Drive Thru's

[Thermocut]

I am bidding on a fast food chain and included in the Maintenance package they would like the drive thru's power washed every week along with the mowing. Does anyone do this? How much degreaser would one use on a typical drive thru (I know they all vary in size so be easy on this question)? Where would I get a commercial degreaser and approx cost? Thank you in advance with any comments or help.

[JCinNJ]

to do a high quality job you will need a hot water machine with high gpm. I think you will be better off subbing it out to a local power washing co. that already has that equipment.

Your looking at a $5000+ investment and not worth it unless you plan on adding it to your list of services. Even then you will need a lot of work to justify the investment

A weekly gig for a power washing company is sweet and you will most likely have many of them jumping at the chance for that.

[JCinNJ]

to do a high quality job you will need a hot water machine with high gpm. I think you will be better off subbing it out to a local power washing co. that already has that equipment.

Your looking at a $5000+ investment and not worth it unless you plan on adding it to your list of services. Even then you will need a lot of work to justify the investment

A weekly gig for a power washing company is sweet and you will most likely have many of them jumping at the chance for that.

[JCinNJ]

I dont know why that double posted???

[FullBlast]

I am agreed to that, some machine with plenty of volume, psi, and heat, and also a good surface cleaner.

[Bugboat]

Hello all, I found this site searching to buy a new pressure washer. Lots of great info here. I don't know much about proffessional pressure washing, but I do know quite a bit about Drive thru's. I have been in the Quick service food industry for 20 years and currently manage 4 restaurants.

I am sure a hot water pressure washer would work quite well for your applicaton, but it insn't needed. Personally I would not hire out to clean my DT lane. It's not rocket science and I can get it done for lower wages and the cost of a little degreaser. It takes me about a gallon of degreaser (about five bucks) mixed 50/50 with water. Apply the degreaser with a pressure sprayer and let set. Two gallons of degreaser solution should treat your average sized DT. Two booths, a speaker, and stacking lane. The oily areas will be concentrated at the windows and speaker. You will have to treat these areas more heavily. The reast of the lane will not be that bad. If the DT pad has been neglected you will have to use more chemical initially. It is best to let the chemical sit so it can work. Let the chemical work for you. Personally I don't think you need a pressure washer at all. Let the chemical work for you and use a hose for the clean up. A pressure washer does work, but takes a while, unless your have a high GPM unit. My hose runs at about 5 GPM. I would suggest you treat the DT lane with chemical, cut the grass and take care of other landscaping needs, and then come back to "hose" off the DT pad. It shouldn't take long. The problem is the --cars--. I assume the DT will be open while you work. You will have to wait for cars to clear. You can't hold up the DT, customers get really upset.

Again, I wouldn't pay to outsource cleaning the DT lane, but if another restaurant wants to hire you, I hope this lets you know what your up against.

Just my .02. Thanks Eric

[JCinNJ]

Hello all, I found this site searching to buy a new pressure washer. Lots of great info here. I don't know much about proffessional pressure washing, but I do know quite a bit about Drive thru's. I have been in the Quick service food industry for 20 years and currently manage 4 restaurants.

I am sure a hot water pressure washer would work quite well for your applicaton, but it insn't needed. Personally I would not hire out to clean my DT lane. It's not rocket science and I can get it done for lower wages and the cost of a little degreaser. It takes me about a gallon of degreaser (about five bucks) mixed 50/50 with water. Apply the degreaser with a pressure sprayer and let set. Two gallons of degreaser solution should treat your average sized DT. Two booths, a speaker, and stacking lane. The oily areas will be concentrated at the windows and speaker. You will have to treat these areas more heavily. The reast of the lane will not be that bad. If the DT pad has been neglected you will have to use more chemical initially. It is best to let the chemical sit so it can work. Let the chemical work for you. Personally I don't think you need a pressure washer at all. Let the chemical work for you and use a hose for the clean up. A pressure washer does work, but takes a while, unless your have a high GPM unit. My hose runs at about 5 GPM. I would suggest you treat the DT lane with chemical, cut the grass and take care of other landscaping needs, and then come back to "hose" off the DT pad. It shouldn't take long. The problem is the --cars--. I assume the DT will be open while you work. You will have to wait for cars to clear. You can't hold up the DT, customers get really upset.

