Cleaning Downtown Flagstaff: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Winter Citywide Project.

Zach F.
Jan 20
3 min read

Five people sit on a stone wall at night, smiling in front of a brightly lit Christmas tree. Names: Matthew, Joseph, Zach, Ryan, Taryn. — The FSS Team!

Keeping downtown Flagstaff clean isn’t as simple as spraying down sidewalks with a hose — especially when the work has to be done overnight, in freezing temperatures, and across an entire historic district.

Recently, Flagstaff Surface Solutions completed one of our largest projects to date: a full downtown surface cleaning for the City of Flagstaff. This included pressure washing sidewalks, removing decades-old gum buildup, addressing high-traffic areas, and restoring concrete and pavers throughout the historic district.

Here’s what really went into the job.

Worker power-washing a brick sidewalk at night, under festive lights. Steam rises near a trash bin labeled "FLG Downtown Flagstaff." — An FSS Team member Blasting Gum in Heritage Square

The Scope: Cleaning Downtown Flagstaff

This wasn’t a one-night cleanup.

The project spanned multiple weeks, totaling roughly 10–11 active workdays, with crews rotating through nearly every block downtown. Our work included:

Sidewalk pressure washing
Paver and concrete surface cleaning
Gum removal in high-traffic areas
Dumpster pad cleaning
Light graffiti removal
Final post-treatment to brighten surfaces and kill organic growth

Because this was a city project, most of the work had to be completed during off-peak hours, typically between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM, to minimize disruption to businesses and pedestrians.

We had to rent this water truck!

Winter Pressure Washing Comes With Real Challenges

Cleaning in Flagstaff during winter adds an entirely different layer of difficulty.

Many nights, temperatures dropped below freezing. That meant:

Hoses freezing mid-job
Freshly rinsed areas icing over within minutes
Equipment fittings cracking overnight and leaking the next shift
Increased safety risks for both our crew and early-morning pedestrians

To prevent hazards, our team had to constantly manage water flow and runoff, ensuring sidewalks wouldn’t pool and refreeze into dangerous ice sheets by morning.

In some cases, we even rerouted exhaust heat from our trucks to keep hoses from freezing — a creative workaround that kept the job moving.

Gum Removal: The Hardest Part of the Entire Project

Street scene at night with a brick sidewalk, trash can labeled "LANDFILL," and a sign for Flagstaff, Arizona, Route 66. — Accumulated Gum around the Trash Can

Pressure washing downtown sidewalks revealed one major problem: gum.

Most gum buildup was concentrated around:

Trash cans
Bar fronts
Coffee shops
Popular corners and gathering spots

Some of it appeared to be decades old — hardened, layered, and resistant to standard heat-and-pressure methods.

At first, removing it required multiple crew members and still created excessive overspray. Efficiency dropped fast.

So, we adapted.

Inventing a Better Solution: The “Gum Blaster 9000”

Steam cleaning a concrete surface with a blue light illuminating the scene, creating a foggy atmosphere. No visible text. — The Gum Blaster 9000! - Patent Pending!

To solve the problem, our team designed a custom tool we jokingly named the Gum Blaster 9000.

The idea was simple but effective:

A funnel-shaped attachment placed directly over the gum
Contained overspray and focused heat and pressure
Allowed one technician to remove gum faster and cleaner

This tool became a game-changer, dramatically improving efficiency while keeping surrounding surfaces clean — proof that real-world problem-solving is often the most valuable tool on a job site.

Equipment, Maintenance, and Long Nights

A man in a cap and black hoodie works on a truck at night. He's smiling excitedly, with bright lights and machinery visible in the background. — Me Fixing the truck...AGAIN

On most nights, we ran:

3 pressure washers
1 soft wash system

Keeping everything operational in freezing conditions meant constant attention. Frozen fittings would thaw and leak. Fuel delivery issues popped up. Air would enter lines unexpectedly.

The routine became:

Wake up
Fix equipment
Work all night
Sleep a few hours
Repeat

It was demanding — but necessary to complete the job correctly and safely.

Why Downtown Cleaning Needs Ongoing Maintenance

A person cleans a wet sidewalk at night with a blue power washer. A lit lamp and stone building with "Joseph's Carpenter Shop" sign are in view. — Surface Cleaning in front of the Church on Cherry

No matter how thorough the cleaning, downtown environments change fast.

Between nightlife, foot traffic, spills, trash buildup, and weather, even freshly cleaned concrete can be affected overnight. That’s why projects like this work best when paired with regular maintenance schedules, rather than one-time cleanings.

Consistent service keeps surfaces brighter, safer, and easier to maintain over time — and prevents extreme buildup that requires more aggressive methods later.

Proud to Serve Flagstaff

This project was challenging, exhausting, and incredibly rewarding. Cleaning downtown Flagstaff wasn’t just about appearances — it was about safety, pride, and supporting a city we live and work in.

If you saw our crew working late nights or early mornings downtown, now you know what was happening behind the scenes.