Preservation Points

PRESERVATION POINT: Historic Spring Cleaning Pointers

It's spring cleaning season, and the temptation to powerwash your historic property is as high as the pollen count. Everyone likes that just-washed look, but is it causing more harm than good? Probably.

Historic properties have stood the test of time through all kinds of weather, but power washing isn't a regular rain storm - it's high-pressured water that can seep into nooks and crannies that aren't meant to have water in them at all.

Also, pressure washing can peel off paint, loosen old stone and woodwork, and, worst case scenario, damage the infrastructure of your property. The water gets into cracks and crevices, causing mold and mildew to bloom, which can add to long-term damage.

Plus, if you only use water, you are just rinsing the building without cleaning anything. The cleaning solution we recommend is D/2 Biological Solution. It is a biodegradable liquid that removes stains from mold, algae, mildew, lichens, and air pollutants. It is effective on marble, granite, limestone, brownstone, travertine, masonry, terra cotta, concrete, stucco, wood, and other architectural surfaces, including monuments, sculptures, and headstones. It is recommended to be applied, softly scrubbed, and then rinsed off.

If you are determined to pressure wash your historic property, it is advised that you use the lowest setting possible with the broadest nozzle - you don't want to have one-point pressure.

If all of this seems too much, just take a broom and sweep off the sides of your buildings. You will see improvement without any residual damage.

Preservation Point is a new feature of Main Street Eureka Springs, where we share some of the information we have gleaned over the years through our connection to preservation organizations and leaders in the country. Main Street Eureka Springs has its roots deeply planted in the preservation movement and sees the historic built environment as the community's richest asset to build economic development opportunities in conjunction with the natural landscape of the Ozarks. We are working in collaboration with the Historic District Commission of Eureka Springs to develop these educational focus points.