Do you do non-pressure washing?

I had a call the voice on the other line said, "Hello I was looking to have my house washed. I was wanting to know if you do that?".

"Yes we do and I can come out and give you a free estimate if you wish, we can see what kind of home you have and how dirty it is. Giving you a better estimate.", I answered.

She went on to say, "We have talked to someone else and said they are the only ones in town that uses "non-pressure washing" to wash houses. Do you use "non-pressure" to clean houses too?" 

OK I was kind of stumped for just a moment by this term "non-pressure", while we have to use a pressure washer or even the soft washing unit to clean houses, there is still pressure involved even if it is low-pressure it is pressure. In fact if you have read the earlier entries in this blog we have discussed this. You know that even water flowing out of your faucet has pressure behind it any where for 30 psi to 50 psi, lucky folks near the front may even have up to 80  pounds per square inch of pressure.

So after a moment I said "No we do not use the "Non-Pressure method" for cleaning or washing houses, because "non-pressure" would mean we would have to leave the water just sitting in a bucket and that wouldn't work for us. Non-pressured water by definition would be water that is just sitting there with out any pressure to move it".

There was a pause and she said "Oh" with a puzzled sound.

I quickly said, "We however offer a "soft-wash" or "low-pressure washing" both which are safe for you home. It however does have water pressure but it will not harm you home. We can use different machines to wash your home but I would need to come out and look at it to tell you what would be the best one to use.".

Her answer was, "Soft-wash" is that like anything like "Non-Pressure" washing?".

I said, "I'm not sure I really don't know what "non-pressure" washing is. I have been washing houses for years and this is the first time I have head the term use like that. I can tell you we use "soft washing" or "low-pressure washing" they are both method to apply soaps and chemicals to start the cleaning of your home and some bleach to kill what might be growing on your home, work it in agitating it and then safely rinse it with low pressure, But since I have not see it yet I couldn't really know till I get out there what would be best. We have two ways to safely soft-wash your house. One we use a pressure washer with special attachments and nozzles to reduce the pressure, a bit more pressure than your shower would have. Or I can use the other pump we have it puts out around 100 pounds of pressure but I won't know till I look at your home. If you would like to look at our web site www.cleanedbypete.com it would have more information. but you know, I can't tell you anything about non-pressure washing."

She then said, "So it won't hurt my house?"

I said, "No we have done lots of house and never have hurt one. Can you tell me what your house has on it?"

"Black spots and some greenish stuff on the north side that I would like to be cleaned off.", she answered.

My reply, "OK but what is the siding on you home made of?".

She laughed and said "Oh.. it's stone on the front with vinyl siding  both sides and back with a wood deck.".

"I would like to use the pressure washer then, so we could have the option to power wash the stone out front and "soft-wash" or "low-pressure wash" the back and sides, we can also use the pressure washer to wash the deck or any stubborn areas than may need a bit more power to get clean." I then said.

She said, "No, the deck is OK just need the house washed"

The rest was just setting up a time to look and give the estimate.

So why did I write this? I wrote it is just for you to see that educating ones-self in matters is the right thing to do. Trying to help you also helps us learn. Really I had never heard the term "Non-Pressure Washing" or still have any idea of what it is or could be. Even if you use water on a brush there is pressure applied to the brush for scrubbing. Trowing a bucket of water on the wall will have force or pressure behind it by definition using the garden hose with a nozzle on it is pressure washing. This customer was right she call others and ask about it, and to find out what is was, she was protecting her home probably her biggest investment.

The term, "non-pressure washing to protect your home", that had this customer so worried about, was found out to be coined phrase by a washing com. moving into the area for big bang in there advertising campaign to gain a foot hold in the market. They use this non-sense term to say they did something only they could do and imply that others may use more harmful methods of house cleaning. It is an all encompassing term for there services There is no shame in trying to get more customers, and I don't falt them for trying. Weather it was just on a local level or a push by there main company I do not know. The newest term being used now is "safe wash" or "safe washing"

Cleaned by Pete practised safe washing before it was a "coined term" for advertising we have always used safe soaps and cleaners, we have always uses safe practises by washing form the ground not from ladders on your home, we have practised safe tried and true washing methods "down-streaming", "soft-washing", or "low-pressure washing" for house washing, we have always used save and well kept equipment and tools, we are safe in the broad term by our knowledge, we know our equipment and have years of experience in the house washing field just safely knowing what to do.

