It’s always been difficult to keep high surfaces clean, because roofs, high windows, solar panels, gutters, external cladding and walls are susceptible to grime, moss, algae and pollution. But you typically have to climb a ladder, hire a boom lift, or erect scaffolding to keep these areas tidy and safe. The advent of drone cleaning provides you with a safer, faster alternative which will see your technician working on the ground rather than at height.
What Is Drone Cleaning?
Drone cleaning uses a specifically modified aerial drone to blast the surface you want to clean with water, detergents, or a soft-wash treatment. The machine is controlled by an operator from a distance who flies the drone to the spot that needs cleaning, spraying water and/or detergent on the surface to rinse off any grime or cleaning product. Most of the systems used for cleaning with a drone require the attachment of a hose to either water or the cleaning liquid, and the technique you need depends on the type of surface you will be cleaning. You can have a rinse, soft wash or cleaning treatment. Therefore, if you have something difficult to access or something difficult to clean using traditional methods, companies like Spotless Drone Cleaning may be a viable option to you.
Although there is no replacement for a good old manual clean, drone cleaning can certainly be a cost-effective method of cleaning if the height and/or the size of the surface you want to clean makes it tricky, hard and dangerous for someone to access.
What Is the Benefit of Drone Cleaning?
The main advantage of using a drone for cleaning is the increased safety. Working at heights is always hazardous – you can read more at https://cdc.gov/niosh, and the higher you work, the more dangerous it can be to clean surfaces on roofs or high buildings. However, a drone can clean the elevated surface, while the operator works from the ground.
It also has fewer requirements for setting up equipment at the worksite than other equipment such as scaffolding or a boom lift which requires more time to set up and be present on the premises, while drone cleaning may be quicker and easier to arrange due to its smaller requirements of equipment and space at the premises. For residential or commercial properties, and for large structures or buildings that are difficult to reach, drone cleaning can be less disruptive to what you’re doing daily at your home or workplace as well as reducing the need for you to be able to access certain areas of your property and the height and surface areas can be quickly cleaned, rather than someone being forced to work at the surface, and at height.
What Surface Can Be Cleaned with a Drone?
If your surfaces are high and wide, delicate or difficult to clean, then drone cleaning can be very effective. This includes roof cleaning, solar panel cleaning, upper-level window cleaning, cladding cleaning, gutter cleaning, facade cleaning, warehouses, sheds and signs.
The most appropriate type of cleaning method for these surfaces varies depending on the surface material. For example, you may need a soft-wash treatment for roofs with moss or algae, but a metal-sided building might only require a controlled water rinse and the cleaning method that is recommended for your solar panels, which you can explore on this useful content, will likely differ from other roof cleaning because you want to avoid harming the surface and damaging them as any dirt left on your solar panels could cause a drop in efficiency.
The key to any effective cleaning is not just the equipment or spray method but in using the correct equipment (water/detergent/pressure) and the correct technique for each surface, in order to get a good clean.
Why a Good Clean is Important
Having your drone cleaning done will look a bit different to your exterior property and it is also useful for long term maintenance for a building. Your surfaces will look much cleaner, and dirt and growth can be a sign of neglect on your building and over time, they can also cause staining, damp or deterioration to the surface.
Safety and Planning for Drone Cleaning
- inspect the area and note any risks,
- select the most appropriate type of cleaning method,
- isolate the area and ensure that it is safe to work there,
- check the weather conditions and any weather alerts,
- and ensure that cleaning happens with a smooth, even spray pattern.
Cleaning is Easier with Drone Cleaning
Drone cleaning offers property owners and managers the option to maintain their surfaces and their buildings without relying as much on having scaffolding or boom lifts to do the same job. When used correctly, drone cleaning can increase safety, reduce disruption and ensure that your building’s roofs, walls, solar panels and windows are kept as clean as possible.
