by the time I finished and made it home to get things put up it had dropped 20 degrees and woke up to freezing temps in the morning by late after noon snow. Today it has stopped and left us here with 8 to 9 inches of snow with a high of 19 degrees.

Cleaned by Pete cleaning concrete in Springfield MO

Last step before the grand opening clean the construction mishaps off the concrete, Cleaned by Pete in Springfield MO.

They thought the new concrete just need a little rinse the changed their minds when the say this. Cleaned by Pete has cleaned the right side and is working hard to get this concrete ready.

Cleaning concrete in Springfield MO Cleaned by Pete.

Using the water broom in this picture with new concrete to much pressure could damaged it to the point it has to be repoured. Cleaned by Pete know how much pressure is too much and what need to be done to get the best clean possible.

About now you may be saying why are these pictures in here this is about weather. Yes but you can see we work with water and mother nature dose this thing where it takes a liquid and makes it solid. Water will freeze even above 32 degrees. Wind and conditions can be just right it will freeze or can even turn to snow. A pressure washer with a wide fan pattern works much the same way as a snow making machine works the process is much the same to break down the water in to small partials and have them chill and fall back to the ground. It is an amazing process with pressure flow and atomization of the water partials.  What is even more amazing is hot water can freeze with this process even faster, due to the fact is has less oxygen in it due to heating and at the molecule level the partials are spaced further apart letting more air around them. More chilled air smaller partials instance ice or snow. 

We as washers have to be aware of our situation and the safety of our clients and their clients, forming ice on concrete or walk ways is a safety issue we can not take lightly. In the wrong conditions we could have a ice glazed parking lot and gas islands in stead of a cleaned on. Freezing water has another interesting aspect as it becomes a solid it expands. Freezing water can crack the strongest steel or brass, not to mention the ceramic glass pistons that are in our pumps. We can not let water stand on what we are cleaning or in our machines, pumps, heating coils, hoses, guns and other tools. When the temperatures start to drop. Safety is the largest issue and loss of equipment is next followed by our own physical well being. Winterizing is an on going battle with winter. This is why someone puts their washer up in the shed in the late fall and come time for spring projects. They get out the power washer and water pours out of it or it make no pressure. Frozen water has claimed another power washer. One must always try to get all the water out and replace it with some form of antifreeze. We like the pink "RV antifreeze" it is safe for the earth and water-ways if we should get a spill. Also safe for animals and pets that may be around and it is rated at 50 below. Winter care for our equipment still means attention and caution through out the entire winter season. We don't put them up and just forget about them. Most professional power washers owe their livelyhood to these machines, I know I do so taking care of them is up most. It use to be said "You can tell a lot about a man or woman on how they treat of keep their tools". This is as true today as in the past if you don't keep your tools and machines with care and maintenance you can not expect them to to the best job.

Now this was yesterday less than 24 hours between cleaning the parking lot and islands and taking the pictures below. From 60 degrees to low 20's .

Less then 24 hours later this is what we had with temps in the low to mid 20's.

Less then 24 hours later this is what we had with temps in the mid 20's.

Then today the high is 19 degrees and around 8+ inches of snow fell last night and this morning 12 inches in some local areas. Cleaned by Pete take great pride in having the right equipment and with that takes great care of it. Power washing may stop during the winter but maintenance and caring for the machines does not.

Today's view

Today's view

Today's view

Cleaned by Pete will be ready if there is a break in winter or for next year's cleaning. Our phones are still on and working call us at 417-459-7869 for your power washing needs

as always you can find us at the links below for additional information:

cleanedbypete.com

http://www.powerwashingspringfieldmo.com/

http://southwestmissouripressurewashing.net

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