Keeping apartment complexes clean is about more than appearances, it is about protecting your property, preserving exterior materials, and creating a better experience for tenants. While pressure washing apartment complex exteriors can improve curb appeal and cleanliness, it also requires careful planning and the right techniques to avoid unnecessary damage or disruption.
From protecting landscaping and electrical fixtures to scheduling around resident activity, every step plays an important role in a successful cleaning project. Whether you manage a small apartment community or a large multi-building property, following the right pressure washing practices can help you maintain a safer, cleaner, and more attractive environment for everyone who lives there.
If you want to ensure you’re following best practices while pressure washing apartment complex exteriors, keep reading to see what our Cardinal Pressure Washing team recommends.
1. Let Tenants Know The Cleaning is Scheduled
The first step you should take before beginning pressure washing apartment complex exteriors is letting tenants know the cleaning has been scheduled. Work with the property or complex manager and ensure tenants will be notified between 48 and 72 hours beforehand. This notice should also ask tenants to keep windows closed, remove loose items from balconies and patios, and park vehicles in designated areas so you can perform appropriate cleanings while preventing water spots and accidental chemical overspray.
2. Protect Apartment Interiors and Breezeways
As you prepare to clean breezeways, corridors, stairways, and around entryways, it is essential that you utilize appropriate protective measures. Before you begin pressure washing apartment complex exteriors, place absorbent socks across door thresholds. By placing these down before you begin your cleaning project, you will stop water and debris from entering apartments. This can also help you avoid frustrating flooding. Taking the time for thorough preparation minimizes damage risk to your property’s interiors and common areas.
3. Ensure Electrical Outlets and Fixtures are Properly Covered
Before you begin pressure washing apartment complex exteriors, take a few moments to protect outdoor electrical outlets and fixtures. If there are any exposed electrical outlets or light fixtures around the area where you will be cleaning, make sure to cover them to avoid damage. Additionally, be incredibly careful when working around fire suppression equipment like strobe lights, pull stations, and alarms, as they are incredibly sensitive to water. Put the alarm system into test mode and wrap pull stations in a plastic bag to keep them safe.
4. Use Appropriate Cleaning Methods and Tools for Exterior Materials
Apartment complex exteriors are made up of reliable, but relatively fragile, materials. Before cleaning, make sure that you choose the appropriate cleaning methods and tools for this project. This means you should utilize soft washing techniques for fragile materials like vinyl, wood, masonry, asphalt shingles, and stucco. If this is your first time using a pressure washer, be mindful of your chosen PSI, as excessive pressure can lead to cracks, crumbling, and other structural damage to your apartment complex exterior materials.
5. Protect Delicate Landscaping and Outdoor Furniture
When pressure washing apartment complex exteriors, it is important that you aren’t just focusing on siding, walkways, and parking lots. You should also pay close attention to landscaping and outdoor furniture. Before any pressure washing begins, it is essential that you protect landscaping by soaking it with fresh water before cleaning and rinsing it immediately afterward. Additionally, in outdoor living spaces like pool decks, fire pits, and outdoor dining areas, move outdoor furniture before you begin pressure washing.
6. Contain and Manage Wastewater
Commercial pressure washing businesses are strictly regulated by the EPA and your local municipality. It is their responsibility to ensure they are protecting their community from potential wastewater contamination. While pressure washing apartment complex exteriors, it is essential that you prevent chemical runoff from entering local waterways. Block storm drains to prevent this accidental runoff. You should also use vacuums or sump pumps to recover dirty water after the cleaning to ensure it is disposed of according to local regulations.
7. Avoid Cleaning During Resident’s Peak Hours
While it is incredibly important that you provide proper cleanings for your apartment complex exteriors, it is also important that you schedule this appropriately. Although you may want to get started early in the morning, it is best to schedule around peak hours. Plan to clean high-traffic areas like staircases, breezeways, and parking lots between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM when most tenants will be away from the property or in their apartments. This scheduling ensures minimal disruption to tenant routines and prevents potential slip hazards.
8. Hire a Commercial Cleaning Professional
Ultimately, the best thing you can do when pressure washing apartment complex exteriors is to schedule with a trained and experienced professional. While pressure washing might seem like a simple, easy cleaning task, it is often far more difficult than it looks. If you want to ensure the well-being of your fragile exterior materials and the satisfaction of your tenants, it’s best to rely on the commercial pressure washing professionals for this cleaning. With advanced cleaning solutions and professional tools, they ensure the job is done correctly the first time.
Providing Expert Pressure Washing for Apartment Complex Exteriors
At Cardinal Pressure Washing, our team understands the importance of comprehensive exterior cleanings for apartment complexes across Columbus. With our extensive training, access to high-quality cleaning tools, and commitment to your satisfaction, you can trust your apartment complex exterior will look its best, and you won’t have to worry about potential damage.
If you’ve worked with unprofessional or untrained pressure washing teams in the past for your apartment complex exterior cleaning, turn to us today to schedule your next cleaning. We will work closely with you to ensure we meet your every exterior cleaning need while providing ample protection to your property’s most fragile surfaces.
When you are ready to schedule pressure washing for apartment complex exteriors in the Columbus area, contact us today by filling out an online contact form or call us at 614-309-8909.