Summer's Gone But Flies Have Left Their Mark

An eco-friendly Bay of Plenty cleaning company is urging people to rid their ceilings of unsightly fly excrement as our long hot summer comes to an end – before it does any permanent damage to their home.

Spot Free owner Colin Dale says the mess left behind by flies during summer months is acidic and can burn through painted surfaces, leaving behind a mark that is extremely difficult to remove.

However, Dale has invented a unique range of environmentally-friendly tools which can remove fly marks, mould, grease and nicotine from ceilings and walls without using any harsh chemicals. Spot Free also uses ‘pure’ water to clean windows and exterior surfaces such as soffits, spouting, sidings and weatherboards.

“At this time of year there are tell-tale signs of flies dotted all over people’s ceilings but trying to rub them off can often make the problem worse,” Dale explains.

“Fly poo is acidic so when you rub vigorously with a harsh cleaner or textured cloth you will actually rub through the top layer of typical matte ceiling paint, leaving shiny rub marks in the surface which are particularly noticeable when the light hits it at low angles. This is infuriating for people who take pride in having a clean home.”

Painting over fly marks doesn’t solve the problem either as they often burn back through the new paint. “The average housefly poos every five minutes – they can literally distribute hundreds of fly spots all over your house in a single day.”

Dale made his first cleaner out of a coat hanger, duct tape and lengths of tube, and he has now created a customized steam ceiling cleaner that will tackle any job.

“Our cleaning device lets super-heated, de-ionized steam escape through tiny pinholes in the ceiling mop-head. The result is dirt simply melts. The dirt, grease, mould and fly spots are absorbed by the thick microfiber pad behind the jets without damaging your ceiling or dripping water onto your furnishings.”

The company’s window cleaning services are also in high demand at present, thanks to Spot Free’s eco-friendly, green approach to business.

Traditional window cleaning detergents leave behind a sticky soap residue which attracts fresh dirt. But Spot Free filters all traces of chemicals and minerals from the water before pumping it through high reach poles to a specially-designed brush head.

“If you wash windows with untreated tap water and leave them to dry, once the hydrogen and oxygen have evaporated, chemical and mineral residues are left on the glass leaving streaks and other watermarks. Our method ensures we leave nothing behind – except sparkling glass,” Colin says.

Pure water also helps protect delicate plants and animals, and Spot Free’s system eliminates the need for ladders and the hazards they pose around the home.

“The majority of window cleaners in New Zealand are still using detergents to clean windows, with a potential use of up to half a kilo of detergent in a day. Imagine all that detergent returning to the ground and polluting the water table! Pure water use is the only choice for those who genuinely care about our planet.”

About Spot Free
Spot Free began in the Bay of Plenty over six years ago. Colin Dale and his wife, Claire, previously lived in California where they have over 20 years experience of running companies.
In addition to ceiling, wall and window cleaning, Spot Free also offers complete exterior cleaning and end of tenancy cleans.
The couple plan to franchise their Spot Free system within the next few months.