The Dirty Dozen Areas That Stop Your Property Looking Its Best

It’s dirty out there – and sometimes it feels as though there’s little you can do about it. The weather wreaks havoc on your block paving, walls, and windows. Moss, algae, and other green vegetation take over your pavements, driveways, and patios.

Drains are blocked.

Gutters are full of leaves.

And if that wasn’t enough, there’s graffiti on the walls and chewing gum and oil stains on the floor.

Yuck!

Welcome to the ‘dirty dozen’.

Problematic areas that ruin your home and business and leave you tearing out your hair.

But fear not!

With the right equipment, chemicals, and staff, you can return your property to look almost new.

In this three-part blog series we’re going to show you how. Starting with three monsters – how to get rid of graffiti, oil stains, and dirt on cladding.

Here goes…

1. Unwanted ‘art’ and graffiti

Graffiti can bring down the tone in your workplace by making a car park or building look neglected and uncared for.

It’s why you want to erase the words and images that other people have sprayed on.

This ‘Dirty Dozen’ is especially frustrating because it’s unwarranted and unrequested – and as the property owner you’re the one left responsible for the clean up.

If you’re tried to get graffiti off yourself, you’ll know that paint is notoriously difficult to remove with water and elbow grease alone. It’s why we created Alpha Graffiti Remover.

This powerful chemical makes light work of an otherwise difficult job. Combined with a hot jet wash, you can remove even the biggest ‘mess’.

Time to say farewell to this ‘Dirty Dozen’.

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2. Oil stains, no problem

Leaking oil can turn a pristine driveway or car park into a big unsightly mess.

Nobody means to cause an oily problem, but sometimes that over-enthusiastic DIY mechanic at home or that old banger in the work car park leaves stains that water alone can’t remove.

Left unattended, oil can be slippery, and it also spoils the appearance of tarmac or block paving.

It’s why we created Alpha Oil Remover – it’s the perfect way to deal with this Dirty Dozen.

This powerful, highly effective chemical is non-flammable, non-caustic, and solvent free making it safe to use.

It’s highly versatile too. For especially tough stains, you can use the remover neat. For lighter staining, simply dilute with 5 parts water. Next, apply with a low-pressure spray then use a pressure washer to clean it all away.

With this chemical-tool combo, oil stains at your place will be a thing of the past.

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3. Dirt on cladding

Bird poo, algae, mold, dirt, and grime all accumulate over time to leave cladding looking dirty. This cleaning nasty makes the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list because filthy cladding turns an otherwise attractive building into a big turn off.

The good news is you can make light work of this dirty job – when you have the right equipment and tools.

Challenges like these are exactly what Alpha Versatile was designed for.

Simply spray the chemical onto the cladding with a hot wash and allow to soak in. Then spray off with a pressure washer and voila – cladding looks clean, sparking, and [almost] as good as new.

And if your cladding is too high to reach with a pole system alone, a cherry picker will ensure you can clean those hard to reach areas too.

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Here at Alpha Power Cleaning, we’re ready to sort the ‘Dirty Dozen’ cleaning disasters at your premises – so you don’t have to.

We’ve got the enthusiastic team, the hardworking chemicals, and all the equipment needed to make light work of the jobs you hate.

So don’t let the Dirty Dozen get you down.

Instead, give the Alpha Team a call so we can make light work of the jobs you loathe, procrastinate over, and just want done.

How To Remove Oil From A Tarmac Drive

So your beautiful tarmac driveway has been spoiled by an oil spillage (it’s a hazard of cars and bikes!) Not only does it look unsightly, but it annoys you every time you look at it. It’s slippery too and so you’re worried about the potential hazard.

The problem is oil is not easy to clean.

It’s non-polar meaning it won’t bind with water and get washed away.

It’s why oil stains are notoriously stubborn to remove.

You can scrub on your hands and knees until your knuckles are raw and it still won’t come out with water alone.

But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a nasty stain for good.

With the help of the right tools and equipment, you can get your drive looking (almost) as good as new.

Here’s how.

Oil stain removal – a case study

This is a driveway that we were called out to recently. As you can see, there’s a significant oil stain running along the length of it.

Here’s a close up to show you just how dense and dark the colour actually was.

To remove the oil stain we used Alpha Oil Remover.

This non-caustic, non-flammable oil spill dispersant works wonders. This product doesn’t contain hydrocarbon solvents or caustic acid meaning it’s kinder to the environment than other alternatives too.

Here’s how we got the job done.

Step 1: This driveway had a heavy oil stain so we used the product neat. We used a low-pressure spray directly on the spillage and scrubbed with a hard brush – like this.