But I am just still waiting and want to see someone clean a house with this non-pressure  method of house washing. 

"After looking in to his a bit more, the terms spoken in the sales pitch may have been mixed up. Clarifications they do non pressure roof cleaning and safe house washing not intending term non-pressure  to be applied to house washing. So it is safe house washing and non pressure roof cleaning, but they're still the only ones in the area using these methods."

House Washing Wednesday, Nixa MO

Wednesday again and it is time for "House Washing Wednesday" homes Cleaned by Pete has washed, this one from Nixa MO.

Cleaned by Pete will takes this....

Before cleaning,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete

Before cleaning,  Nixa MO  "safe house washing" Cleaned by Pete

Before cleaning,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete uses a safe "soft wash" to clean vinyl siding.

Before cleaning,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete mold, mildew, and algae removed safely from you home,

Before cleaning,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete uses the "soft wash" or "safe wash" to clean and wash your home.

 To this ..... call 417-459-7869 for a free prompt estimate

and your home can look like this too.

After cleaning, Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete  using a safe, soft wash will make you home look like this.

After cleaning,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete cleaned the vinyl siding on this home.

After cleaning the vinyl siding,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete

After a safe soft washing on the vinyl siding,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete

After cleaning, Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete has removed the mold, mildew and algae safely using the soft wash method leaving the vinyl looking new.

After cleaning the vinyl siding,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete

After cleaning,  Nixa MO Cleaned by Pete compare with the pictures above and judge for your self what Cleaned by Pete can do for you.

Call today Cleaned by Pete 417-459-7869

Things I need to say, Doom and Gloom

Doom and Gloom in the Small Business?
Having a blog sometimes you can say things that just need saying, Making you feel better saying it even if nobody reads it or gets it. This is one of those rants.
 The weather is bad today in Southwest MO giving me some time to read and digest what is going on in our country with the small business. Winter jobs are hit and miss in the "power washing business". First off power washing is a business not a sideline or something just anybody does, there are people that claim they are power washers but have not invested in their small business with anything but a big box store pressure washer and what it comes with. No tools, no attachments, no heat, no business plan, no insurance, no business licences, or no business sense, only the fact that now they can and will wash your largest investment your home by charging less, than an established power washing contractor.  

Reading articles and financial experts all predict that small business are going to take a hit this year according to several leading news sources. Tax moneys have to pay for an ever expanding government that can not fund its self any longer. Debt is reaching all time highs and not looking to stop growing. Cut backs in are becoming the only way companies can deal with overhead. In our business this may mean a large customer is not having the sidewalks washed and cleaned as often, not having the window cleaned each month, or having to let an employ go. Vendors and suppliers will have to raise the cost of items they produce or sell to off-set lost income. This is then is passed down the ladder all the way to the bottom to the last consumer. The small business man will have to suffer too, by cutting his or her employes or cutting out the new equipment they wanted to purchase for this year. Paying more for the products they need.

Add in the fact that you as a small business man may now have to compete with someone who is not a business. Who does not have to play on the same level field that you do. They don't have overhead, don't pay business taxes, insurance, advertising, rent or withholding or social security tax. This send us right back to the beginning not enough taxes to support the government and down the ladder we go again. The small business man helps the community he or she lives in he or she usually has a family which they support. How many times have you heard someone say, "I was think of having a website set up and letting xyz company do it. Then some says my brother's sister in laws does that on the side and is cheap." or "I think I'll have a new deck put on the back of the house I heard that cbx construction is good. Then someone says Gorge will do that and he does not even have to get a permit to do it." I hear this all the time in my business "my neighbor said he could wash my house and would not cost me to much, can you do that?" My answer is usually "No, I have to do it right my reputation is on the line." We need to  support for the small business man who is following the rules and regulations. 

