Jack Cockerham, Transport & Logistics KAM at Kärcher UK, explains why boosting the washing efficiency of commercial vehicles is good business all round.
It is vital for commercial vehicles to be regularly cleaned in order to lengthen their service life, as well as reducing the likelihood of damages and the need of repair. It is also important because a dirty commercial vehicle can impact the reputation of the brand or business, creating an image that is not a true reflection of company values.
Implementing new cleaning standards is essential so that cleaning techniques can be improved. Cleaning vehicle workshops can also reduce turnaround times, ensuring vehicles can get back on the road at a faster rate.
The pressure’s on
Large vehicles such as HGVs may look extremely durable and tough, but the paintwork can often be easy to chip. To prevent this, a hot water pressure washer should be used to as it allows contactless cleaning and avoids scratching the vehicle, whilst still cleaning the vehicle to an exceptional standard.
Furthermore, the hot water helps to reduce the amount of time spent on cleaning as the high temperature dissolves the grease and oil left on the vehicle, resulting in a more successful clean. Additionally, productivity is boosted as the need for manual cleaning is eradicated, in order to remove any unwanted surface material that may remain when using cold-water.
For optimum effectiveness, hot water pressure washers should be used at a 25° angle to continuously maintain a spray distance. To ensure a high standard of cleanliness over the entire vehicle, work from the front across one side of the vehicle and to the back before going over to the other side to start again.
These days high-pressure washers have very high levels of performance, reliability, and economy. Many have innovative features such as an eco-efficiency mode, offering water savings of up to 20% without compromising cleaning performance. In the eco setting the unit operates in the most economical temperature range (60°C) with full water flow, meaning that the speed of the cleaning is much faster.
At Karcher we’ve gone a step further by making the pressure washer easier to use for extended periods. Our EASY!Force high-pressure guns have been designed to use the pressure of the water to push the trigger into the palm. By removing the requirement to hold down a trigger, users can safely clean multiple vehicles without the risk of hand and finger strain or injury.
Top agents
After the vehicle has been washed down to loosen any residual dirt, effective cleaning agents such as Karcher’s VehiclePro Foam Cleaner RM 828, can be applied to help remove stubborn oil and grease stains, insect residues and road dirt. The cleaning product removes persistent stains whilst still being gentle on the paintwork ensuring it is not chipped in the process.
A foam cleaning agent can be applied using a foam nozzle accessory that can be added to the pressure washer. As the pressurised water passes through the trigger gun, it draws the detergent up from the foam nozzle and mixes it with the water where it is then sprayed.
The RM 801 alloy cleaner could also be used to wash all coated alloys and steel rims. Gentle action effectively removes the most stubborn dirt, such as road dust, baked-on brake dust, tyre dust and deposits of winter salt. RM 821 wax detergent can be used at the end of the clean. This liquid spray wax gives vehicles a brilliant shine and long-term protection. Unaffected by water quality, it provides a spotless finish without blow drying.
It is important to apply the cleaning agent across the vehicle evenly, working from one side of the to the other to ensuring an even spread. Once the cleaning agent has been applied for its acting time, it must then be rinsed off using the hot water pressure washer for an effective clean.
In summary
Vehicle washing is a key part of overall maintenance but one that is often overlooked or neglected. It helps protect the image of the brand and its reputation, as well as the condition of the vehicle. Utilising hot water pressure washers and effective cleaning agents is a great way to increase productivity and efficiency when it comes to vehicle cleaning. This means that wasted time is prevented and allows vehicles to get back on the road quickly.
