Pressure washing guide
How to wash a truck with a pressure washer
Trucks accumulate road film, diesel soot and heavy contamination that a standard car wash cannot touch. A commercial pressure washer with the right pre-treatment delivers a fast, thorough result that reflects well on any business. Here is the correct process.
Trucks are exposed to some of the harshest contamination on London roads. Diesel exhaust soot, road film from heavy traffic, tar, industrial fallout and brake dust accumulate rapidly on larger vehicles and bond to surfaces more aggressively than on lighter vehicles. Standard car washing products and technique are not sufficient for a truck. The correct process uses Traffic Film Remover as a pre-treatment to break down contamination before pressure washing, producing a result that reflects well on the business using the vehicle.
TFR
Traffic Film Remover is the essential pre-treatment for trucks — water pressure alone cannot remove bonded diesel soot and road film
Bottom to top
always apply TFR from bottom to top of the truck so the foam contacts all surfaces evenly as it runs down
Top to bottom
always rinse from top to bottom in vertical sections to prevent dirty water running back over cleaned panels
How to wash a truck with a pressure washer
Step 1: High-pressure pre-rinse
Start with a full high-pressure rinse from the roof and cab downwards to shift loose mud, debris and surface grime. Pay particular attention to wheel arches, the undercarriage, sills and lower panels where road contamination is heaviest.
Step 2: Apply TFR from bottom to top
Using a foam lance, apply TFR from the bottom of the truck upwards. This ensures even coverage as the foam runs down. Work in vertical sections of 8 to 10 feet. Allow 3 to 5 minutes dwell time. Do not allow the product to dry on the surface.
Step 3: Rinse from top to bottom in vertical sections
Rinse with warm water at high pressure, working from the highest point downwards in vertical sections. Maintain the nozzle within 45 cm of the surface at a spray angle of 15 to 45 degrees. Work front to back across the vehicle.
Step 4: Target wheels, wheel arches and cab steps
Give a second pass or additional TFR application to wheels, wheel arches and cab steps where brake dust, road salt and concentrated grime accumulate. These areas are the most corrosive if left unclean.
Step 5: Final clean water rinse and inspection
Complete with a final clean water rinse to remove all TFR residue. Check the entire vehicle from a distance for missed areas or streaking and re-rinse as needed. Note any bodywork damage identified during the clean.
What you need to wash a truck properly
A domestic pressure washer is not sufficient for cleaning a truck thoroughly. Commercial vehicles require a machine with adequate flow rate as well as pressure, ideally with hot water capability for cutting through diesel soot. A foam lance or low-pressure applicator for TFR application, a telescopic lance for reaching the roof and upper cab without a ladder, and a good-quality TFR concentrate are the essential components of a professional truck wash setup.
Professional vehicle washing London
Truck and HGV washing across London by Cloud Nine
Cloud Nine provides professional truck and HGV washing across London and the South East using commercial-grade equipment including hot water capability and TFR pre-treatment. One-off and scheduled contract washing available. Contact us for a free quote.
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