Gum Removal 101
One of the challenges of cleaning a sidewalk is removing gooey and sticky gum. This is especially problematic during the summer when temperatures soar, and people tend to litter more often.
Scheduling Professional Power Washing in Lombard, IL
To combat this problem, it helps to schedule professional power washing in Lombard, IL, regularly. Doing so will beautify your commercial or residential property and keep your sidewalk pedestrian-friendly. After all, you don’t want a customer to walk into your business and find a hard-to-remove wad of Bubble Yum stuck on the sole of their shoe. You must apply the proper sidewalk cleaning techniques to ensure this mild calamity does not spoil anyone’s day. That is why professional power washing in Lombard, IL is the ideal solution. Whether you need to clean a sidewalk, scrub an exterior wall, or clean off the algae on a rooftop, X-Treme Powerwashing in Lombard, IL, is your go-to power cleaning source. So, how do power washers get rid of gum on sidewalks? What are the secrets to dislodging the taffy-like clump?
Heat is the Secret Ingredient
Ironically, most people think the pressurized use of water removes gum from surfaces. However, the heat we use at X-Treme Powerwashing does the trick. Cold water pressure washing etches concrete, which ends up damaging it. Also, if you don’t remove any gum you spot right away, it stains the surface. That’s because the acid in saliva, combined with the gum, when left on porous concrete, weakens the surface. So, gum causes more problems than just sticking on the back of shoes. Our technicians, who specialize in professional power washing in Lombard, IL, use the proper tools and techniques to remove sticky substances. They also have the know-how to remove the black spots from old gum thrown down, squashed, and not removed. At the same time, they can remove the stains from colas and coffee that make a property quickly lose its curb appeal. That’s why power washing is a must-do activity – especially for anyone whose sidewalk is part of their storefront or who has regular sidewalk traffic in front of their residence.
We Know What It Takes to Get Rid of Gum Permanently
In the same way, that an HVAC technician maintains an AC unit, we know what it takes to clean sidewalks. For example, the PSI (pounds per square inch) applied in power washing represents the energy used when water hits a cleaning surface. We also have the solvents needed to remove incredibly stubborn substances or stains. When removing gum, we use a higher flow nozzle that we direct circularly. However, again, hot water is essential to get rid of gum. Setting a power wash at 3000 psi and 190 degrees Fahrenheit in most cases helps melt and pop up the gum. Anyone using cold water will work on the task for a long time. When applying professional power washing in Lombard, IL, we notice that removing gum is more accessible when the temperature dips or is around 50 or 55 degrees Fahrenheit. But, again, you don’t want to wait too long to remove gum, as it ruins a surface – cosmetically and structurally. You’ll need to schedule regular cleanings, as a shadow of the removed gum usually remains. If you have your sidewalk cleaned regularly, those shadows are cleaned away. We suggest quarterly cleanings or as-needed cleanings in-between. Not only will we remove the gum, but we’ll also get rid of the germs and bacteria using a heated spray.
Professional Power Washing in Lombard, IL – Give Us a Call Today
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