Vehicle fleets can be found across a wide swath of industries. Whether you run a service-based business like plumbing, HVAC, or electrical work or maintain a fleet as part of your logistics and shipping operations, you’ll need to know how to keep your vehicles clean.

Fleet pressure washing is the most consistently reliable way to clean your vehicles, from trucks to vans. Pressure washing fleet trucks, vans, or cars will help you easily eradicate debris and grime, allowing you to display a positive and pristine image for your brand.

We’ll cover everything you need to know about fleet pressure washing, so let’s jump in!

The Importance of Keeping Your Fleet Clean

Whether you perform regular fleet pressure washing or manually upkeep your vehicles, keeping everything clean is crucial to the success of your business. Regular cleaning will promote a positive image for your brand, extend the lifespan of your vehicles, and ensure you provide a safer working experience for your staff.

Enhancing Brand Image Through Cleanliness

Your vehicle fleet isn’t just a reliable way to get from point A to point B. Your vehicles also serve as mobile billboards for your brand.

Regularly pressure washing fleet trucks, cars, or vans will project an air of prestige, attention to detail, and reliability to everyone who comes across your vehicles.

Even if you primarily use your vehicles in-house, regular fleet pressure washing ensures that you always put your best foot forward as a business.

Extending Vehicle Lifespan and Reducing Maintenance Costs

Fleet pressure washing also plays a crucial role in the upkeep of your vehicles. Through consistent upkeep, you can eliminate corrosive debris like road salts, oil, and grease, reducing the risk of rust and damage.

This upkeep helps both externally and internally. The internal mechanical components of your vehicles will wear down if they are subjected to excessive amounts of dirt and grime, which will cause increased repair costs down the road.

By preemptively using fleet pressure washing, you can keep your vehicles in peak condition for far longer and avoid costly repairs down the road.

Improving Safety and Compliance with Regulations

Washing your vehicle fleet is also integral to providing a safe, regulation-compliant work environment for your staff.

A clean vehicle free of debris or dirt will maximize visibility while driving and improve the effectiveness of lighting and signaling systems. Maintaining a vehicle to this level of cleanliness also helps keep your business compliant with industry regulations, which can save you from spending money on fines.

Cleanliness is paramount for managing vehicles, but why is fleet pressure washing the best option?

Why Pressure Washing Fleet Trucks is the Best Way to Maintain Your Vehicles

Pressure washing provides the perfect blend of speed and power, making it the best choice for vehicle upkeep. You can eradicate difficult stains in the blink of an eye, and power washing processes are simple to learn and teach to your staff.

Effectiveness of Pressure Washing Against Tough Grime and Contaminants

If you constantly find embedded stains and grime on your vehicle fleet, your best bet for removing them is through pressure washing. Thanks to the high-pressure water streams produced by each machine, you can easily penetrate tough substances and wash them away.

A pressure washer is the most effective solution for removing caked-on mud from the undercarriage or wheels and pollen and dirt from exterior surfaces.

Time-Saving Benefits Compared to Traditional Cleaning Methods

The best commercial pressure washers offer significantly faster cleaning than manual methods. The high-powered water streams can cover large surface areas in seconds.

Many businesses employ less effective methods, like manual scrubbing or using an external vehicle wash service.

However, manual scrubbing can take hours and requires your staff to crawl under the undercarriage of each vehicle. Conversely, outsourcing your vehicle fleet cleaning often requires you to drive each vehicle to an external location and will punch a massive hole in your budget.

Overall, pressure washing is the best option for managing the cleaning needs of a vehicle fleet. Let’s discuss the equipment you will need for the job.

Sourcing Equipment for Regular Fleet Pressure Washing

So, what do you need to start pressure washing?

First, you must buy or rent a pressure washer capable of handling the job. As there are many types of power washers out there, you’ll need to research thoroughly to ensure the machine you purchase is powerful enough to handle the job without going overboard.

On top of your machine, you’ll also want to figure out what kind of soaps for a pressure washer will work best. Many pressure washing detergents are specifically formulated for vehicle cleaning to ensure a shiny finish without damaging the underlying surface.

Finally, you can speed up cleaning even further by investing in quality accessories to quickly cover every area of your vehicle.

Pressure Washer Requirements for Fleet Cleaning

When selecting a pressure washing for cleaning a vehicle fleet, there are a few factors to consider.

