Do you feel that? That’s the weather slowly starting to break out of the winter rut. That means it’s time to get a good spring cleaning inside and outside of your business, store, or facility to welcome the sunshine and warm weather. This includes those Bollards & Bollard Covers you might have forgotten about that help protect and improve the look of your property.
While our bollard covers are “maintenance-free”, taking some time to clean up your bollard covers after a harsh winter or a visit from some pesky teenagers is essential. So, we’ve put together a quick guide to cleaning off those outside messes on your bollards with a few simple steps:
Weather Elements
After a harsh winter, who knows what may have made its way onto your bollard covers! Whether it’s snow, salt, mud, dirt, grass, or anything else mother nature can throw their way, sleeves can take on all elements. Luckily, the HDPE and LDPE plastic used in our products is easy to clean with some supplies you probably already have lying around.
Here’s what you’ll need: Bucket of warm, soapy water, rags, and a non-abrasive, all-purpose cleaner.
How to clean it:
-Use warm, soapy water and rags to wipe down the entire bollard cover. Make sure to have plenty of wet and dry rags here, especially if the plastic is covered in debris.
-Once the plastic is completely wiped down and the heavy debris is removed, use fresh rags to dry the plastic.
-Afterwards, use the non-abrasive, all-purpose cleaner to give the plastic another good cleaning. This should help remove any remaining debris and give the plastic a nice shine.
Permanent Marker
As a clean, solid surface, our bollard covers can be subject to graffiti. But luckily, there’s a simple way to remove the ink from the plastic surface.
Here’s what you’ll need: Bucket of warm soapy water, rags or paper towel, and a dry erase marker.
How to clean it:
-Use the dry erase marker to cover the graffiti completely. Ensure every part of the permanent ink is covered in the dry erase ink (do not let sit for too long).
-Grab a dry rag or paper towel and wipe off the ink once it’s covered. This may take a little elbow grease, but the ink should come off.
-Once the ink is gone, use the warm water and a damp rag to clean up the area.
-Repeat these steps until the ink is no longer visible.
Quick and easy way to clean off permanent marker.
Stickers
We all know that bollard covers are a favorite for people with stickers looking to either deface the bumper post or use it to advertise. But, with some everyday household products, any sticker should be able to come off with a little work.
Here’s what you’ll need: Bucket of warm, soapy water, rags, a small plastic or metal razor blade, and lacquer thinner (like Goo Gone).
How to clean it:
-Use the warm water and rag to soak the sticker(s).
-Once soaked, use the razor blade or another thin, flat item to scrape off the sticker. Be careful not to scratch the plastic while doing this.
-There may be leftover residue from the sticker. If that is the case, use the lacquer thinner to coat the remaining residue from the sticker.
-After it sits for the recommended amount of time, use either the blade or a rag to remove the remains.
-Once the sticker is completely removed, use warm, soapy water to wipe down the area.
And just like that, you’ve got a bollard cover that looks good as new!
Rusting, Chipping, and Peeling
From rusting steel to chipping and peeling paint, it’s no secret that steel will start to breakdown when left outside without any protection. Whether that’s galvanization or a bollard cover, bollards need some help to continue looking good.
There are two ways to go about improving the look of your bollards:
1. Take the time to treat the steel bollard. Rust will take plenty of time to remove and clean off the steel with different treatments and concoctions. The same can be said for scrapping off chipping or peeling paint from the steel bollard for a fresh coat. Either option could take a maintenance-team longer to complete than installing a brand new bollard altogether.
2. Stop dealing with rusting and paint issues. Call Ideal Shield and order bollard covers today. We have options for any sized bollard and can meet any color or branding needs. This will save your team tons of time and will ensure your bollards look good for years to come.
As the experts in the industry, we wanted to help out. So, be sure to use these helpful pointers to ensure that your bollards and bollard covers remain looking new and continue to provide an aesthetic appeal to your property this season!
Too much debris or damage to be saved? Contact us today at Ideal Shield for more information on all of our available bollards, bollard covers and other facility-guarding products.