Commercial Exterior Cleaning Checklist
Start at the street and work your way to the roof.
1. Walls and Storefront
Look for dirt, mould, algae, exhaust stains and white salt lines along the bottom of the walls.
2. Signs and Canopies
Signs collect grime high up where nobody looks. Check the lettering and the canopy edges.
3. Sidewalks and Entrances
Gum, spills and stains build up where people walk in. Salt piles up there in winter.
4. Parking Lots and Garages
Oil stains, vehicle fluids and road salt. Check garage floors and the area around the drains.
5. Loading Docks and Dumpster Pads
Grease and bad odours build up fast in these spots, especially in summer.
6. Windows and Frames
Street-level glass shows hand prints and road spray first. Upper glass gets dust and pollen.
7. Gutters and Downspouts
Look for overflow, sagging runs and plants growing in the trough. Check that water comes out of each downspout.
How Often Should a Commercial Exterior Be Cleaned?
These are starting points. A busy corner store needs more than a quiet office building.
| Area | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Storefront walkways, loading bays, dumpster pads | Monthly or quarterly | The busiest areas of the property. |
| Building walls | Once or twice a year | Most important after winter, when salt and grime have built up. |
| Parking garages and lots | Once or twice a year | A deep clean after winter. Sealing the concrete helps keep salt out. |
| Windows | At least twice a year | Spring and fall. Storefronts and busy buildings usually need more. |
| Gutters and downspouts | Twice a year | Spring and after the leaves fall. More often with trees close by. |
A Year of Exterior Cleaning in Toronto
Spring is the big one. Salt and grime come off the walls, walkways and garage floors, the gutters get cleared and the windows get their first wash.
Summer brings pollen and construction dust. Storefront glass and entrance walkways often need extra visits.
Fall is for the gutters, once most leaves are down, and a last window clean before the cold. In winter, a rinse at the entrances on a mild day cuts down the salt that gets tracked inside.
When to Hire a Professional Exterior Cleaning Company
Some jobs are fine for your own staff, like sweeping the entrance or wiping the door glass. Others need trained people and the right gear.
Call a company for anything above ladder height and for parking garages. The same goes for older brick, stucco, EIFS or metal panels that high pressure could damage. Ask for proof of liability insurance and WSIB coverage before the work starts.
One Plan for Your Whole Exterior
Outwash cleans commercial windows, pressure washes walls and walkways, cleans parking lots and garages and clears gutters and downspouts. We can combine them in one maintenance plan.
Hard surfaces get pressure washing. Walls that high pressure could damage get low-pressure soft washing. After a garage or a lot is clean, we can seal the concrete.
Choose a monthly, quarterly or seasonal program. To keep your business running, we can work overnight, early in the morning or on weekends. See our page on commercial pressure washing in Toronto.
Commercial Exterior Cleaning Questions
Can’t find your question below? Call us at 1-647-224-2064.
What does commercial exterior cleaning include?
Walls and storefronts, signs, sidewalks and entrances, parking lots and garages, loading areas, windows, and gutters and downspouts.
How often should a commercial building be pressure washed?
Busy areas such as storefront walkways, loading bays and dumpster pads monthly or quarterly. Walls and parking garages usually once or twice a year.
Can you clean when our business is closed?
Yes. We can work overnight, early in the morning or on weekends.
Do you pressure wash brick and stucco?
We clean older brick, stucco, EIFS and metal panels with low-pressure soft washing, since high pressure could damage them.
Can one company do the windows, the pressure washing and the gutters?
Yes. We do all three and can combine them in one maintenance plan.
Are your crews insured?
Yes. Outwash carries $5 million in liability insurance and WSIB coverage. Every crew member who works off the ground holds Working at Heights certification.
Related Services
Each part of the checklist has its own service page.
More tips for property managers are on our blog.
Send Us a Message. We’d Love to Help.
Tell us about your property and we’ll send you a free quote. Prefer to talk? Call us at 1-647-224-2064.
Toronto, Ontario M5C 1C4