A SPECIALIST cleaning company operating in the Furness and South Lakes area has been making a name for itself as a cost-effective alternative service.

South Lakes SoftWash (SLSW) is a family run company that specialises in cleaning the outside of buildings.

Founded by Guy Russell, from Kendal, five years ago with his son and wife they have been meeting a service demand that has seen a boom in popularity during the Covid lockdown.

SLSW operates out of Kendal but finds the majority of its business in the Furness area.

Guy said: “We cover all of Cumbria, particularly the Furness area, the South Lakes and Carlisle. All over really.

“I started the business five years ago and we are experts in cleaning. Specifically render cleaning which focuses on the outside of buildings that are plastered.

“We began due to the demand that we found in the county.

“We used to do pressure washes but then people began asking for us to clean the outside of buildings.

“When we got more of these, we decided to get some specialist equipment that heats the water to 150 degrees.

“We just cleaned a pub outside Ulverston, and another in Rampside near Barrow.

“We do a lot of pubs.

“What we have noticed is that most people don’t realise you can do this. A lot of places call us and ask if we can paint the outside of their buildings because the colour has changed which is mostly caused by mould and the elements.

“But if you just paint over them the stuff underneath will inevitably come through.

“However, after we clean it the stuff goes completely, and the building will look brand new. It will look as if it has been repainted. We did that with the Miners Arms earlier this week.

“I employ my son Sam, and my wife works in the office and arranges out appointments and keeps the books.

“We’ve been really busy during lockdown. We’re got lots of bookings right through to June. As people aren’t going on holiday, they are looking at how they can change their homes and that’s where we come in.

“We’re a cost-effective specialist service that offers something that most people may not have known was an option for them.

“Recently someone graffitied the Alfred Wainwright memorial plaque. We saw that on Facebook, so we just got our gear together, went out and cleaned it.

“To be personally honest I thought the nomination was an April Fool at first.”