Gum Shadows Removal Pressure washing

I tell my customers routine maintenance and sunlight so I can sell them on a monthly service agreement.

I've also heard safe restore will lighten the shadowing also but I prefer my approach better.
 
"No, sorry"

funny answer, but true. The gum shadow is the holy grail of pressure washing. Clean often enough. Does sugar or sugar free make a difference? 15(!) years ago there was a guy here in town, a veteran at the time, who was telling me about the 'sugar mark' and how other guys weren't getting it, and he did. I think a gum eating enzyme or bacteria.
 
The best method short of chemicals is Heat clean then come back again next month and give it another Hot bath. Do this over and over on a maintenance program and along with some Sun they will stay light and may even get a little lighter. Basically they need a monthly or Bi monthly program at best to tackle this job to the best it can be...short of chemicals.
 
Thats true - they will come out the next time its power washed.
 
Gum shadows can be a problem of not removing completely the gum spot. But when it is like a print and there is no gum product left, most of the time it is a chemical reaction with acids (mostly) from the chewing gum and the cement. Basically you cannot remove this; the cement is colored by the acid in the gum. In most cases surfaces won't give this problem but sometimes it is a real problem. We have divided a concrete tile where it was really bad. The mark went down 3 mm!
 
Interesting GumKing. I have noticed some gum leaves no shadow and is why I was wondering about sugar vs sugar free gum. Can we see your rig again?
 
Wow, I would have never thought that about the 3 mm. That's good information to give the customer.

Is there any data saying how long it takes before the gum causes a permanent stain? That might be a little incentive towards regular maintenance.
 
Gumking said:
Gum shadows can be a problem of not removing completely the gum spot. But when it is like a print and there is no gum product left, most of the time it is a chemical reaction with acids (mostly) from the chewing gum and the cement. Basically you cannot remove this; the cement is colored by the acid in the gum. In most cases surfaces won't give this problem but sometimes it is a real problem. We have divided a concrete tile where it was really bad. The mark went down 3 mm!
Click to expand...

Can you post some pictures of the gum stain that went down 3mm? That would be very cool to see!

The picture in your avatar, is that your rig? Can you post pictures of that? Not too many rigs with that much chrome and red, that is cool!
 
Low pressure steam, with a 25 degree tip. Removes (melts away) all the gum and gum residue. More times that not, it will leave a shadow, but with the solutions we use on concrete, these stains usually fade away during our next service. The low pressure steam method takes longer that when some splash & dash "contractor" uses high pressure, 15 degree or the unthinkable 0 degree tip,standing directly over the gum and literally digging a divot in the cream of the concrete, leaving irreversible damage to the customers property. Best way to lose your clientele, and possibly your insurance coverage.

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Jim Cooney said:
Low pressure steam, with a 25 degree tip. Removes (melts away) all the gum and gum residue. More times that not, it will leave a shadow, but with the solutions we use on concrete, these stains usually fade away during our next service. The low pressure steam method takes longer that when some splash & dash "contractor" uses high pressure, 15 degree or the unthinkable 0 degree tip,standing directly over the gum and literally digging a divot in the cream of the concrete, leaving irreversible damage to the customers property. Best way to lose your clientele, and possibly your insurance coverage.

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Click to expand...


Jim I agree about everything except the going away part. Some may fade and go away but others will be there for years to come.

Please dont be offended by the remarks I make. Because of my efforts in the vary market you work in the sale is easier to sell them on regular maint as prevention of damage do to not cleaning regular.

I have found no legal chemicals that will remove the stain in long term bubble gum stains.

Someone mentioned the Acid from the gum is doing the damage. Wrong its the saliva from your mouth eating the concrete slightly causing the shadow. Its also in most case not reversable. The factor is how long the gum has been there. The variables of the lenght time and the acid will factor this.

Your correct in all other things you said in the above posts.

About 50% of the propertys we service are damaged by some idiot with a wand with no pressure adjusting. Blasting gum up and damaging the sidewalks do none of any good.
 
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