[For a lighter oil stain you can use Alpha Oil Remover diluted with up to five parts water.]

Step 2: For best results, allow the oil remover to soak for between 10-20 minutes (depending on the degree of staining).

Step 3: Finally, wash off with a pressure washer to see your driveway beautifully restored.

Job done!

Not only does Alpha Oil Remover work on tarmac, it works on brick, asphalt, concrete, metals, plastics, and even painted surfaces.

Do you have an oil stain at your home that you’d like to get gone for good? If so, get in touch with the Alpha Team. We’ll bring some of our magic solution and get the job done.

And if you’re a commercial operation that’s looking to source effective chemicals, check out the Alpha Chemical Online store. As well as Alpha Oil Remover, you’ll discover a host of other products ready to help you get your cleaning needs sorted.

The Five Chemicals Your In-House Cleaning Team Need To Do A Good Job

When it comes to cleaning your premises, your car park may be way down on your list of priorities. Often overlooked, this crucial business asset can miss out on the love it needs!

So if your car park has been neglected, keep reading. You’ll discover 10 good reasons why this job needs sorting. As you’ll see, there are far more than appearances alone at stake.

1.  Image and first impressions mean everything

Let’s start with the obvious.

You don’t get another chance to make a first impression. As clichéd as this sounds, how someone feels when they drive into your car park and step out of their car sets the scene for the interaction that follows.

What message does a filthy car park send? There’s always the risk that at a subconscious – even conscious level – your visitors will decide they don’t want to come again even before they set foot in your front door.

What are you losing because your car park lets you down?

2. Greater respect

Remember how you felt when you first got your new phone. In the beginning, you took great care of it. You were careful where you put it down. You did everything you could to stop it from getting damaged.

Fast-forward to the end of your contract and you don’t care so much. The screen is scratched, it’s no longer the latest model, and you’re too busy thinking about getting your hands on the next one! It’s the same with your car park. As soon as you no longer care about it, no one else will either.

So keep the expectations high with regular cleaning. When it feels like new, it’s more likely to be treated as new.

3. Get rid of those smells!

Petrol and oil stains are almost inevitable in a well-used garage.

But the accompanying smells don’t have to be a permanent fixture. As well as removing a multitude of sins, a commercial clean can deodorise your car park too. It won’t end up smelling of roses, but at least your visitors won’t feel grimy just because they parked up in your car park.

4. Get rid of that grime!

When it comes to your car park, it’s not just the surface that gets dirty. Fumes can discolour the ceilings and if you have stairwells, everyday foot traffic will soon grind in the dirt and grime. So for a fresher appearance all around, make sure you clean all those nooks and crannies as well as the obvious parking spaces. Clean the ceilings, stairwells, doors, pillars, metalwork – even the lights. Taking care of every surface is a simple way to reinvigorate this much-used space and prolong its lifespan too.

5. Get rid of the chewing gum

No one wants to go home with someone else’s gum stuck to the bottom of their shoes. Not only does old chewing gum look disgusting, but it’s sticky and turns into a dust trap.

With the right equipment, the chewing gum can go. You don’t have to settle for anything less.

6. Make signage readable again

Do visitors struggle to find the lifts or find it hard to locate their car because they don’t know what floor they parked on?

Thanks to fumes and everyday wear and tear, signs can get dirty too. Prevent complaints before you get them by cleaning your signage as well as the car park’s surface.

7. Eliminate confusion over parking bays

Have stains and dirt made it hard to see the width of parking bays?

There’s nothing worse than confusion in a car park – especially when you’re in a hurry. Visible parking bay lines are essential if people are to park efficiently without causing an obstruction to anyone else.

Leave zero room for error by getting the lines cleaned so they can be seen. Your visitors, staff, and customers will thank you for it.

8. Less chance of needing a premature resurfacing job

Of course, a commercial clean removes the obvious dirt and grime that builds up. But did you know it also removes oil spills and even carbon monoxide build up?

These are more damaging than you might think. Oil and carbon monoxide can penetrate your car park’s surface and cause permanent damage? Regular cleaning is far cheaper (and a lot less disruptive) than full-on construction work. So what are you waiting for!

9. Get it tidy for your new tenant

Do you rent out your premises? Keen to maintain the value of your investment and reduce repair and putting good costs? If so, invest in a car park clean. Set the benchmark for the condition in which you expect your premises to be returned and there’s more chance your tenants will stay on the ball.

10. Get it cleaned without the disruption

A commercial clean needn’t be disruptive. If your car park is super busy during the daytime, enquire about an out of hour’s service. That way, you can get the cleaning done and continue your every day without missing a step.

