Carwash Cleaning

Steven Button

Administrator
Hey guys

I've got a demo tomorrow for cleaning a multi-bay car wash. They have tiled walls and aluminum roofs, with a relatively thick buildup of what looks like dirt and dust hardened by wax, etc. on both surfaces. There are no calcium deposits. The residue comes off when scratched with a hard scraper - just appears as though it has hardened over time (3 years).

Was wondering if anyone had done this type of work before and/or if anyone know what detergents or cleaning compounds would make the process more efficient,

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and ideas.

:D
 
A good Butyl degreeser scrubbed in and let dwell should do the job. Then run a wide tip over it with real Hot water. When we use to do the Hess stations, we would do the Car Wash if they had one.
 
I know you said there are no calcium deposits, but make absolutely sure there are none anywhere in the area to be cleaned. This will make a huge difference in what is involved to clean it.
 
I have always had to use Hf or Phos phoric acid on a car wash walls, just to start to make a dent in them. I have had some that al of that would not even touch.
 
Steve, the car washes we do are the drive thru washes at Kangaroo stations. They have a luan/palstic type wall finish. The vineager helps with the built up wax removal. My Landa dealer suggested it to me years ago. We just downstream a gallon of straight vineagar on the walls and rinse after cleaning. The walls go from being slick to an almost dry feel.
 
Phosphoric acid based product. There are a couple...Revive and Kleen Wall are two I've used.

I've actually used the presoak that the bay dispenses as a 1st step and then hit it with the acid product and the dirt and soap scum (remember its a car wash) just oozes down the wall. Used my xjet to apply and rinse.


DO NOT FORGET TO WEAR YOUR PPE
respirator is an absolute must have, full face shield, and gloves.
 
Great info Gary, Thanks.

How have you been? Haven't seen you posting that much in a while.

What are you doing these days?

Hey, I love sharing what I've been taught. I posted an update of what I've been up to in another thread...hijacking is bad.


I posted some pictures over on TGS...I've been washing some car washes....

Those two products are manufactured with car washes in mind.
 
Is this automatically not a situation for caustic? It seems to work for almost everything.

What kind of grime needs acidic cleaners?
 
Is this automatically not a situation for caustic? It seems to work for almost everything.

What kind of grime needs acidic cleaners?

just done the demo... hydroxide based and butyl based cleaner never even touched this stuff. (will post pics once I get the file size down).

I will probably take a ribbing for this, but since I only got the call yesterday afternoon and didn't have time to get a decent acid based cleaner... I resorted to trying what I know and took a spot of CLR with me... It did the trick!!!!! (plus HOT water) (... and, no, I didn't spray it on with the CLR bottle and look like a hack (LOL:)) I put the CLR in another bottle and added detergent for cling).

However, I will be getting a commercial grade acid based cleaner this week - I landed the job... got 2 wash bays to do and to price a full set of 5 bays in another location... NICE!!
 
Great Steven, glad you found something that worked.

If you get the chance, check out what Gary posted above, it is very interesting and there are pics too.

I need to find out where they sell those chems to I can get some and go approach some of the local car washes.

Eventhough the stores only carry chems in small quantities, you can call the manufacturer and see about larger quantities and they will tell you if they sell them or who would carry them for contractors.

Good Luck, take pictures and post them.





__________________
Superior Power Washing<O:p</O:p
Chris Chappell<O:p</O:p
361-853-2513<O:p</O:p
Fleet Washing in Corpus Christi Texas<O:p</O:p
Exterior House Cleaning in Corpus Christi Texas<O:p</O:p
 
Back
Top