Keeping Your ATV Clean With Pressure Washing

When you're staring at the shiny model on the showroom floor, it's hard to imagine how dirty your new ATV will get. Taking it off-road will be big fun, but the cleanup job afterward-not so much. Using a pressure washer to clean your ATV is the best way to restore it to its showroom shine after a day out. Before you try to clean it, however, it's best to take the right steps to do the job effectively. Here at Specialty Recreation and Marine in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, we love ATV's and we especially love helping our customers in Spokane, Washington, find the one of their dreams. 

Tips for Pressure Washing Your ATV

1. Pre-soak your vehicle: If your ATV is covered in mud, the mud has likely caked on in layers and won't wash off easily in a car wash. You will need to loosen the mud to make it easy to spray off. Saturate all of the dirt and let it soak first. Using your pressure washer's fan spray tip, spray off all of the dry dirt, usually the first layer. This will loosen the dirt and make it easier for you to clean in the next step. 

2. Spray it thoroughly: Now that you have soaked off the thickest layer of dirt and mud, you can start spraying off the looser dirt underneath. Using the 25-degree spray tip, spray the entire vehicle from top to bottom. Spray every area of the ATV, walking around the vehicle to ensure that you get all of the dirt from every angle. Spray in the cracks and corners, paying special attention to the underside, bars and wheels. 

3. Use detergent: Use a little detergent to get the vehicle extra clean. You can choose to get a pressure washer brush attachment that will rotate and polish off every surface of the ATV. You can also use automotive detergent and a foamer to later the vehicle and get it as clean as possible. If necessary, you can use a degreaser to release tough stains and grease. After adding your detergent, spray down again with clear water to rinse off your vehicle. 

4. Towel dry and shine: Using a towel, hand dry your vehicle, paying close attention to hidden areas. Don't allow it to air dry as this can mean water spots form on your ATV. Using an air compressor will allow you to dry the hard-to-reach areas that can cause rust.

At Specialty Recreation and Marine in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, we serve customers in Spokane, Washington, and we can help you get into the ATV or other vehicle of your dreams. Stop in to our showroom for a test drive today.