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Sidewalk cleaning

Sidewalk cleaning and power washing

In New York, the sidewalk in front of a property is the owner's job, including 18 inches into the street. Sweeping handles the litter; grease, gum, spills and ground-in dirt need water and pressure. Purple Window Cleaning pressure washes sidewalks, walkways and building entrances and removes stains for storefronts, restaurants, apartment buildings and homes across the five boroughs, within the hours and months the City allows for washing sidewalks.

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What the City expects from property owners

According to NYC311, property owners must clean the sidewalks next to their property and 18 inches from the curb into the street. The Department of Sanitation inspects sidewalks at set times, which depend on the type of property:

  • Residential properties: violations can be issued from 8 to 9 a.m. and from 6 to 7 p.m., seven days a week.
  • Commercial properties: two one-hour periods a day, set by the Sanitation section the address is in. When a business is closed, it still has to arrange for the area to be maintained.
  • Mixed-use properties: the timing follows the use of the ground floor. If the ground-floor business is operating, commercial times apply.

Sweeping takes care of daily litter. Washing removes what a broom can't: stains, grease and the grime that builds up over months.

Purple Window Cleaning technician on a ladder cleaning the glass entry door of a Manhattan brownstone

When sidewalks can be washed

The Department of Environmental Protection limits washing sidewalks with City water (15 RCNY § 20-08):

  • Sidewalks may not be flushed between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
  • Flushing sidewalks with a hose or piping is not allowed from November 1 through the end of March.
  • The City can suspend sidewalk flushing altogether, for example during a drought, through public advisories.

In practice, that makes sidewalk washing an April-to-October job, done early in the morning or in the evening. NYC311 takes complaints about sidewalk washing outside the permitted hours, and we schedule within them.

What we clean

  • Sidewalks in front of storefronts, restaurants, apartment buildings and homes
  • Walkways on the property
  • Building entrances
  • Stains: grease, gum, spills and ground-in dirt

Some stains come out completely; old, deep ones sometimes only lighten. We'll tell you what to expect when we see the sidewalk.

Illustration: Pressure washing a concrete driveway in front of a Brooklyn townhouseIllustration

Restaurants, storefronts and buildings

  • Restaurants and food businesses. Grease and spills around the entrance build up fastest. Washing before opening keeps the front presentable.
  • Storefronts. Sidewalk washing pairs naturally with storefront window cleaning; see commercial window cleaning.
  • Apartment buildings. Supers and managers can put the sidewalk on a schedule for the season; see programs for property managers.
  • Homes. The front walk, the entrance and the sidewalk outside a house or brownstone. For stoops and facades, see facade cleaning.

One-time or on a schedule

Book a single wash, for example to start the season, or make sidewalk cleaning part of a recurring exterior maintenance program between April and October. A regular schedule keeps the stains from building up in the first place, which matters most in front of restaurants and busy entrances.

Purple Window Cleaning technician cleaning a residential patio door, seen from inside through the wet glass

How pricing works

Sidewalk cleaning is quoted per property after a free estimate, based on the size of the area, its condition and stains, access, and how often you'd like it done. You get a straightforward quote with no hidden charges.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Tell us about the property: the address, the length of sidewalk, the entrances and walkways, and the stains that bother you.

  2. Step 2

    We reply within two hours. If we need to see the sidewalk first, we book a free estimate visit.

  3. Step 3

    We pick a time outside the restricted hours, early morning or evening, between April and October.

  4. Step 4

    The sidewalk is washed, and the next visit goes on the calendar if you choose a schedule.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who is responsible for cleaning the sidewalk in New York City?

The property owner. Owners must clean the sidewalk next to their property and 18 inches from the curb into the street.

Can you wash our sidewalk in winter?

No. City rules don't allow flushing sidewalks with a hose from November 1 through the end of March, so sidewalk washing is scheduled between April and October.

What time of day do you wash sidewalks?

Outside the 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. window, when flushing is prohibited: usually early in the morning or in the evening.

Can you remove gum and grease?

Gum, grease and spills are typical sidewalk stains, and pressure washing removes most of them. Old, deep stains sometimes only lighten; we'll tell you what to expect at the estimate.

Can sidewalk cleaning be recurring?

Yes. It can be part of a recurring exterior maintenance program for the season.

Related

Related services

Illustration: Pressure washing a concrete driveway in front of a Brooklyn townhouseIllustration

Power washing

Pressure washing for facades, sidewalks and building exteriors.

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