Parking lot cleaning is good management practice. It keeps your commercial space neat and tidy, which reflects the way you conduct your business. When customers visit your shop, they notice every little detail. The first point of contact is your parking lot. Whether you are managing a restaurant or mall, a dirty and disorganized parking structure can turn clients away.
Dry leaves that are left unattended in your parking lot are not only an eyesore. When mixed with rain, heavy traffic, and trash, they can cause serious damage. Parking lots that are not properly maintained can result in:
- Cracks, potholes, and deterioration of the surface
- Damage to sealant, paint, and coating
- Loss of business
The parking lot may seem insignificant compared to a hotel lobby or restaurant kitchen. Maintenance protocols probably do not list parking lot cleaning at the top of things to do. As a business owner or manager, you should take the time and effort to maintain your parking space. After all, it is the first opportunity for your brand to make a great impression.
Here are some of the reasons why parking lot cleaning is suitable for your business.
Make a good first impression.
Keeping your parking spaces well-maintained creates an impression that your business is competent and customer-oriented.
Parking structures that are spotless, well-lit, and brightly marked can make your visitors feel welcome. Proper maintenance represents your commitment to providing clients with safe accommodations when they transact with you.
Clean and tidy parking lots also speak of your competence. Do you have trash or weeds lying around? Potholes or cracked asphalt? Faded line stripes? No one wants to work with a company that cannot take care of its own property.
Keep dirt out.
Foot traffic can easily carry dirt and debris into your building, staining your floors, and choking your carpets. You have less dirt to clean inside if you can keep the outside clean.
Discourage people from littering.
A clean parking lot encourages ethical behavior. It shows clients that someone is paying attention to the property. If the parking lot is neat and pristine, people are less likely to leave trash there.
Minimize pollution.
Trash that is left lying around gets washed away by the rain. This waste ends up polluting our drinking water as well as lakes, rivers, wetlands, and all their inhabitants.
Regular parking lot cleaning can prevent hazardous chemicals, metal particles, and other harmful debris from damaging local waterways.
Going green also makes a brand more appealing. This is why many companies have adopted eco-friendly policies that promote a healthy environment.
Save money on long-term repairs.
Without regular sweeping or power washing, your parking lot is susceptible to pavement deterioration. This shortens the lifespan of your structure and increases the cost of repairs.
You can save thousands of dollars spent on service if you invest in routine parking lot cleaning. According to the NAPSA, frequent power sweeping can extend the life of your seal coat and striping by 30%.
Regular sweeping can make porous asphalt surfaces last longer. Remove dirt and debris from the driveway and parking load to reduce blockage in the drainage system.
Limit erosion and wear and tear.
Over time, friction from incoming and outgoing vehicles can impact the structural integrity of your parking area. Asphalt can quickly deteriorate where there are puddles and standing water.
If you keep the pavement clean and dry, your parking space can sustain a disproportionate amount of wear and tear.
Extend the lifespan of your parking space.
The ground surface may look indestructible, but asphalt can quickly turn into goo in extremely hot temperature. If you maintain your parking lot, you can extend the lifespan of the underlying material.
There is less damage to fix if you do not neglect your parking surfaces. Keep moisture out of asphalt grains and seal crevices properly.
Prevent additional costs.
Trash that is not carried away by rain will decompose and provide nutrients for unwanted plants. When foliage branches out, it can crack your asphalt and damage the entire parking lot. You can avoid the unnecessary cost of replacing the whole surface with regular parking lot cleaning
Keep pests away.
If you run a restaurant, you know how important it is to dispose of waste promptly. Food debris is an open invitation for pests to breed. They are not only unsanitary but pose a grave risk to your staff and customers as carriers of the disease.
Parking structures should be pest-free for many reasons:
- can cause damage by chewing holes and building nests
- are difficult to eliminate once you have an infestation
- scare customers away
- create health violations
Proper garbage disposal will limit the presence of rodents, stray cats, raccoons, and a host of annoying insects.
Prevent lawsuits.
Slips, trips, and falls can lead to expensive lawsuits. You do not want your customers getting hurt just because you failed to spot lying debris or puddles.
Parking lots with poor lighting are accidents waiting to happen. Trash buildup can cause vehicles to skid. Standing water is another hazard – both to cars and people.
Keep criminals away.
Dark parking spaces are attractive to criminals. This is where most shady transactions happen. Make sure your parking structure is well lit and adequately guarded, so your customers feel safe and secure.
Your exterior parking space should reflect how you conduct business on the inside. Call Prestige Property Services today for a free parking lot cleaning assessment.
