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Learn why Complete Power Wash is your best option for professional exterior cleaning of Tri-state area homes and businesses.
Pressure Washing Definitions
Pressure washing definitions are good to know when interviewing prospective companies to hire. See the list we have provided below.
In addition to being equipped to ask questions about “the softwash technique” and “artillery fungus,” make sure companies are insured before hiring their techs. After all, accidents can happen. We at Complete Power Wash believe an informed pressure washing customer is one who will likely be happy after a competent tech is finished. And ultimately, you want to be happy with a clean home, with little to no mess left from the job.
Technical Terms
Pressure washer or power washer – A high-pressure mechanical sprayer used to remove loose paint, algae, grime, dust, mud, and dirt from surfaces like buildings, gutters, fences and concrete surfaces.
Adjustable Pressure Regulator – The part of the pressure washer that varies the pressure of the high-pressure spray, sometimes using interchangeable tips.
Adjustable Spray Nozzle – The pressure washer part that allows the tech to adjust the spray angle by turning the tip or using interchangeable tips (0º to 45º degrees disperse).
PSI (Pounds per square inch) – PSI refers to how much pressure applied to the surface being cleaned. Smaller electric models can start at 1,000 PSI, while larger models – often gas-powered – can reach 3,500 PSI or more.
Softwash – The technique of using gentle water pressure and detergents to loosen and wash away harmful elements from surfaces.
Commercial Pressure Washing – Expert technicians using professional-grade equipment to clean elements from dirty surfaces.
Residential Pressure Washer – a small, gas-powered or electric machine that pressurizes water from a hose bib to blast away dirt and grime. This device can cause damage to many surfaces, since it has so much concentrated power.
Harmful Elements
Algae – Plant group of chlorophyll-containing, mainly aquatic eukaryotic organisms ranging from microscopic single-celled forms to multi-cellular forms. These plants are distinguished by the absence of true-roots, stems, and leaves.
Mildew – Mildew is a type of mold that tends to grow on flat surfaces. While it mostly causes cosmetic damage to homes, it can hurt plants growing close to an affected wall. Black mold in porous materials can be a major health hazard.
Artillery Fungus – The black spores that are often found growing on vinyl or wood siding near mulch. This fungus is not harmful, but can quickly multiply and cause cosmetic damage to exterior walls. After pressure washing, it is recommended to replace the mulch with stones.
Grime – Grime is a collection of dirt and other filthy matter that adheres to a structure. A buildup of grime can cause cosmetic and structural damage to some building materials.
Detergent – Detergent is an environmentally-friendly cleaner that tends to be gentle on most surfaces cleaned by pressure washing. Professional pressure washers use detergents as part of the softwash cleaning technique, because of gentle it is on building materials.
Contact Us
If you would like us to help you with your resolution to pressure wash your home in 2019, contact us by clicking here. If you prefer to talk to us, call our Hagerstown office at 301-842-2290. Our techs work throughout the great Hagerstown area, including Boonsboro, Clear Spring, Myersville, Maugansville, Keedysville and Frederick County, MD.
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New Year’s Resolution: Pressure Wash in 2019!
What are your New Year’s Resolutions for 2019? We hope it includes hiring a quality pressure washing company like Complete Power Wash to power wash your home and property into like-new condition.
So, what changes are you planning to make this year? Do you plan to lose weight; go back to school; get a new job; etc…? These are all great resolutions, but we would like you to consider some others that we can help you keep.
Resolve To…
This year, resolve to hire our techs to pressure wash the grime and harmful elements from your roof. These dark patches are not only unsightly, but are doing damage to the life of your roofing materials. This will mean a shorter life span for shingles and rubber roofs. This translates into spending thousands of dollars on a new roof sooner than you would need to because of lack of care.
This year, resolve to have your home pressure washed. Whether your home is made of brick, stucco, vinyl, etc…, the harmful elements that attack your roof, can attack the exterior walls and foundation. These cleanings should include cleaning the gutters, inside and out. In fact, most of this buildup is due to clogged gutters, because a clogged gutter is an overflowing gutter.
And, because water that runs down walls finds its way inside of your home, it will lead to air quality issues and health risks for you and your family.
This year, resolve to have your yard pressure washed. Well, not the grass, but the sidewalks, decks, fences and anything else that can be cleaned with our softwash technique. Our techs will use gentle detergents and gentle water pressure to thoroughly clean what needs to be cleaned. This can include the removal of graffiti, because this is no easy task for a homeowner. Our techs will do it the right way, WITHOUT damaging the surface.
