How To Clean A 55,000 Sq Ft Building BY YOURSELF

Cleaning a 55,000 square foot commercial building might sound intimidating—especially if you're a solo operator—but with the right equipment, techniques, and mindset, it’s entirely achievable. In this post, we’ll walk through the key steps, tools, and strategies needed to tackle a project of this magnitude while maximizing efficiency and profits.

The Challenges of Cleaning Large Commercial Buildings

When faced with such a large project, the first hurdles are typically:

1. Equipment Limitations: A 10-gallon-per-minute system, for instance, will drastically outperform smaller setups like a 4-gallon-per-minute machine, saving you hours of work on concrete and other surfaces.
2. Expertise: Knowing how to properly clean surfaces without damaging them is crucial, as is being able to diagnose issues like oxidization, hard water stains, and substrate sensitivities.

The Tools of the Trade

For this specific job, here’s what made it possible:

• 10-Gallon-Per-Minute Smart Stream System: This high-flow setup allows for quick coverage of vast surfaces and ensures efficiency during rinsing and chemical application.
• Soft Wash System: Ideal for applying chemicals on building facades. Even when the pump failed, a workaround (ladder and direct chemical application) kept the project moving.
• Quad Zero Steel Wool: Essential for addressing hard water stains on windows without damaging the glass.
• Water-Fed System: Perfect for reaching high or difficult-to-access windows safely and effectively.

Key Steps for Cleaning a Commercial Building

1. Inspection and Transparency:
   Before starting, inspect the building and communicate potential challenges with the client. Issues like pitted glass, busted seals, and oxidized surfaces need to be addressed upfront to set realistic expectations.

2. Pre-Treatment:
   Start with areas that require extra attention, such as heavily oxidized edges or stubborn stains. Using a pump-up sprayer with 12.5% bleach allowed for targeted pre-treatment of problem areas.

3. Soft Wash or Downstreaming:

   • For heavily soiled areas, soft washing might be necessary.
   • For the rest, downstreaming with a stronger-than-average mix (~1%) proved effective for general cleaning.

4. Concrete and Curbs:
   With the 10-gallon-per-minute system, the entire concrete area, including inner curbs, was completed efficiently in just three days.

5. Window Cleaning:
   While full restoration wasn’t offered due to time constraints, a chemical application followed by steel wool helped remove hard water deposits and improve the overall appearance.

Why Efficiency Matters

A project of this scale isn’t just about cleaning; it’s about managing time and resources effectively. In this case:

• The entire job (building and concrete) was completed in 3.5 days.
• Using the right equipment saved significant time, allowing for a $10,000+ week.
• Prioritizing the client's immediate needs (clean appearance over full restoration) ensured their satisfaction without overextending your schedule.

Takeaways for Solo Operators

• Invest in high-performance equipment—it will pay for itself on large jobs like this.
• Develop your expertise in both cleaning techniques and client communication.
• Be adaptable. Whether it’s a pump failure or unforeseen challenges, a problem-solving mindset will keep your project on track.

If you’re ready to level up your pressure washing business and land high-ticket jobs like this one, check out the Lean and Mean Academy and the “How to Wash” course. It covers everything you need to know about chemicals, processes, and techniques to grow your business from zero to $7,000 a month and beyond.