Again, I wouldn't pay to outsource cleaning the DT lane, but if another restaurant wants to hire you, I hope this lets you know what your up against.

Just my .02. Thanks Eric

Thats some funny stuff there :laugh:

Do you have before and after pictures for us? Is this the attitude you take towards cleaning the kitchen and grills, after all, no one can even see the grills, why clean them at all, right?

I'll bet your customers love driving through puddles of chems and splashing it all over their vehicles.

A professional will come during the night when most businesses are closed and will not interfere with customer flow.

A professional will be in and out in about 1 hour in most cases.

A professional will leave the area clean, not in a "good enough" condition

Eric you need to call around and ask the professionals in your area to give you a demo right AFTER you clean it your way. Ask a couple of them to give you a demo (there are good and bad PWing companies). You will see a difference and it will not cost you a penny.

[FCPWLLC]

Hello all, I found this site searching to buy a new pressure washer. Lots of great info here. I don't know much about proffessional pressure washing, but I do know quite a bit about Drive thru's. I have been in the Quick service food industry for 20 years and currently manage 4 restaurants.

I am sure a hot water pressure washer would work quite well for your applicaton, but it insn't needed. Personally I would not hire out to clean my DT lane. It's not rocket science and I can get it done for lower wages and the cost of a little degreaser. It takes me about a gallon of degreaser (about five bucks) mixed 50/50 with water. Apply the degreaser with a pressure sprayer and let set. Two gallons of degreaser solution should treat your average sized DT. Two booths, a speaker, and stacking lane. The oily areas will be concentrated at the windows and speaker. You will have to treat these areas more heavily. The reast of the lane will not be that bad. If the DT pad has been neglected you will have to use more chemical initially. It is best to let the chemical sit so it can work. Let the chemical work for you. Personally I don't think you need a pressure washer at all. Let the chemical work for you and use a hose for the clean up. A pressure washer does work, but takes a while, unless your have a high GPM unit. My hose runs at about 5 GPM. I would suggest you treat the DT lane with chemical, cut the grass and take care of other landscaping needs, and then come back to "hose" off the DT pad. It shouldn't take long. The problem is the --cars--. I assume the DT will be open while you work. You will have to wait for cars to clear. You can't hold up the DT, customers get really upset.

Again, I wouldn't pay to outsource cleaning the DT lane, but if another restaurant wants to hire you, I hope this lets you know what your up against.

Just my .02. Thanks Eric

Wow. Hot water is an absolute MUST for getting up chewing gum. Cold water machines require way too much pressure to get gum up and etches the concrete.
While it may not be rocket science, there is more to it than you think. The first time your Owner is fined $10,000 for violating the clean water act, you will learn very fast the value of a PROFESSIONAL.

The degreaser you use doesn't hold a candle to the stuff we use ($1 for 10 gallons of mix that is 30 times stronger than store bought). Grease runs immediately from my mix. Wouldn't reccommend any "cheap labor" handling it though... you'd end up with a nasty WC claim.

The real difference between "in-house" and a Professional.... Pressure Washing video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVP0I4Tuwdg)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVP0I4Tuwdg

:usflag:

[unkownfl]

OMG I never thought you could even get that stuff up.

[FullBlast]

All I can say is WOW!!!

[Crfguy168]

Great thread!! LOL

[FullBlast]

No hot water???? OOOKKK!!!!!

Yea it is a great thread!!! Maybe I can start getting more of these jobs if I sell my hot water washer and just use cold!!!

Cheaper ya know!!!