Then I hear and read today that the the small business man who is the backbone of the country will be taking a even harder hit and have to work even harder for the same money this year it is quite disturbing. If the small business can not support its base of the ladder any longer because of much government, taxes and regulations, and all those hanging on the top of the ladder, it will topple. Producer companies near the top plus vendors and suppliers that sell to this small business will no longer be supplying him or her. From ink, pencils, or new equipment, a new deliver or work van or new location or building, will no longer be needed. This will make the ladder even more unstable each step affection the one above. So answer this question why do we need to support the "small business man or woman" or the "small business" in general. If we all spend a buck or two by letting the "small business" have the job. It may just help to save this ecomeny. Is saving a dollar or two worth it? Somehow, you know you are not getting the best job, if your letting these money saving acquaintance do the work. Really if they were that good and doing the best or the same job why don't they have a business, what about insurance, what if something goes wrong, accidents and mishaps happen all the time. What if we do kill off some of the "small business", who supports the ladder? Who does you job relay on? Who keeps the company you work for going? With out small business paying taxes some one else has to make it up who will that be? 

Let's all pitch in together and prove the doom and gloomers all wrong, let's not let that "small business" down. Support of the small business man or woman in what ever field they are in. Keep the local economy going by using the small business man or woman using and support them will make a difference, help level the field, just by asking a "small business" to do the job, not a friend of friend that may be able to get it done when they can because they are a few dollars cheaper. Ask yourself would you hire a coworker's acquaintance to give you medical help or fix an airplane your family would fly in? Some would say well that is different I would not get just anyone to do that. Case and point. Please help us by supporting you local small business as well as larger business in your area. Lets not let the ladder topple.

How cold can you work?

Cold Weather and Cold Weather Work

I was planning on writing this later this week, but it is 29 degrees and spitting out freezing rain with some snow flurries here in the Ozarks today.  Temperatures this cold, house cleaning and general pressure washing comes to a halt with my company. Ice forming on concrete is unsafe for us and our clients and their customers. Cleaned by Pete's soaps and cleaners will not work as well in lower temperatures. The chance of our equipment freezing up is one of the biggest factors too. Let's have a look at these factors and to help explain why we can not work or choose not to work when temperatures are low. Hopefully we will be closing in one the last of the cold weather and we can get out there and help you with your cleaning and washing needs.

Flash back to your younger years..... Mom "did you wash your hands for dinner?". You "yaaa". Mom "did you use hot water and soap?". You "noooo". Mom knew best hot water and soap aid in cleaning, you would not want to take a bath in cold water only ... now would you? Most soap and cleaners are made to work best when ambient temperatures are around 50 degrees mid 40's at least. Using hot water increases the potential of cleaners helping them release their full cleaning power. Why did mom wash the babies clothing in hot water using soap and bleach. Soap for cleaning, bleach for killing germs. This is why we use these items too. Cleaned by Pete knows how much cleaner, soaps and bleach to use on your home safely and what is friendly to our environment. The soap and cleaners we use to clean your house and the bleach helps to kill what is growing on your home, if we can not kill it it will grow back. The "kill ratio" is what we call it. Colder temperatures will result in a lower "kill ratio". Hot water will help but good warm siding and the plant growing is warm it will bloom and we can kill it.  We have the capabilities to make hot water on 4 of our power washers, and we will use hot water to apply chemicals when the need arises. When we first started we used hot water to apply all our soap and cleaner. We were in the hood cleaning and washing part of the industry then, where heat was a good thing.  When we moved to concrete cleaning and house washing we found out it was not necessary to use hot water on all jobs. Depending what is on your home what cleaners we use to clean your home, washing with cold water is OK. Freezing water or really cold water though is not OK there is a point where the soap is not activated. Pour ice water over some dish soap, how much sudz is there? Repeat with hot water now there is a difference. We want to clean you home and kill what is growing on it, in-order to do so we need a certain temperature to achieve this goal. This is why we can not clean when it is cold.

