Cleaning Public Transportation Facilities With a Pressure Washer
The dream of clean public transportation facilities can sometimes feel daunting. With high-traffic areas like guardrails, walkways, and seating, along with embedded stains like oil and grease, transportation cleaning has a lot to consider.
Thankfully, there is a reliable way to make the entire process easier: use a top rated commercial pressure washer to get the job done right.
Businesses and transit authorities have been cleaning public transportation facilities with a pressure washer for decades. This tried-and-true method provides versatile cleaning power.
We’ll cover everything you need to know. If you want personalized guidance to find your ideal equipment, talk to our team at Hotsy of Houston.
The Need for Routine Transportation Cleaning Services
Cleaning public transportation facilities with a pressure washer is the most effective option. But that leads to a follow-up question: Why is it vital to clean public transportation routinely?
Public health, passenger safety, equipment lifespan, and regulatory compliance are the primary reasons. The best transportation cleaning routines conveniently meet all of these standards.
Importance of Public Health and Hygiene
One of the main motivations behind investing in transportation cleaning services comes from the public health sector.
Public transportation facilities see hundreds or even thousands of passengers per day. Each seat, ticket station, handrail, and walkway can contain enough germs to cause a public health crisis.
Regular upkeep, such as cleaning public transportation facilities with a pressure washer, will help sanitize your properties and vehicles.
Improved Passenger Experience
Ask most riders the last time they encountered clean public transportation facilities. You’re likely to get a few laughs and astonished faces.
Keeping your facilities clean will instantly make your services a favorite travel option. As commuters and travelers enter your stations, they’ll be wowed by the attention to detail and cleanliness–helping them think positively about their experience.
Prolonging Equipment Lifespan
Cleaning public transportation facilities with a pressure washer and other high-quality equipment also serves as a form of maintenance.
Think of all the stains you regularly find in your facilities. Dirt and dust from the outdoors, food and drinks spilled by customers, oil and grease from your machinery–all of it can cause lasting damage to your property.
Investing in transportation cleaning services or equipment will ensure you can stop wear and tear in its tracks before expensive replacements are needed.
Regulatory Compliance for Public Transportation
Your jurisdiction will have specific standards your organization must meet to ensure a safe experience for riders. And trust us, those potential fines are not worth the risk.
Cleaning public transportation facilities with a pressure washer will help you stay on top of these rules and ensure you never fail one of those dreaded surprise inspections.
Different Types of Public Transportation That Need Cleaning
Public transportation is a broad term with unique needs for each travel method. But no matter the types of transportation your organization serves, there will be cleaning methods that work for you.
Buses and Trolleys
Buses, trolleys, and other road-based transportation methods are certain to accumulate stains. Bus stations, along with the vehicles themselves, collect dirt and stains quickly.
With advertising space a prominent source of revenue for bus and trolley services, you must ensure your facilities and vehicles serve as the perfect blank canvas.
Subways and Trains
Rail-based transportation methods are vulnerable to stains, whether underground or in the open air.
Every nook and cranny in your train stations, from the ticket stands to the turnstiles, requires cleaning. Tight spaces, electrified rails, and dark tunnels also present specific challenges that require additional equipment.
Ferries and Water Taxis
Passengers crossing the rivers and lakes in your city deserve a pristine transportation method.
Your vessels may seem clean at first glance until you realize all the muck in the water.
Biofilm, algae, rust, bird droppings–all of it can mar the appearance of your boats and even pose a safety risk.
Trams and Light Rail Systems
Like subways and trains, trams and light rails have plenty of sensitive equipment, including electrical components and metal tracks.
Given the size of rail networks, you often rely solely on high-quality cleaning methods like pressure washers. You can restore those railways to good-as-new condition with the proper knowledge and equipment.
Airports and Shuttles
When cleaning public transportation facilities with a pressure washer, the most ambitious projects are found at airports.
Every area on the property, from gates to parking lots to baggage claim, has a unique set of stains to contend with. Some surfaces, like runways, even require highly advanced machines.
Even airport shuttles, which range from busses to trams, must be maintained. But with the right equipment, your airport can be the bright spot in every traveler’s journey.
What’s the Best Way to Go About Transportation Cleaning?
You can’t slack on transportation cleaning services, so how do you get started? There’s a lot to consider. Commercial floor cleaning techniques alone can be complex, and that’s just one small aspect of your facilities.
That’s why versatility is so essential, and only one method can do it all.
Why Pressure Washing is the Preferred Method
Businesses and government organizations have been pressure washing commercial buildings for decades. Power washing combines unparalleled speed with safety and efficient results. Other methods, like manual scrubbing or chemical applications, pale in comparison.
With many different pressure washer types available, you’ll need to get specific for your facilities.
Hot Water vs Cold Water Pressure Washers
Let’s cover water temperatures first. The differences in hot vs cold water pressure washers are simple. Hot water models are more effective and can even accelerate sanitization. Cold water models are less expensive, however.
If you need help choosing between the two, ask our team at Hotsy of Houston. We’re the #1 home for both commercial cold water pressure washers in Houston and commercial hot water pressure washers in Houston, and we can point you in the right direction for your needs.
Gas vs Electric Pressure Washers
Choosing which type of engine is a close decision. Both sides of the electric vs gas pressure washer debate have their merits.
Gas-powered models are powerful and incredibly mobile since they aren’t tethered to an outlet. However, they are also loud and emit fumes, making them a risk in poorly ventilated areas. Electric models are better suited for fully indoor facilities and when noise is a consideration.
Many organizations end up investing in both types to tackle different needs.
