Professional cleaning services advice for removing cobwebs in and around your office.
Cleaning Services Tips for Cobwebs
Cobwebs can be challenging to clean, especially for buildings with high ceilings or awning.
While no evidence directly points to spider webs as the cause of illness, they are home to spiders, which cause approximately seven deaths per year in the U.S.
With the exception of the days surrounding Halloween, cobwebs will leave your home or office with an unappealing appearance; costing a significant amount of money, as well as causing an unnecessary level of frustration.
Additionally, as benign as they may appear, spider webs represent a legitimate fire hazard.
Spiders, Street Appeal & Closing Kitchens
While cobwebs won't necessarily lower the value of your home or office building, they will delay the sale of the property due to a lack of street appeal no listing photographer can mask.
It has been estimated that spider webs when combined with other simple building maintenance tasks, can raise the resell value of a home by as much as $10,000.00.
Spider webs inside of a house or business are a reliable indicator of a poor cleaning history and will drive away prospective buyers.
Worse still are webs plaguing the corners of restaurants; leaving patrons wondering how clean the kitchen is.
County food safety and health reports abound of restaurant closings that list, among other items, an accumulation of cobwebs in areas where food is prepared as a justification.
Fire Hazards
Cobwebs attract more than just fly's, with older webs typically being covered in dust and other flammable material.
According to the National Ag Safety Database, spiderwebs are among the top electrical fire hazard risks, stating;
Potential electrical fire hazards are everywhere.
A build up of dust, trash and spider webs is an invitation for fire to start in the electrical system.
Good housekeeping greatly reduces the odds for a fire.
Spiders can get almost anywhere, and risk of fire associated with cobwebs are so severe that, in 2011, Mazda recalled two years of Mazda6's.
Mazda is recalling more than 50,000 sedans after finding that the car offers an alluring spot for spiders to spin their webs — and possibly cause fuel to leak.
The recall of Mazda 6 models from 2009 and 2010 was prompted by the discovery of a spider web in a vent connected to the fuel system.
The company says that without ventilation, excess pressure in the gas tank could create a leak, which then raises the risk of a fire.
Cleaning Tips
Fist, gather all of your tools
- Cobweb duster.
- Microfiber duster. This may be easier to use when wet, especially when cleaning walls. Check manufacturer instructions for proper use.
- Extension pole.
- Ladder.
- HEPA filtered vacuum, preferably with upholstery cleaning attachments.
- Microfiber broom and mop.
Start with the inside and clean from the top down.
- Use the cobweb duster or wet microfiber duster, combined with the extension pole and ladder as necessary to remove high or hard to reach webs.
- Remember to practice common sense ladder safety.
- Vacuum all upholstery, especially the backs and underneath where spiders are more likely to live, making sure to clean all surrounding carpets and rugs immediately after.
- Use a microfiber broom and mop to clean hard flooring, paying particular attention to corners, edges, and behind furniture and appliances.
Do it Yourself Solutions
Use our favorite, homemade green cleaning solution to clean walls, windows, and screens.
- 1/2 - Gallon hot water.
- 1/2 - Gallon white vinegar.
- 1 - Tablespoon baking soda.
For speckled ceilings, wrap duct tape face-up on a paint roller and gently roll across.
If you don't have access to a cobweb duster or microfiber tools, wrap an old sock or t-shirt around a broom.
Instead of wasting water in the drought by spraying off windows and screens, remove screens and soak in the green cleaning solution.
Use the same concoction to wipe down windows.
An Ounce of Prevention
The easiest way to clean spiderwebs is not to have to do it in the first place, which means keeping them away from, and outside of the building.
Some all natural repellents include:
- Peppermint
- White vinegar
- Citrus
- Cedar
- Chestnuts
Make sure to thoroughly clean around all doorways, vents, windows, and any other opening to the inside of the building.
Pay particular attention to debris, such as leaves, branches, rocks, and garbage where spiders like to hide.
References
- Injuries, Bites, Statistics and Comparisons!
- Selling Your Home
- How to Clean Cobwebs
- 3 Ways to Get Rid of Spider Webs
- 9 Natural Ways To Keep Spiders Out Of Your Home
Takeaway
Cobwebs are more than just an eyesore; they are a sign of dangerous insects, have the possibility to lessen the potential resell value of homes, constitute a significant fire hazard, and can result in the closing of certain types of businesses when allowed to accumulate.
Cleanup is relatively straightforward when adhered to on a regular basis, but a routine, whole-building cleaning plan is best.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of professional cleaning services for your business, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 395-3009
In Fresno CA, call (559) 473-1790
