How to Clean Heavy Equipment

Large equipment gets covered in dirt and debris.

Heavy equipment is used in a variety of jobs that range from construction to farm work. The equipment gets covered in dirt, oil, debris and other items that get in the way during the work. Keeping the mess on the equipment will make the equipment less effective over time. Cleaning the equipment is a simple process, and it allows the equipment to work for a longer time.

Things You'll Need

• Pressure washer
• Water
• Cleaning solution

Instructions

1. Read the guidelines for the specific pressure washer. Every pressure washer is different in its use and design. Guidelines will give directions for how the specific pressure washer is put together. The elements that the washer needs are a cleaning solution and a water source. The washer will provide the pressure. Some washers are a hot-pressure washer that uses hot water, while others use cold water. According to Ultimate Washer, a cold pressure washer should use stronger cleaning solutions to make up for the lack of heat.

2. Attach a nozzle. A pressure washer comes with a few different choices. A nozzle that fans out the water and chemical is best for heavy equipment because it cleans a larger surface area at one time.

3. Add cleaning solution. Cleaning solution is usually added with an injector or similar item, though exact methods of adding solution will differ by each pressure washer model and type.

4. Check the attachments. The nozzle should be as tight as possible to prevent accidents.

5. Turn on the pressure washer and make a few passes over the ground. This is a test for pressure. When you are sure that it is working properly, start working on the equipment. Stand about four feet from the equipment and spray from that distance. Gradually move forward until the dirt and grime from the equipment are coming off easily. Work from the top of the equipment down to the ground to get the best results. Clean the entire piece of equipment, but be careful not to spray items such as windows or the inside of the equipment.

6. Allow the chemical to sit for about five minutes. Rinse using the pressure washer and plain water. Remove the chemical injector to remove the added cleaning solution.

References

• Hotsy: Pressure Washer
• Chemetall: Heavy Equipment Cleaning Chemicals
• Ultimate Washer: How to Use Pressure Washer