Farms and farmers are the heartbeat of our country. Without their crops, livestock, products, labor, and equipment, society would crumble. And we're not exaggerating. Recent biosecurity cases caused large-scale shutdowns, layoffs, culls, and inflated food costs across the continent.
To avoid these issues, farmers must protect their tools, equipment, and livestock. The best way to do it? Keep your farm equipment, tools, fleet vehicles, and structures clean.
But cleaning farm equipment is no easy task. That's why enlisted the help of some of the industry's leading experts. We compiled their feedback in this guide. We hope it will help farmers, dealerships, and mobile cleaning businesses clean their equipment better and faster.
What equipment do you wash?
There is a range of heavy machinery, farm implements, and other vehicles associated with agriculture. This includes:
- Combines
- Tractors
- Manure spreaders
- Seeders
- Plows
- Hay balers
- Sprayers
- Loaders
Not to mention fleet vehicles such as semi-trucks and pickups. And a variety of trailers like:
- Hopper bottoms
- Grain haulers
- End dumps
- Flat beds
- Livestock carriers
You should also be cleaning farm structures regularly. These can include barns, grain bins, silos, conveyors, and mechanical shops. Livestock areas such as dairy parlors, hen houses, hog barns, slaughterhouses, and others must also be cleaned, sanitized, and maintained.
But what exactly are you cleaning?
Any type of residue from the variety of crops that the farm is dealing with. This includes corn stalks, hay, seed husks, grain, chaff, dust, mud, and manure. There is also film and debris on the equipment caused by pesticides, fertilizers, oils, fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluid, exhaust, and DEF.
It is important to wash all this debris from the equipment, and from within panels and compartments, to prevent deterioration and reduce risks of fire.
Because farm implements are regularly kept in the fields, they are left exposed to the sun, wind, and other natural elements. All of this leads to paint oxidation, rust, corrosion, and other imperfections.
What are the biggest takeaways?
Water volume is more favorable than water pressure for cleaning farm equipment. Pressure washers between 4-5.5 GPM is preferable. Higher volume 8 GPM pressure washers are also used. But be mindful of water consumption and potential damage to sensors, engine, and other components.
When using a pressure washer, those interviewed suggested a max PSI of 1500-2000 PSI. Higher pressure levels can also cause damage as listed above, but also risks leaving streaks on the exterior surfaces or damaging paint/decals. Consider using different nozzles to adjust pressure and spray angles.
Hot water pressure washers are also recommended for greases, oils, and similar residue. However, high water temps above 140 degrees could inhibit chemical detergent performance. Cold water washers can work. But you may be sacrificing efficiency and chemical performance, especially in colder temperatures.
Basic wash equipment and chemical application systems for using detergents are a must. At the very least, you should be using low-pressure downstream injectors with soap nozzles as well as foam cannons and pump sprayers. We recommend 2-step systems to maximize efficiency, especially for larger pieces of equipment.
Other non-pressure washing-related tools and equipment that include:
- Air compressor(s) and/or leaf blowers for blowing off dust and residue.
- Ladders for tall surfaces.
- Lots of water storage or access to water (likely using 100s if not 1,000s of gallons).
- “Soft Wash Pumps” and low-pressure/high-volume systems for specialty detergents and/or flood rinsing.
- Generator and extra fuel to keep your equipment running for extended periods.
- Spot-free rinse water to reduce water spots and streaking.
- Soft bristle brush for difficult surfaces.
- Detailing supplies (glass cleaner, armor all, tire dressing, towels, spray wax, carpet extractor, buffing wheel, etc.) depending on the level of service provided.
The best types of chemical detergents
Every fleet washing operation needs a variety of chemical detergents. A high-pH detergent on its own can be very effective at neutralizing dirt, oils, grease, crop residue, and manure. While low pH detergents can be helpful to remove surface rust stains, mild paint oxidation, and mineral residue such as lime, hard water scale, and even gravel dust.
Farm equipment does not build the same level of static bond as fleet vehicles. When 2-stepping farm equipment, you will neutralize the static bond that exists while potentially brightening oxidized painted surfaces. When washing fleets and trucks associated with farming, you should use aggressive and polish-safe 2-step soap solutions. But please do not overdo it.
What cleaning processes, tips, and techniques do you recommend?
- When cleaning farm equipment, remove as much debris and residue as possible before pressure washing. Using compressed air or blowers to prep the equipment can save lots of time and water.
- When removing shields and panels, keep track of where they go. Take pictures or line them near where you will be washing the equipment. Don’t lose any of the pins or fasteners!
- Clean the equipment from the inside to the out and top to bottom. Clean interior panels and compartments first before cleaning the exterior. Be cautious with the pressure and water volume to avoid damaging electronic sensors, fiberglass panels, and painted surfaces.
- Clean in smaller sections. Pay close attention to the direction of the wind, sunlight, and shade. You can easily prevent detergents from drying too quickly or over-spraying dirty water onto cleaned areas.
- Brush flat surfaces to ensure complete removal of all residue. Because farm equipment is exposed to such a variety of elements, chemicals, soils, and crops, it can be more difficult to clean to a high standard compared to fleet vehicles.
- Clean out the cabs and wash the windows. This also allows you to get into the operator’s seat and double-check your work from the operator’s viewpoint to ensure no areas were missed.
Any other advice or suggestions?
If you are cleaning farm equipment for hire, seek out someone with experience to job shadow. If cleaning your own equipment, you may want to practice your technique on a smaller implement before tackling the larger pieces.
Regardless, you should also connect with a local pressure washer dealer or trusted national vendor (like Hydro-Chem Systems) to learn more about recommended detergents, wash equipment, service maintenance, cleaning supplies, and proven processes.
Allow lots of time to get the job done and be prepared for anything. In some instances, it could take upwards of 6–8 hours or even days to clean larger implements and heavily soiled machinery.
Whether you’re washing for hire or cleaning yourself, treat the equipment as if it was your own. We’ve covered many of the types of farm equipment, vehicles, and structures that must be cleaned. So performing quality work with efficient processes allows you to get more done without sacrificing quality.
