While it’s inevitable that your heavy equipment will accumulate dirt, mud, and other grime at the job site, it’s essential that you have a proper heavy equipment cleaning routine in place in order to keep your equipment running at its best. Dirty equipment doesn’t just look bad, it can also affect the efficiency and life span of your heavy equipment. Therefore, keeping it clean should be considered an important part of equipment maintenance.
In today’s blog post from Wagner Used Equipment, we are going to discuss a few tips on cleaning your used heavy equipment. Read on to learn more and if you’re looking for a used heavy equipment dealer in Colorado, New Mexico, and Far West Texas, Wagner Used Equipment carries a wide selection of used CAT machines, genuine CAT parts, and more. Check out our selection and contact your local used heavy equipment dealer today.
Protect Yourself With the Right Safety Gear
Cleaning your used heavy equipment is essential to getting the most out of your investment. However, cleaning heavy equipment, such as an excavator or bulldozer, can be dangerous if the right safety gear isn’t used. Before you begin cleaning your heavy equipment, make sure you invest in proper safety gear, including:
- Footwear: Make sure your footwear is non-slip and has toe protection.
- Coveralls: Insulated coveralls will help to ensure you’re protected from any debris or hot water.
- Face and eye protection: You want to use the proper face and eye protection while cleaning heavy equipment to prevent burns or contamination.
- Gloves: Protect your hands by wearing gloves that are made to stand up to heavy-duty work.
Invest in a Pressure Washer & Water Cannon
Just as having the right safety gear is important for cleaning your used heavy equipment, so is having the right tools for the job. While pressure washers and water cannons may be similar, there are some differences that make them both equally important for the job.
Water cannons are perfect for spraying large areas with water. They have a wider hose than a pressure washer but they do not produce as much water pressure. Pressure washers have smaller spray nozzles with more pressure, making them ideal for smaller areas that have hard-to-remove grime. Overall, it’s best to begin with spraying your used heavy equipment with a water cannon and then use the pressure washer on the areas that need a more detailed and thorough cleaning.
Clean the Exterior & Interior
So far we’ve only discussed cleaning the exterior of your used heavy equipment. While this is essential for the longevity of your used heavy equipment, it is just as important to clean the interior. A clean interior provides a better and safer environment for your employees.
When cleaning the interior, you’ll want to tackle this similarly to how you would clean your car interior, but remember to keep your safety protection gear on. Remove the mats, vacuum away the dirt and debris, clean the windows, dashboard, and other interior surfaces, and disinfect any high-touch areas like door handles and joysticks. Keeping this area clean makes it easier for your employees to work efficiently and safely.
The Benefits of Cleaning Heavy Equipment
Keeping your used heavy equipment clean comes with a number of benefits, including:
- Ensures your equipment is working at 100 percent: Your used heavy equipment can’t work properly if there’s dirt and grime causing mechanical issues. Keeping your equipment clean helps to keep it working properly.
- Keeps your equipment looking good: Your equipment showing up to a job site is one of the first impressions your clients have of you and your company. Having clean equipment makes sure it’s a good one.
- Helps your employees be more productive: If your employees are constantly having to stop to clean out debris or fumbling over trash in the cab, they are less likely to get the job done properly or on time.
- Increases employee safety: Mechanical issues as well as physical hazards can all be a safety risk to your employees. Keeping your used heavy equipment clean can help to remove hazards and keep your employees safe.
Find Used Heavy Equipment at Wagner Used Equipment
At Wagner Used Equipment, we sell used heavy equipment at locations throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and Far West Texas. From used CAT machines and attachments to used ag equipment and trucks and trailers, we have the used heavy equipment you need. We’ve been providing exceptional service and high-quality heavy equipment since 1976. If you’re looking for reliable used heavy equipment to fit into your budget, contact Wagner Used Equipment today.