Our pressure washing experts are also trained to power wash commercial buildings. These properties present unique challenges. To read more and see images of our commercial pressure washing work, click here.
And remember, if you are thinking of selling your home this spring, curb appeal is the first impression in the buying and selling process. Potential buyers may not make a final decision to purchase based on their first impression, but if they like what they see, the agent does not have to get them past that hurdle.
Contact Us
If you would like us to help you with your resolution to pressure wash your home in 2019, contact us by clicking here. If you prefer to talk to us, call our Hagerstown office at 301-842-2290. Our techs work throughout the great Hagerstown area, including Boonsboro, Clear Spring, Myersville, Maugansville, Keedysville and Frederick County, MD.
Happy Holidays!
Everyone at Complete Power Wash wishes you and your family a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
This is a great time of year for us at Complete Power Wash and we hope the same for you. We hope you get to find time to spend with friends and family. We also hope you find time to slow down, relax and spend some time thinking about the highlights of the year. Thank you to all of our customers, who were the highlights of our year. We look forward to serving you again in the new year. We hope and pray the new year is a great one for all of us.
To schedule our techs for a pressure washing appointment in the Tri-state area of Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, call our Hagerstown, MD office at 301-842-2290.
And while you’re waiting for ol’ St. Nick and the New Year to arrive, enjoy some interesting holiday trivia.
Christmas Trivia
5) Who created the first electric light Christmas display?
New Years Trivia
3) When did the famous ball become part of the celebration?
Softwash is the Best Wash
The softwash technique is the best wash when it comes to nearly every surface around the home or commercial building.
Most people think the best way to clean through pressure washing is to use high-powered water pressure and blast away the dirt and grime. While this can work, it will often blast away part of the surface too. This can be costly, because replacing building materials is never cheap. And if you can’t afford to replace the materials, homeowners are forced to see the damage everyday; a reminder of the mistake of NOT using softwash.
Softwash is the technique of using “just the right water pressure,” combined with gentle, environmentally-friendly detergents. These detergents are used to weaken the grip of dirt, mold, mildew and other natural elements. Once the detergent takes affect, the technician can gently wash away the grime. This also mitigates the mess that some power washing companies leave behind.
Pressure Washing Problems
The most-costly damage done by inexperienced technicians is done to shingles and other roofing materials. This damage can be during the job and even later, because damaged shingles can shorten the life of a roof, which can allow rain, sleet and snow to seep in and damage the wood sheathing. Moisture in an attic can lead even bigger problems. The integrity of the roof — except for a home’s foundation — is the most important part of the exterior structure.
Other common mistakes in the pressure-washing world include the scarring of wood (see photo) and concrete. Commercial pressure washing and personal use machines have enough concentrated power to blast into decks and driveways. Once lines are carved into such materials, a professional will likely have to fix the damage.
And imagine what happens when that kind of water pressure is used on vinyl siding. Often the damage is not just seen on the outside, but felt under the covering. As the water pushes on the flexible material, it can find its way in the gaps and seams of the siding. Then the water is trapped between the siding and home’s outer wall. This can be a perfect scenario for mold and mildew to take hold, which can cause lots of costly problems, including poor interior air quality. This can trigger asthma and other respiratory problems.
Our technicians are trained to pressure wash your home the right way. When they finish a job, everything looks better and the environment left healthy. And, our techs leave the grounds clean and tidy. To schedule a FREE estimate, just click here.
Contact Us
If you would like to schedule us to clean your home before the final holiday guests of 2018 arrive, contact us by clicking here. If you prefer to talk to us, call our Hagerstown office at 301-842-2290.
We look forward to helping you make the holidays a great time for your family. If you need help decorating contact our sister company Christmas Lights Hagerstown.
Happy Thanksgiving from Complete Power Wash!
We hope you and your family have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
The entire staff at Complete Power Wash in Hagerstown hopes that Thanksgiving is a time filled with reflection on a year of blessings. We also hope that it will be a safe and happy holiday for you, your friends and your family.Thanksgiving Trivia
1. What year was the celebration that is most commonly considered to be the first Thanksgiving?
A: 1621. This is the celebration that people most often talk about when they are talking about the “first” Thanksgiving. But there are others that are claimed to be the first Thanksgiving. There was another celebration in Plymouth in 1623 and one in Boston in 1631 that people claim was the actual first Thanksgiving.