Cleaned by Pete's equipment is another reason we can not clean when it is cold. When I first started we use the trailer. If you read our blog you will know how I feel about trailers. We did mostly hood cleaning then and working inside when it was cold was not bad. Our soap and cleaners could work and we used the hottest water we could make for this type of cleaning, refer to blog "gas washer why we use them". In cold temperatures we could work and get our job done with little to no problems. Job done headed home 30 degrees and pulling a trailer down the road 50 to 60 miles an hour lets think about wind chill and how cold moving air speeds up freezing. Water in tanks, in the pump, in hoses, in the coils of the burner and on the trailer will freeze solid when the ambient temperature is above freezing due to the wind and the chill factor. Freezing water kills more heating coils on pressure washers than any thing else. To help we started to fill the hoses, pump, lines and pressure washer with antifreeze after each job this took about an extra half hour and the cost of the antifreeze had to be passed on to the customers increased prices. To help eliminate this problem and other problems with the trailer. we then moved the pressure washer into a van. We could heat it with a small heater when not in use or transporting it, to keep it form freezing. While this was not the best it did work but we still had to purge water form all the lines and pump in antifreeze encase of a power outage. You could just drain the coil on lines and hoses but lines and coils are made of steel that had been heated on and off which I think changes it at a molecular level and when it is drained all water is not removed and promotes quick rusting  in the coil, second reason a coils fails. The power washer is what we relay on to make money and feed our families, while making extra money from doing a washing job is great the chances of damaging our livelihood comes into play. We will help you out with your jobs and your cleaning needs but will have to take into consideration all the aspects to see if we can do it, we try to help our customers and clients the best we can. Another problem is we "soft wash" or "safe wash" houses using a down stream method which has to draw our soaps and cleaners into the water stream when it is cold the soap and cleaners become thicker and will not draw. In order to make it draw we would have to water it down more water less cleaner. We are just working backwards at this point. We'll do you a better job in warmer temperatures.

The last point will be safety sheet ice can form with just a light coat of water on concrete, parking-lots, drive-thrus and any other surface. Our customers safety is our number one reason to not wash in cold temperatures if we feel it is unsafe in any way or if there is a chance for icing in any way we will not clean.  You all have heard they can make snow at resorts for skiing when snow fall is light ever wonder how they do it? Water plus pressure and nozzling by splitting water into small partials,  and let the ambient temperature take over then instant snow.  What have we learned about pressure washer at the beginning of the blog, what make the power washer work? Water, a pump to put the water under pressure, and a nozzle to change spray and pressure, all the same things in a snow making machine. The ambient temperatures take over. If the conditions are just right we can make snow and freezing rain at temperatures of 35 degrees. There is quite a science behind this with the speed of the water chilling is quicker, break up the stream of water (nozzling) breaks water in very small parts a mist, pressure helps to the more pressure enacts with the speed and how the water stream is broken up. In any case even if we are not at the freezing point we still can have ice and snow. Safety will not be overlooked or over-ridden for the sake of making money.

Cleaned by Pete call us for a free prompt quote for your cleaning needs we are serving the Southwest and greater Springfield MO area.

If you have any comments or questions feel free to add them below and we'll see if we can answer them for you.

Built a new fogger / foamer

Pete washed a house this week on Monday and is getting ready to head out for a house washing today, letting the temperature rise a few degrees first. The house, washed Monday, had a weird out cropping on it and was hard to get an angle to spray on the cleaners. Finally got it wet down with cleaner and soaps and worked to get it cleaned then. It was the angle of the spray could not get to it strait-a-way so this morning he built this fogger (it's a foamer but does not make thick foam more or less throws a good mist of cleaner, fogs it on). As told  by another contractor in the business once, "you should not post things you make or use to aid or speed up cleaning jobs, you shouldn't be showing your competitors anything that will help them out", well to bad, I do if I know there is someone else that has the same problem maybe this will help competitor or not. The new fogger / foamer has an angled lance extension for getting at those areas around the dormers and roofing peaks that you can not get a straight shot at. It will just be a siphon feed so you'll have to carry a jug around but just for spotting it will be OK for now. We always say tools and equipment make the job easier and you our customer receive a better job. Will try it out later today and see what improvements are needed. Thinking ahead there is a quick connect at the top, enabling the fogger / foamer to be removed and a "M-16 Thruster Nozzle" to be used to reach taller areas and then rinse with out changing out the lance.
It was a simple build made it form parts and stuff laying around and form the hardware store. The foaming head is form Faip and rated at 4000 psi max are relatively inexpensive. Used several sections of 1/4" pipe to make up the shaft use a set of quick connects from the repair parts. The angle of the head is made form a 45 degrees elbow, have seen 33 degrees and 90 degrees fittings but 45 looked best. You may want to build one and give it a try.

Cleaned by Pete's new fogger / foamer:

 for those hard to reach and spray areas

Cleaned by Pete built his spot fogger / foamer for soap and cleaner application in that area that you can not spray straight on.

Cleaned by Pete put this together our of some 1/4" pipe, connections, and a syphon feed fogger / foamer he had laying around it is over six feet for added reach.

