Parking Garage Cleaning

[Jim Gamble]

We all know that there are a few different techniques for Parking Garage cleaning. Some contractors use a scrubber with a pressure washer to hit corners or areas that the scrubbers cannot reach and boast that this is deep cleaning.

Scrubbers are GREAT for removal of dust on a weekly basis. The problem is the removal of deep oil penetration while meeting class II discharge limits. This discahrge may need to be filtered in order to meet EPA requirements for discharge. If your contractor is dumping this product unchecked, this could be an issue.

Other contractors use strong chemicals that are restricted in some states, especially California, while others use mild heat to clean a garage.

We have found during our 21 years of cleaning Parking Garages that the higher the heat the better the results for the sole purpose of deep oil removal.

 

[Grime Busters]

Freely sharing your tried and true methods once again, which has made you son successful over the past 20+ years. And without the ridiculous ridicule.

Thank you Jim for continuing to be a huge asset to the industry, and focusing your help now where it is appreciated and respected.

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Why Having the Right Gear and Bidding Smart Matters


There are more parking garages in California than many people realize. Companies like Metropolis and Standard Parking manage thousands of garages and lots across the state. If you plan to clean garages for clients or bid on contracts for these operators, you’ve got to come prepared with the right equipment and mindset.


If you don’t have at least a 5.5 gpm @ 3000 psi HOT power-washing rig, you’ll end up frustrated and your customer—or the garage operator—won’t be satisfied. On the other hand, when I arrive with a machine that delivers 11 gpm at 3500 psi hot, plus full wash-water recovery gear, the job goes much faster and much cleaner. That’s how you impress clients, satisfy operators, and build your reputation.


Every time I hold a garage-cleaning class I skip long lectures and make room for lots of question-and-answer time. I assume most folks already know basic pressure-washing. But the questions people ask often reveal real-world obstacles—drainage issues, layout challenges, scheduling around business hours, permits, or unexpected cleanup needs—that I never would’ve thought to include in a polished “presentation.” Next time I teach I plan to record all those insights, so I can build a truly practical training class.


If you want to go after work in California garages, especially under big operators, here are a couple of players to keep in mind:

• Metropolis — a major parking operator and technology-enabled parking management company. Their website: https://metropolis.io/ Metropolis+1
• Standard Parking Corporation — now part of the larger organization under Metropolis. Wikipedia+1

Because these kinds of operators often handle dozens or hundreds of garages, there’s real demand for reliable, professional garage-cleaning contractors who show up with the right rig and recovery equipment — and understand how to meet their standards.


As for price lists, you should always build your estimate based on actual scope: square footage, number of levels, surface type (concrete, sealed, painted), water-recovery needs, and prep or post-cleanup required. For bigger operators like Metropolis or Standard Parking, you’ll want to factor in liability, scheduling (non-peak hours), proper disposal or drainage, and possibly insurance or compliance with environmental regulations.


If you don’t come prepared, you might win a bid — but you risk underdelivering. With the right equipment, prep, and pricing, you’ll not only meet expectations, you’ll exceed them.


Stay focused and wash smart.