How to give your machine a thorough wash without damaging it

Getting a good, thorough wash on your machinery is key to keeping it running well and avoiding costly damage. Dirt, grime, and other build-up can lead to corrosion and breakdowns, so a regular clean is a smart bit of maintenance.

Here’s a simple guide to washing your machine without causing damage.

The Right Way to Wash Your Gear

First up, you need the right setup. The Trime Wash Bay is a good option because it's a self-contained system that recycles water, so you’re not wasting resources or creating a mess on your site.
Drive On: Start by driving your machine onto the wash bay’s anti-slip ramps. If you’ve got a bigger machine, you can add extra ramps to suit your needs.
Wash It Down: Use your water blaster or steam cleaner to wash down the machine. The wash bay’s high walls help to keep overspray contained.
Water is Collected: The wash bay’s modular floor plan directs the water and solids into a collection tank.
Filtration and Reuse: The water goes through a series of filters that remove contaminants like oils and dirt. The system even uses light chlorination to ensure the water is clean. A booster pump then sends the clean, recycled water back to your pressure washer. This closed-loop system means you can wash without worrying about runoff.

Key things to keep in mind

When washing down machines, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you aren’t damaging delicate components.

Generally speaking, things like exterior paneling can look dirty even after you have water blasted it, as water temporarily disguises the mud marks. When washing these parts, ensure you are systematically going over the whole area as it’s easy to miss a spot. Using a Water blaster or pressure washer that can have detergent added to it is a helpful tool to help scrub off those dirty marks and get your machine looking sparkling.
Using a water blaster or high-pressure washer? Ensure you keep away from the smaller componentry such as engines, or wiring. High pressure waterflow can wear these components down or even break them.
Protect the engine: Engines are not made to be soaked or blasted with water. Water damage can easily and quickly make a engine no longer fit for use. They are an expensive part of a machine so ensure you keep the water away from the engine area as much as possible.
Focus on the high-impact areas: things like giving the seat a quick wipe or wiping down the controls help give the impression that a machine has had a thorough and professional clean. Ensuring things like major exterior paneling and tyres are sparkling also helps the machine look great.
Using a machine in close proximity to the beach or coastline?The sea breeze or sand can carries salt which is potentially damaging to your machine. Ensure you wash machines and paneling thoroughly to prevent rust and other damage.

Benefits of Using a Trime Wash Bay

100% Recycled Water: The closed-loop system filters and reuses water, which cuts down on consumption.
Cost Efficient: Regular cleaning helps to prevent damage from dirt and debris, reducing the chance of breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Environmentally Sound: The wash bay captures and treats wastewater, helping you meet environmental regulations and avoid fines.
Easy to Use: The simple design makes it easy to set up, take down, and move around.
Self-Contained: It keeps all the dirty water in one place, stopping oil, grease, and other contaminants from polluting the ground or drains.
Adjustable: You can add extra walls to minimise overspray or more ramps to accommodate different sized machines.

A clean machine is a healthy machine. By using the right tools and process, you’re not only protecting your equipment but also doing your bit for the environment. Getting a good clean sorted is just another part of looking after your gear.