2. How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration last?
A: Three days. It was celebrated much earlier than our current celebration, possibly in late September. There were about 50 European settlers and around 90 native Americans who attended the 3-day feast.
3. Under which president did Thanksgiving become an annual holiday?
A: Abraham Lincoln. The U.S. has celebrated Thanksgiving off and on since 1774. In 1789 George Washington made a proclamation that the country would celebrate a day of thanksgiving to God on November 26th. Some presidents after him continued the tradition, declaring different days of Thanksgiving. But it wasn’t until a proclamation by Lincoln in 1863 that the last Thursday of November became the official Thanksgiving holiday.
4. In what year did both the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and America’s Thanksgiving Parade start?
A: 1924. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was started by Louis Bamberger in Newark, New Jersey but was transferred to New York City where it is now held by Macy’s. America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit was inspired by Eaton’s Santa Claus Parade in Toronto, Ontario.
5. Which president was the first to give a turkey a presidential pardon?
A: Ronald Reagan. John F. Kennedy was the first president on record for unofficially sparing a Turkey in 1963. The Reagan administration in 1987 gave the first official presidential pardon to a turkey as a joke. The turkey was spared and put into a petting zoo. George H. Bush made it an annual tradition in 1989 and each president since has carried on the tradition.
Contact Us
If you would like to schedule us to clean your home before the final holiday guests of 2018 arrive, contact us by clicking here. If you prefer to talk to us, call our Hagerstown office at 301-842-2290. We specialize in using the softwash technique, which is best for cleaning and not damaging surfaces.
We look forward to helping you make the holidays a great time for your family. If you need help decorating contact our sister company Christmas Lights Hagerstown.
Pressure Wash Your Home Before the Holidays
Schedule your pressure washing appointment before colder weather and the holidays interrupt the power washing season
Well, it’s almost that time of year again. The time of year when professional power washing companies to store away their equipment and wait for for better weather in the new year. It’s also that time when leaves have mostly fallen, the nights are colder and the holidays are almost here. How clean is your sidewalk? Is it sparkling like the upcoming holidays or scary, better suited for Halloween? What will your relatives and friends find when they approach your door in a few weeks?
The technicians at Complete Power Wash haven’t completely packed up their equipment for 2018. There are still a few spots on the schedule open for pressure washing your sidewalk, roof, siding, gutters, etc…. Whatever it is that is taking away from the beauty of your home, know there is still time to get a free estimate and book an appointment by clicking here.
Softwash is Best
The softwash technique — using gentle pressure and environmentally-friendly detergents — can wash away green spots and black streaks without damaging the surface. Then, when the aunts, uncles and cousins arrive, they can walk up the clean walkway and see the lights gleaming off the freshly-scrubbed, recently-decorated home.
Complete Power Wash techs serve residents and businesses throughout the Tri-State (Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) area, including Hagerstown, Hancock, Clean Spring, Boonsboro, Smithsburg, Myersville and Funkstown in Maryland; Greencastle, Waynesboro and State Line in Pennsylvania; and Falling Waters and Martinsburg in West Virginia.
Contact Us
If you would like to schedule us to clean your home before the holiday guests arrive, contact us by clicking here. If you prefer to talk to us, call our Hagerstown office at 301-842-2290. We look forward to helping you make the holidays a great time for your family. If you need help decorating contact our sister company Christmas Lights Hagerstown.
Happy Halloween from Complete Power Wash!
Everyone at Complete Power Wash in Hagerstown hopes you and your family have a safe and happy Halloween.
Our techs think the only thing scarier than a haunted house during Halloween, is a house that hasn’t been pressure washed in years and LOOKS like a haunted house during the day and night. This is a truly frightening tale when you think that there is only one month until guests start arriving for a Thanksgiving meal. This means time is running short to book our cleaning services to remove dirt and grime from your siding, gutters, walkways, fences and roof.
While you’re trying to figure out the best day to book us, enjoy this Halloween trivia about the traditions we all know and love.
Halloween Trivia
Why are pumpkins part of Halloween?
A: Pumpkins are actually indigenous to the Western Hemisphere and have been found on the continent for thousands of years. Pumpkins entered into the Halloween celebration after Irish immigrants came to America and found that pumpkins were easier to carve than potatoes for the holiday.
