Our Story

Established in 2006 by Arthur and Maggie Major, GearClean, Inc. is an independently owned corporation headquartered in Winchester, VA.  The company originally had its roots in the cleaning of sports equipment and gear utilizing the patented and innovative Esporta Wash Systems.  Each Esporta Wash System is capable of holding over 100 pounds of gear and cleans the contents in a gentle yet effective manner with various recipes and detergents.  The cleaning of sports equipment then evolved into the cleaning of soft contents (clothing, blankets, bedding, etc…) that were contaminated from water leaks, sewage backups and smoke/soot.  GearClean soon began cleaning turnout gear for fire fighters and first responders as well as horse blankets and accessories.  The Esporta system has proven and highly effective cleaning recipes and protocols that remove 99.9% of bacterial and other cancer causing agents from the gear.  GearClean then hired trained and certified personnel to begin making repairs to the fire fighter gear and equestrian blankets which the company continues to be engaged in to this day.

In 2008, GearClean entered into the fields of water and sewer backup mitigation, storm cleanup, mold remediation, fire restoration, asbestos and remodeling working with residential, commercial and industrial clients as well as all insurance carriers.

Later in 2009, GearClean acquired and began utilizing a new and advanced cleaning system that utilized dry ice in machines which could clean soot, char, petroleum based substances, baked on food residue and many other substances adhered to various mediums.  These sophisticated machines use a rice-size dry ice and hyper accelerate them out of various types of nozzles depending on the product being cleaned.  Upon impact, the dry ice evaporates and the only substance that remains and falls to the ground is that which is being removed.  No chemicals are needed and there is minimal, if any, impact to the surrounding area often allowing other work or occupancy to continue with minimal or no interruption.

In 2010 when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico creating the worst man made environmental disaster in US history, GearClean mobilized to the Gulf for cleanup efforts.   Up until this point, conventional decontamination utilized solvents, hot high pressure water blasting and manual cleaning which required a secondary waste cleanup so as to not introduce more toxins into the environment.  Utilizing state of the art dry ice cleaning equipment which uses controlled compressed air to accelerate reclaimed CO2 in the form of dry ice pellets, GearClean went to work.  Under the guidance of BP and the US Coast Guard, 35 of these powerful machines were utilized across 24 vessel decontamination stations along approximately 200 miles of coast from Gulfport, MS to Port St. Joe, FL.  Over 300 GearClean team members worked 24/7 to  clean over 1,000 vessels, which helped to eliminate an estimated 3 million gallons of hazardous waste which would have been created as a result of utilizing traditional cleaning methods and chemicals.

In August of 2021, the company was purchased by brothers Richie and Brandon Pifer of the Pifer Companies, a second-generation family owned group of businesses in real estate, property management and construction/remodeling.  New management was hired and key team members were retained to revamp, reengage and further develop the company.  Additional team members were hired and trained to create a highly professional and skilled team able to better provide a variety of mitigation, remediation and specialized cleaning services.  The company became licensed to perform that work in West Virginia increasing its reach from Virginia itself.

When disaster strikes and the demand for immediate clean-up follows, GearClean deploys advanced technologies and trained technicians to deliver efficient, effective and environmentally friendly solutions to its clients.

We are GearClean.  Here for you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your water, fire and storm emergencies.  You can count on us to help you at your home or business at the time when you need it the most.