I’m James Hebel, and I founded Seattle Surface Cleaners in 2017 because I saw something that bothered me about the commercial cleaning industry — too many companies cut corners, show up late, and treat clients like numbers. I wanted to build something different: a cleaning company that takes pride in every job, shows up when we say we will, and treats every building like it’s our own.
Our Story
Seattle Surface Cleaners started with a pressure washer, a truck, and a promise: deliver honest, thorough cleaning work for the businesses and property managers of Seattle. In the years since, that promise has turned into something much bigger.
What began as a one-person exterior cleaning operation has grown into a full-service commercial cleaning company serving hundreds of businesses across Seattle, Bellevue, and King County. We’ve expanded from pressure washing into janitorial services, office cleaning, graffiti removal, municipal cleaning, day porter services, and property management maintenance. Every new service we’ve added came from the same place — a client needed help, and we figured out how to do it right.
What We Do
Today, Seattle Surface Cleaners provides a complete range of commercial cleaning services:
Pressure Washing
Storefronts, sidewalks, parking structures, building exteriors
Janitorial & Office Cleaning
Daily, weekly, or custom schedules for offices, retail, and commercial spaces
Graffiti Removal
Fast response for graffiti on any surface, including anti-graffiti coatings
Municipal Cleaning
Partnering with cities and BIAs to keep public spaces clean
Day Porter Services
Dedicated on-site cleaning staff for properties that need daily attention
Property Management
Turnover cleaning, common area maintenance, and ongoing building care
OMWBE Certified
Seattle Surface Cleaners is certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE). This certification reflects our commitment to being a trusted, community-oriented business. For government agencies and organizations with diversity procurement goals, we’re a qualified partner that delivers professional results.
Community Partnerships
Our current contract locations include Chinatown, Broadway, 15th Ave E, Columbia City, West Seattle – Junction, and the Pike / Pine Corridor. We also service additional areas beyond these contract locations across the greater Seattle metro area.
We’re proud to partner with several of Seattle’s Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), including the Chinatown Business Improvement Area and other neighborhood organizations. These partnerships mean we’re on the ground every day keeping Seattle’s commercial districts clean, safe, and welcoming. When you walk through a cleaner block in Pioneer Square or the International District, there’s a good chance our team was there that morning.
Municipal Cleaning Services & BIA Partnerships
Seattle Surface Cleaners is proud to serve as a trusted cleaning partner for several of Seattle’s Business Improvement Areas (BIAs):
- Chinatown BIA — since 2018
- Columbia City BIA — since 2019
- Pike/Pine Corridor — since 2026
- 15th Ave E (Not corridor)
Pressure washing: The pricing for this service is already included in our rates, with a standard double-rate adder per service day for commercial district sidewalk cleaning, within reasonable scope. Seattle Surface Cleaners provides all required equipment, water supply, and containment systems as part of the service.
As Seen on KING 5 News
In 2024, KING 5 News featured Seattle Surface Cleaners in a segment about commercial cleaning and community beautification in Seattle. We’re grateful for the recognition — it’s a reminder that the work our team does every day makes a visible difference in our city.
Our Approach
Here’s what I believe: a clean building isn’t just about appearances. It’s about respect — for the people who work there, the customers who walk through the door, and the neighborhood that surrounds it. That’s why every member of our crew is trained not just in cleaning techniques, but in attention to detail and customer communication.
We show up on time. We do what we say we’re going to do. And if something isn’t right, we come back and make it right — no excuses.
W-2 Employees & Living Wages
All of our core crew members are W-2 employees earning living wages typically ranging from the upper $20s to the low $30s per hour, depending on role and experience. For municipal route work, we staff consistent in-house teams to ensure reliability, training continuity, and accountability.
We don’t use 1099 contractors or temp workers from staffing agencies. When you hire Seattle Surface Cleaners, you get a dedicated team of trained professionals who know your property, show up consistently, and take pride in their work.
Serving All of Seattle & King County
From Downtown Seattle to Bellevue, Ballard to Renton, Capitol Hill to Federal Way — our team serves businesses across the entire Puget Sound region. Whether you manage a single office or a portfolio of properties, we have the crew and equipment to keep everything spotless.