When did the Jack-’o-lantern become part of the autumn celebration?
A: Jack-’o-lanterns have been around for hundreds of years. The legend is of a man named Jack, who according to legend, invited the devil for a drink. Jack did not want to pay for his drink, so he made a deal with the devil. The devil turned himself into coins, but instead of paying for the drink, Jack kept the coins. Later freeing the devil, he promised to change him back if he did not steal his soul. Upon Jack’s death, God would not let him into heaven because of his past and the devil would not let him into hell. Instead, the devil gave Jack a piece of coal, which Jack placed into a turnip. The legend goes that Jack used the turnip and coal to light his way as he looked for a final resting place. The original jack-’o-lanterns in Ireland were carved out of turnips or potatoes.
Why do we have Halloween parties?
A: The idea of people gathering together to celebrate dates back to the early American settlers, who celebrated the harvest. People would gather at these events and would share ghost stories, dance, sing and tell fortunes. Since that time, Halloween has become more of a holiday about bobbing for apples and candy than celebrating the harvest.
Who is responsible for bringing Halloween to America?
A: Halloween is mix of traditions from Celtic, Catholic and Roman religious rituals. Celts would dress in costumes and light bonfires to ward off ghosts, thought to return on Halloween. The Celts believe that the boundaries between the living and the dead blurred on Halloween, making it easier for ghosts and spirits to return to cause mischief.
When did candy corn become part of the celebration?
A: More than 35 million pounds of candy corn is produced each year according to the National Confectioner’s Association. Created in the late 1800s, the three colors are supposed to look like the colors in kernels of corn.
How did ghosts become part of Halloween?
A: Most cultures and civilization contain some sort of stories about spirits, many of whom return from the dead. According to legend, ghosts are “specters” and belief is based on the thought that a person’s spirit lives on after their death. Places or structures that are haunted by ghosts are thought to have some sort of connection to the ghost’s past.
How did costumes become part of the holiday?
A: Costumes were first worn to tell each other’s fortunes and for protection against evil spirits. The first costumes in Ireland were made of animal heads and skins. The modern celebration of Halloween still involves costumes, but many are not as creepy or scary as the first.
Were witches always thought of as bad?
The word witch comes from the word “wica,” an Old Saxon word that means “wise one.” The early-known witches were dealers in medicinal herbs and charms and respected in their own communities. But superstitions were created and told of witches casting spells and making trouble for others. Settlers who arrived in America brought these superstitions, and coupled with the Native American belief in witches, the legend grew.
Did Trick-or-Treat start in America?
A: Trick-or-treating for candy and prizes is a common tradition in the United States. A predecessor of trick-or-treating is a Scottish and Irish practice called “Guising,” where children went from door to door in costumes collecting coins and food. Children would only receive the prize if they did a “trick” such as song or dance, before the treat was given.
How much candy is given out on Halloween?
A: One quarter (600 million pounds) of all of the candy sold in the United States every year is purchased specifically for Halloween. Ninety million pounds of that is chocolate.
Contact Us
If you would like to schedule us to clean your home before the holiday guests arrive, please contact us by clicking here or call our Hagerstown office at 301-842-2290.
Complete Power Wash techs serve residents and businesses throughout the Tri-State (Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) area, including Hagerstown, Clean Spring, Boonsboro, Smithsburg and Funkstown in Maryland; Greencastle, Waynesboro and State Line in Pennsylvania; and Falling Waters and Martinsburg in West Virginia. Our Techs specialize in the softwash technique. This approach uses gentle detergents and low water pressure to clean without causing damage.
Fall Foliage Can Leave Black and Green Buildup
Everyone loves the colorful fall foliage, but as the leaves drop, dirt and other grime can build up on your home, deck and fences.
Fall is a great time of year. It has cool temperatures; corn mazes; apple cider, fall festivals and pumpkin spice everything. But as the rakes get busy with colder temperatures moving in, most homeowners aren’t thinking about the grime. Most aren’t thinking about the gutters filled with sticks, acorns and leaves. And even fewer are thinking about mold, mildew and algae that come with trapped moisture.
The leaves and dirt can be easily cleaned by Complete Power Wash technicians trained to use the “softwash” technique. This is a professional cleaning technique using gentle water pressure and environmentally-friendly detergents. This is perfect for cleaning thoroughly, especially 
shingles, gutters and other parts of a home’s protective exterior. It is also the best way to NOT damage surfaces.