Hoping this it what makes the difference the angle changing the angle of application should help with the problem we ran into the other day. Cleaned by Pete has the right tools for your job or he will make them.

Review: Had to fix one small leak in one of the connections, but will have to give it a thumbs up. Built this as a spot fogger / foamer but it worked so good today used it to apply most of the soap and cleaners. Did not try changing out the fogger / foamer tip with the M-16 today, will do that when things get all ironed out. Just used the long range nozzle to downstream the high areas. It could get closer to the wall and was able to apply a heavy coat of cleaner. Good foaming, little to no blow-back on a person, with over a 6 foot swath soaping went faster, less waist of product due to the wind which was blowing quite brisk around 15 mph cause it was closer to the walls and could reach up higher. Used a old bleach jug about half full so it was not too heavy. Going to add a hook that will swivel around on the lance or some thing to hook the jug on also put on a grip handle to control the head direction. Freeing up the hand that was holding jug to the lance. With the addition of a grip handle it will help to make the unit more stable. Gripping both made hand cramp a little after a period of time. Will  do the add-ons and let you know. Going to wash some buses tomorrow, maybe try it there too seeing if there are any other additions needed. I'm calling this a fogger because though the attachment is a foamer it does not draw in the air very good and it does not create a lot of foam unless you use pure dish soap or something really sudzy but does fog a good mist of cleaner really well.

Use the attachment today for laying on the soaps and cleaners on a small fleet of buses, went well with the reach was able to walk along the side of the bus and the downward angle of the head the soap would run down the side of the bus. By stepping back and the reach could cover about half the buses side flipping the head upwards could spray under the bus and in the wheel wells, then move down and cover the other half. Control was better and was not just shooting up and splattering cleaner all over. So all in all it has a place in our line of attachments and equipment and for the cost we'll keep it.

Weather was warm this week, so it House Washing Wednesday

With the help of the power washer and all the attachments and tools, plus the wands and extensions we use and have blogged about in this blog. With the use of nozzles, soap throwers, foggers and down-streaming all topic we have mentioned.  Pete can present a new house washing for "House washing Wednesday". 

The Ozarks weather let us have a day this week which was warm enough to wash a home. We been waiting to wash this home since the 18th of last month. Here are some pictures of the home please not this home was hosting all our local growing organism on it. Mold, mildew, and the gray shotgun algae and the deck had the same plus a little moss and liken too. The home has been on the market and sitting a while so the new home owners were eager to get it cleaned and washed.

Mold and mildew growing on the vinyl siding.

Is your home's siding a place for mold, mildew and algae to grow? Call Cleaned by Pete for a quote to get rid of this.

The siding is covered with a layer of growing algae and mold the darkest areas is where it has found conditions just right to get a good foothold. Call 417-459-7869 to have Cleaned by Pete can stop the growth on your home.

You do not see the mold or mildew here it is gray algae making the vinyl siding dull, Cleaned by Pete serving the Southwest MO area soft wash this algae off you home safely bring the color of your home back to new.

Cleaned by Pete washes gutters here in the Southwest MO area too.

Shotgun algae covering the homes exterior.

Small deck out back was dirty, lots of oxidation, mold and mildew and there was even moss growing here and there all in one small area.

 After a good washing Cleaned by Pete use safe methods to clean your home.

Pete can take your home from the above picture to look like this.

Cleaned gutters now frame the home.

Mold, mildew, and algae removed bring that "new look" back to your home.

Vinyl siding cleaned no more shotgun algae, mold or mildew Cleaned by Pete Republic MO.

Bright fascia and siding after cleaning "soft washing" Cleaned by Pete Southwest Missouri pressure washing.

Deck cleaned and ready for the owners to apply a new stain.

Let you home be the envoy of the neighborhood with the help of Cleaned by Pete your house could be that house too. Call 417-459-7869 for a free prompt estimate.

Over 1000

Thank you everyone this means a lot to us and with out your support it would not be possible, thank you.

I am still not sure about blogging but it is still going today we reached over 1000 page views. I figure that this is not too bad. First I'm no writer and it is a blog about a power washer. That is not the most riveting topic and the author probably is not on the radar for much so I feel proud to have 1000 plus page views. Thank you for viewing and please come back and follow us.