Pressure Washing Trailers for Mobility
Pressure washer trailers let you bring your machine(s) to each facility without worrying about finding an outlet or paying to use a fire hydrant.
Talk to our team for more information on pressure washing trailer setup or rental! We’re the #1 home for pressure washer trailers in Houston and can give you an idea of what you need to clean your facilities without worrying about mobility.
Setting Up Your Commercial Pressure Washing Arsenal
To begin cleaning public transportation facilities with a pressure washer, you’ll need to ensure you handle all of the finer details for your equipment.
Balancing PSI, GPM, and Portability
Every power washer model has two critical specifications to monitor: PSI (pounds per square inch) and GPM (gallons per minute).
These two values define the force and volume of your water stream. Delicate surfaces like vehicle exteriors and wood siding require PSI in the 1000-1500 range, while heavy-duty stains on concrete need values of 3000-4000.
GPM is slightly more flexible but look for at least 2 in most settings, with values of 8 to 12 for heavier stains.
Ensure your machine is portable enough to cover your entire facility, or consider investing in a trailer. For more information, check out our pressure washer buying guide.
Detergents and Cleaning Solutions
Pressure washer detergent will determine which stains you can handle.
We recommend the Hotsy line of biodegradable soaps, with specific blends for each type of stain.
Formulas like Hotsy Breakthrough and Hotsy Verde All-Purpose are excellent do-it-all soaps. Hotsy Power Shine Advanced and Hotsy Transport are fantastic choices for land-based vehicles, while Hotsy Aero One is safe for use on aircraft.
Degreasers like Hotsy Ripper I and Hotsy Yellow Fever are excellent options for carbon deposits, grease, and hard water stains.
Key Accessories and Attachments
The best pressure washer attachments can boost your clean speed, letting you quickly reach high spaces and tight nooks and crannies.
Consider the angle of your nozzles. Wide nozzles up to 60 degrees allow you to clean large areas, while narrow nozzles as tight as 0 degrees will let you focus your stream on stubborn stains.
Like soaps, Hotsy also has the best accessories. We recommend Hotsy’s line of Surface Cleaners for pressure washing parking lots, Hotsy’s Foam Cannon for pressure washing vehicle fleets, and Hotsy’s Extension Wand for reaching high spaces.
Protective Gear for Cleaning Crews
Finally, don’t forget to invest in protective pressure washing clothing. Face masks, gloves, non-slip boots, and jackets keep your staff safe.
With that, the only thing left for you to do is to start shopping!
Trust Hotsy of Houston to Deliver All the Essentials!
Hotsy of Houston is the #1 home for commercial pressure washers in Houston! We’ve been trusted by companies and agencies like the City of San Antonio, Bobcat, and VIA with all of their cleaning needs.
We offer sales and commercial pressure washer rentals in Houston to fit your needs. Our experienced and friendly team of Houston natives will walk you through every step, from renting a pressure washer to choosing an engine type.
We also provide the best pressure washer soap and accessories to complete the job. Our team will teach you what soap to use in a pressure washer and how to use soap with a pressure washer for jaw-dropping results.
And in the long run, we’ll be by your side to help with quality commercial pressure washer repair in Houston. Our team repairs Hotsy and non-Hotsy models using our comprehensive process. We’ll also show you how to maintain a pressure washer to avoid expensive replacements and pressure washer repair costs.
Quick Tips on Cleaning Public Transportation Facilities and Equipment With a Pressure Washer
Once you have your equipment, let’s show you how using a pressure washer works.
Optimal Cleaning Frequency
Don’t wait until your facilities look like something out of a horror movie. Clean most spaces weekly or biweekly while identifying high-traffic areas that may need daily TLC.
Effective Pre-Treatment Techniques
Before cleaning, you want to allow your detergent to soak in. Let your soap sit for 10-15 minutes on each area, which will loosen stains and make cleaning easier.
Optimizing Cleaning Time
Before you clean, you want to be strategic. Set aside times when there are no arrivals or departures to give your team plenty of time without disrupting your customers.
Handling High-Traffic Areas
In high-traffic areas, you’ll need to get granular. Is there a time of day when you can close down one ticket booth to clean it without harming wait times? Can you take a bus off your schedule to clean it without losing out on fares?
You’ll need to weigh all of these to keep these areas clean.
Pressure Washing Techniques
As you pressure wash, begin with wider nozzles and attachments. You want to clear large areas first, then work your way back to tougher stains.
Preventing Surface Damage
Keep your pressure washer wand at least a foot away from the surface. You’ll also want to start on lower PSI and GPM settings and work your way up rather than the other way around. Higher values can strip paint if you aren’t careful.
Post-Cleaning Inspection
Once you’ve cleaned and rinsed your facility, inspect everything. If there are still trouble spots, you may need to repeat the process or switch detergents.
When done, make sure you’re storing your pressure washer in a cool, dry place.
Final Thoughts on Transportation Cleaning Services
Clean public transportation isn’t just a pipe dream–it’s an easily achievable goal with the right equipment.
Pressure washers are the best weapon in your arsenal against grime, oil, and dirt. With a high-quality model, like those from Hotsy, the industry leader, you’ll have your facilities shining again.
You’ll find information on our blog, including pressure washing quote templates, how much does it cost to start a pressure washing business, pressure washing farm equipment, restaurant pressure washing, warehouse power washing, cooling tower cleaning, pressure washing factory floors, how to clean grease traps, cleaning commercial vent hoods, pressure washing commercial solar panels, and how to clean inside silos.
To learn more about how pressure washing can transform your facilities, visit our Pasadena location or call us for a personalized recommendation.