This is the time of year to look up when raking in your yard. Many may notice leaves on the roof or in gutters, but may simply think, “I’ll just clean it up in the spring.” Leaves left to long can cause harm, because moisture can build up and cause algae, which breaks down shingles and rubber roofs. Those black streak are not only ugly, but harmful.
Leaves, sticks and acorns are also the perfect recipe for causing water backups in gutters. This can lead to mold issues behind siding, affecting interior walls and causing health problems for those living inside. Not too mention what happens during occasional winter rains and spring downpours. Seeing water run in your house around windows means climbing a ladder in a rain storm, THEN cleaning up the mess.
Contact Us
If you would like to schedule us to clean your home after the last leaf has fallen — or at least before the first snowflake falls — please contact us by clicking here or call our Hagerstown office at 301-842-2290.
Complete Power Wash techs serve residents and businesses throughout the Tri-State (Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) area, including Hagerstown, Clean Spring, Boonsboro, Smithsburg and Funkstown in Maryland; Greencastle, Waynesboro and State Line in Pennsylvania; and Falling Waters and Martinsburg in West Virginia.
“Why Should I Hire a Pressure Washing Company?”
People often ask the question, “Why should I hire a professional pressure washing company when I can buy or rent a power washer and do it myself?”
We agree that it is nice to save money. There are lots of things in this world where you can take short cuts and put extra dollars in your pocket. However, when it comes to the look of your home, we think it is wise to hire professionals. These are some thoughts you should consider before deciding whether or not to pressure wash your home.
Doing the work yourself means you still have the cost of the equipment. And, you have the learning curve of operating the equipment correctly, so you don’t do damage to shingles, siding, gutters, deck and fence boards, etc…. Doing the work also means your in middle of the mess and you have cleanup duties as well. All this time and effort spent on a valuable day off and still many are not as happy with the results.
The reasons you should hire a professional pressure washing company are pretty clear. You don’t have to worry about any of the above problems, plus you and your family avoid possible injury. Each year, people are injured while climbing on ladders and roof tops. Wet surfaces, heights and lack of experience can be a recipe for disaster.
Plus, the power washing experts at Complete Power Wash know how to remove the harmful black stains from your property. They know how to eradicate all mold, mildew and algae growing on your home, gutters patio, fencing, etc…. They know how to leave your home looking like the best one in the area. This includes cleaning up after the job is done, which is no easy task.
And, our techs know how to do all of this without any damage to your property. This is because they use the softwash technique. Softwash is using the proper water pressure and gentle detergents in just the right balance.
Complete Power Wash offers professional pressure washing for roofs, gutters, sidewalks, vinyl siding, driveways and decks & patios on residential and commercial properties.
Contact Us
If you would like a free estimate from the professional pressure washing company in the Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia Tri-state area, contact us here or call us at our Hagerstown, MD office at 301-842-2290.
Happy Labor Day from CPW!
Everyone at Complete Power Wash hopes you and your family have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend!
This is the unofficial end of summer. We hope it was a great summer and hope the fall is even better. We know this time of year can be hectic, but we want you to know we are ready to clean your home. Our techs love to help homeowners get a major job accomplished as they are tending to life.
Another thing our techs love is a good set of trivia questions. Well, that may not be completely true, but we do have some great facts about the Labor Day holiday. And while most know that Labor Day in the United States is celebrated on the first Monday in September, many might not know it honors the American labor movement. This movement brought strength, prosperity and well-being to our country. There are currently about 157 million people above the age of 16 in the country’s workforce.
This year’s holiday is Monday, September 3rd.
10 Fun Trivia Facts About Labor Day
Contact Us for Pressure Washing
To contact us about a free pressure washing estimate, call 301-842-2290 or to contact us online, just click here. Our techs are the exterior cleaning experts in the greater-Hagerstown area and the surrounding Tri-state region of Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. We use the softwash approach to cleaning most surfaces. Softwash is the right amount of water pressure and gentle detergents. This is the best technique, because high pressure can damage most surfaces.
We specialize in house washing, roof cleaning, gutter cleaning, deck and patio cleaning and more.
Complete Power Wash is a professional pressure washing company in Hagerstown, MD. The CPW techs clean the exteriors of homes, businesses and churches in Western Maryland’s Tri-state area. That area includes parts of West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Frederick County, MD. The techs use the softwash cleaning method, the safest pressure washing technique.