Have you ever finished your seasonal spray on the farm, only to later discover that your next clean is taking way longer and leaving residue behind? It’s not just you. Farm equipment and trucks that regularly drive in farming and rural areas don’t often think about the residue lurking in the air and on the roads.
It might look like regular dirt buildup, but it might actually be pesticide or herbicide stuck on your equipment and vehicles. Over time, we’ve seen them continually build up, making it more difficult to keep clean and use, and could even cause corrosion or rust, paint damage, fire hazard risks, and shorten the lifespan of your hardware. The worst part?
Often, these chemicals don’t just come off with your everyday soap and hot water.
Chemical residue left on the surface of the vehicle or equipment could create problems for the equipment itself and potentially products you’re transporting inside. If ignored, there’s a chance you’ll end up with more time stuck fixing issues instead of producing, losing money, and potentially new business when you can’t get it to work.
Some research shows that companies could lose around $1,000 per day the vehicle is in for repairs. That adds up quickly! Don’t forget about possible cross-contamination possibilities.
This becomes a specific concern for farm equipment that is using these chemicals daily and/or heavily throughout the season. They can cause buildup that is a pain to remove in detailed parts like hoses and nozzles used for spraying.
Why Regular Washing Isn’t Enough
Pesticides and herbicides create problems for your fleet that often go unnoticed until it’s too late. Corrosion of metal parts is only the beginning. Pieces of plastic can also start to degrade when these chemicals are left sitting on their surface or within intricate parts for too long.
For example, when grain dust combines with this chemical residue, it poses a new fire hazard that becomes an instant worry.
The normal wear and tear your fleet and equipment face gets drastically sped up when these residues are left to sit on and in the vehicle. With farming equipment, there is an added risk of exposure to the driver who has to sit inside a chemically charged machine every day.
You do not want to be responsible for putting your employees under unnecessary risk daily. Special detergents and optimal temperatures are key to starting the breakdown of these products.
Standard truck washes might not have the power to remove these stubborn, stuck-on chemicals. Here are the four main reasons:
- Pesticides are designed specifically to stick to plants, even in the rain.
- Herbicides, insecticides, and other pest control chemicals can resist everyday soaps.
- The longer they stay on your truck, the harder they are to remove as they create a sticky film.
- Regular pressure washing can actually spread the sticky chemicals around the equipment without removing them.
One customer who finally switched to using the right soap products said, “Our trucks are noticeably cleaner with minimal effort on our part”. This is exactly what we mean when we say the soap should do the heavy lifting for you.
4 Steps for More Protection
Here are our simple reminders to better protect your fleet and equipment:
Know Your Risk
Vehicles and equipment that have the daily task of spreading chemicals during spray season should be a top priority. This equipment has the added burden of pesticides inside the vehicle's compartments and hoses, not just on the outside. That could put them at high risk, potentially requiring a detailed cleaning.
If you’re using farming equipment with pesticides or herbicides daily, you have to consider the increased risk of personal chemical exposure. There may also be an increased risk of fire hazards due to dust and grain, which might combine with these strong chemicals. Nobody wants to get the call about an emergency involving a vehicle malfunction or personnel harm caused by unclean equipment.
Create a Cleaning Schedule
Wash your high-risk vehicles more often during chemical spray season for farms. High-risk means any rig that is using chemicals daily within and on the outside. This season is often Spring-Fall as crops are being planted, maintained, and harvested.
- Clean more frequently during spray season
- Don’t let chemicals sit on the surface for days
- Plan your deep clean post-spray season before winter hits
Use the Right Products
Sometimes, a standard truck soap just won’t cut it for this level of clean. You need detergents that work well, specifically when applied for agricultural chemical removal.
Apply Correctly
One of the most important steps to consider is proper application.
- Use an air compressor or leaf blower to remove any dry materials before washing
- Pre-rinse your vehicle with warm water, using something like a fire-hose.
- Apply your soap with the recommended dilution
- Let the product go to work for the recommended time
- Rinse thoroughly, paying close attention to grooves, joints, wheels, undercarriages, and intricate parts
There are many more specific cleaning procedures you should follow when cleaning the actual farming spray equipment in detail. Things like flushing out hoses, performing your first rinse in the field to avoid spread, and removing all caps are good to keep in mind.
The Change Can Start Now
Proper removal of pesticide and herbicide chemicals does more for you than a simple clean. You extend the life of your machinery, reduce extra maintenance costs, and keep your business looking professional.
Remember these simple steps as we enter the height of spray season:
- Review your stock to identify high-risk vehicles and equipment
- Perform an inspection for any previous exposure evidence (dull finishes, deterioration of parts)
- Upgrade your cleaning supplies to products that can remove agricultural film
- Train your team on proper application and care
With over 50 years of experience, we know what works best for chemical removal. Every fleet is different, and so are your requirements for cleanliness. We’d be happy to put together a specific plan for your wants and needs to protect your equipment from chemical damage.