Is your car park way overdue a clean?

Here at Alpha Power Cleaning, we can clean any car-parking surface – whether that’s tarmac, brick, or concrete – even painted concrete.

Trust us to remove a multitude of sins from graffiti to chewing gum, oil to petrol stains, dirt and mildew build up. With the right equipment and an enthusiastic team, your car park can get the face-lift it needs for you to feel good about clients stepping out of their car.

To get your free quote, CLICK HERE – there’s no obligation.

Did you know that one of our specialisms is big scale cleaning projects?

Fact is, we’re just as happy tackling large industrial complexes as we are cleaning residential driveways and patio – because we have the equipment to do it all.

Industrial premises can get dirtier than most. Thanks to vehicle fumes and all kinds of manufacturing activity (whether that’s welding, sawing, burning, and grinding), the muck, grime and grease soon build up!

Add in the weather factor and before long gleaming factories looks grimy and gloomy.

When this happens, it’s not just the dirt you’ve got to worry about. When you don’t care about the way your factory looks, this sends a subliminal message to your staff.

If you don’t care, why should they care?

It’s a slippery slope that can make standards fall – unless you take action NOW.

A commercial clean can transform your premises entirely.

With the right equipment, the dirt is history and the building restored to its former glory. Check out the results from a big clean on an industrial estate in Milton Keynes.

Telescopic poles used to clean out-of-reach windows. Thanks to hot water, these panes were gleaming in no time.

On a big clean like this, it’s crucial no area is left untouched. So for all those hard-to-reach areas, such as upper floors and roofs, staff use an extendable platform. In this example, soft brushes are combined with a liquid mixture to remove moss without blasting the roof. This system helps prevent damage – especially where tiles are present.

This gentle system is perfect for cleaning solar panels too. Did you know solar panels could lose 25% of their efficiency over time due to muck and grime? That’s another reason to keep your premises clean.

In this picture, ingrained dirt is dissolved and washed away thanks to a jet wash fuelled by hot water. You can see the transformation in front of your own eyes!

Ready to enjoy results like this for your business? If so, get in touch. In this case, what happened in Milton Keynes doesn’t have to stay in Milton Keynes!

Our HQ is in Coventry, but thanks to nationwide coverage, we’re happy to share these cleaning ‘secrets’ with other businesses – wherever you’re based in the UK.

You can’t live in denial any longer.

The outside of your home is in desperate need of TLC! You’re embarrassed to invite guests onto the patio because it’s covered with moss and weeds. Your decking is looking tired and the windows could do with some attention.

You know thee jobs need doing, but when do you have the time?

You work hard during the week so the last thing you want to do with your time off is slave away. But don’t feel guilty for procrastinating.

The truth is that it’s better if you don’t do the work yourself. So if you’re looking for an excuse to call in the professionals to tackle a job you’ll hate, here are four.

You can thank us later!

1. You don’t have the equipment

While you can buy domestic cleaning equipment, you have to spend a decent chunk of money to get tools that will deliver results you’re happy with.

Go cheap and you’ll spend much longer than required and you won’t be satisfied with the final outcome.

Hire a commercial cleaning company and you’ll benefit from industrial-grade equipment. More powerful and more effective, you can expect results like these.

BEFORE

AFTER

N.B. Those photos were taken from the same spot just a few hours apart.

2. Your water isn’t hot enough

Did you know that we always use hot water for exterior cleans?

The reason for this is because hot water cleans significantly better than cold. It dissolves more dirt (rather than simply moving it around) and therefore reduces the need for harmful chemicals.

Hot water also dries quicker too – meaning you can get back to normal far quicker.

So don’t clean yourself. Use water out of your tap and you’ll break your back before you can do a job as good as our machines can!

3. Your time is too precious

You might save some cash if you DIY your exterior cleaning, but before you make this decision, ask yourself how much your time is worth?

We’ll get the job done much faster than you can. We clean day in, day out. It will be the same for the thing you do most often. You get in the zone and the groove. You know how to work efficiently. You know the little tweaks that shave off time without compromising quality.

If you only clean now and again, it will take you time to get in your flow. You’ll probably get bored too! (Especially if you’ve chosen a hot day and you’re secretly running through all the places you’d rather be in your head).

4. You won’t be happy

There’s nothing worse than slogging away for hours on end only to see disappointing results. Was it worth getting hot, sweaty, wet, and dirty for that!

Why don’t your efforts look as good as those before and after photos you see in magazines (or in our emails!)