Pressure washing guide
How to clean fleet vehicles properly
A clean fleet is a business asset. Dirty, grimy vehicles damage your brand image, accelerate surface corrosion and reduce driver visibility. Here is how to clean commercial vehicles correctly and keep them looking professional on London roads.
Fleet vehicles face a level of contamination that standard car washing cannot address. London roads expose vans, trucks and commercial vehicles to heavy traffic film, diesel soot, brake dust, road salt, oil residue and airborne pollution particles that bond to painted surfaces and build up into layers of ingrained grime. Left untreated, these deposits corrode paint and metal, dull branded livery and tell customers and clients a great deal about how a business operates before a single word is spoken.
Weekly
minimum cleaning frequency for high-use fleet vehicles to prevent traffic film bonding to surfaces
TFR
Traffic Film Remover is the essential product for breaking down diesel soot and road film that water alone cannot lift
3 to 5 min
dwell time needed for TFR to work effectively before rinsing. Do not let it dry on the surface.
Why a regular car wash is not enough for commercial vehicles
Standard car wash facilities are designed for passenger vehicles with relatively light soiling. Commercial vehicles in London accumulate traffic film — a combination of diesel exhaust particles, road oils, rubber deposits and airborne pollution — at a significantly higher rate. This film bonds to the surface and requires a specialist alkaline Traffic Film Remover to break down before pressure washing. Without this pre-treatment stage, high-pressure water alone will shift surface dirt but leave the underlying film intact, producing a result that deteriorates within days.
The correct processHow to clean fleet vehicles properly: the correct process
1. Pre-rinse with high pressure
Start with a thorough high-pressure rinse to remove loose mud, debris and surface grime. Work from the roof down and include the undercarriage, wheel arches and lower panels where road contamination is heaviest.
2. Apply Traffic Film Remover
Apply TFR from the bottom of the vehicle upwards using a foam lance for even coverage. This ensures the chemical reaches all surfaces and dwell time is consistent. Allow 3 to 5 minutes for the product to break down the film. Do not allow it to dry on the surface.
3. Pressure rinse from top to bottom
Use warm water at high pressure to rinse the TFR and dissolved film from the vehicle. Work top to bottom in vertical sections. Maintain the nozzle within 45 cm of the surface at a 15 to 45-degree spray angle.
4. Target problem areas
Wheels, wheel arches, sills and cab steps collect the most contamination. These areas benefit from a second application of TFR or a dedicated wheel cleaner. Brake dust and road salt are highly corrosive if left on metal wheel surfaces.
5. Final rinse and inspection
Complete with a final clean water rinse to remove any remaining product residue. Inspect for missed areas and any bodywork damage identified during cleaning. A clean vehicle is also easier to inspect.
How often should fleet vehicles be cleaned?
The right frequency depends on vehicle use and the type of work the vehicle does. For London-based fleets operating in heavy urban traffic, the following schedule is generally recommended.
Fleet cleaning London
Mobile fleet cleaning across London
Cloud Nine provides professional mobile fleet cleaning for vans, trucks and commercial vehicles across London. We use the correct TFR pre-treatment and commercial-grade equipment to deliver a thorough, lasting clean. One-off and scheduled contracts available.
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Everything you need to know about pressure washing for London homes and businesses, from surface types to costs and what to expect from a professional clean.
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