NEWS & PR

Cleaning Specialists Complete Mount Rushmore Project Successfully

07 March 2006

Kärcher - world leader in domestic and commercial cleaning equipment and the company behind the high-pressure cleaner and many other cleaning innovations - has just successfully completed yet another mammoth international cleaning project, restoring to full glory the Presidents’ heads etched into the side of Mount Rushmore, USA.

Kärcher worked very closely with the National Park Service (NPS) and its rangers on the project and following its successful completion, have since announced a long-term commitment to take on the preservation of this famous monument in the future, carrying out regular inspections and cleaning operations in collaboration with the NPS.

UK Managing Director, Simon Keeping, explains: “The Mount Rushmore project ran according to plan: Five diesel-powered Kärcher HDS 1000 DE hot-water pressure washers, through which about 7,000 litres of water were pumped every day, performed without a hitch over the whole period.

“They were lifted by helicopter and placed immediately behind the heads at the beginning of the project and were exposed to the elements for four weeks. As expected, the aim of the cleaning project – to remove layers of dirt that could damage the rock without detrimentally affecting the surface of the sculpture, was accomplished on time.

“There was also an extra bonus from the results: the heads have actually been visibly lightened by the high-pressure wash, with pure boiling water, and now stand out more from their natural background, to the delight of the park authorities and thousands of tourists who come to see them.”

The specialist team at Kärcher works closely with local experts on cleaning projects around the globe. Similarly, challenging projects have included the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Christ figure in Rio de Janeiro, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Colonnades in Rome, to name but a few.

Simon adds: “With all these projects, we simply aim to put something back into the community in which they are based, by doing what we do best – using our specialist cleaning know-how to restore, preserve and maintain our great international heritage.”

“Naturally, we are well versed in how to look after old and precious stonework and our cleaning team always work very closely with the local experts to make sure everything is handled carefully and sympathetically.”

“Many of these sites are run on tight budgets or charity status so the offer of free, specialist cleaning, by experts, appeals to them. We hope to complete similar projects in the future and are now currently investigating possibilities within the UK.”