Power Source: You must choose between electric or gas pressure washers. Electric models are quieter and eco-friendly but are less maneuverable and less powerful. Gas models offer more mobility but are less safe to use indoors.
Temperature: You will have a close decision between hot water pressure washers vs cold water models. Hot water machines are better at removing grease and oil stains from vehicle undercarriages but are more expensive. On the other hand, cold water models are safer for use on vehicle exteriors but less powerful for tough stains.
Water Pressure: Often denoted as the PSI for a pressure washer, you must keep an eye on this critical setting. Lower PSI ratings in the range of 1000-2000 are your best bet for vehicle exteriors, as higher forces can damage the underlying surfaces. However, if you are cleaning oil stains or managing a fleet of maritime vehicles, look for 3000+.
Water Volume: The parallel of PSI is pressure washer GPM, which stands for gallons per minute. Small vehicles can be cleaned with just 1 to 2 GPM, while heavy-duty vehicles like semi-trucks require much higher values, up to 6 GPM.

Overall, the settings you choose for your machine will vary depending on your exact cleaning needs. A few small compact cars can be cleaned with a low PSI & GPM cold water model while managing a fleet of semi-trucks will require extra power to clean effectively. Be sure to consult with an experienced retailer for specific advice on the best machine for your business.

Supporting Your Efforts With Detergents and Accessories

Beyond the machine you use, you’ll also need to lock down the best detergents for a pressure washer.

You will need something safe enough to use on vehicle exteriors and undercarriages, which are often a mix of metals like steel and aluminum. We wholeheartedly recommend Hotsy Transport, specifically blended for use on vehicle exteriors to deliver a pristine shine.

Alternatively, in most cases, an all-purpose detergent like Hotsy Breakthrough will still be safe for use on vehicle exteriors. It could be a wise investment if you have other cleaning projects to manage.

In addition to soaps, you also want to consider your accessories. The best pressure washer accessories for vehicle cleaning will allow you to reach the undercarriages without getting on the ground yourself or covering the top of hard-to-reach surfaces like the tops of semi-trucks.

For example, the Hotsy Foam Cannon creates a foamy blend with your soap to allow you to cover large vertical surfaces like vehicle exteriors quickly. You can pair the Foam Cannon with the Hotsy Undercarriage Cleaner, which has a pivoting wand to reach under vehicles without breaking a sweat!

Finally, don’t forget your safety equipment, like safety goggles, gloves, and pressure washing boots. These critical pieces of apparel will help you promote safe work practices to your staff.

Now that your shopping list is complete, all that is left is to find out where to find commercial pressure washer rentals or sales in your area! If you’re looking for an industrial hot water pressure washer in Houston, we have just the place in mind…

Why Hotsy of Houston is Texas’ Trusted Choice

The #1 home for industrial pressure washers in Houston, Southeast Texas, and throughout the Lone Star State is here at Hotsy of Houston.

Our team of Houston natives has over a century of combined experience in the pressure washing industry, and we are honored to be an authorized Hotsy dealer. Hotsy is the most trusted name in the world of power washing, with over 50 years of history delivering high-quality products and friendly customer support.

Whether you need an industrial pressure washer trailer or want to rent an industrial cold water pressure washer in Houston, we’ve got you covered. We are a strategic partner for your business, as we will listen to your story and business needs to recommend the perfect machine, pressure washer detergent, and accessories for the job.

We are Southeast Texas’ #1 home for industrial pressure washer repair, including Hotsy warranty servicing to keep your machine in peak condition. If you are looking for pressure washer parts in Houston, we’ve also got your back, from the best pressure washer hoses to helpful Hotsy accessories like the Foam Cannon to streamline your cleaning.

How to Actually Go About Pressure Washing Fleet Trucks

Now that you know where to find the best selection of power washing equipment, let’s teach you how to use a pressure washer for cleaning vehicles.

Pre-Cleaning Procedures

Before you spray the first ounce of water, you’ll need to prepare a few things. You’ll want to place your vehicle fleet in an open area free of obstacles and large debris. From there, you will apply a pre treatment for pressure washing, which includes detergent, to loosen and dissolve any stubborn embedded stains.

The Pressure Washing Process

Even though you may have multiple vehicles to clean at a time, you want to approach the washing process carefully to ensure every vehicle receives proper cleaning.

Start with your foam cannon attachment, applying foamy detergent from the top downwards. You can use sweeping motions as you move from vehicle to vehicle, allowing the detergent to cover the entire surface area.

After covering the exteriors, switch to your undercarriage cleaner attachment. You will then use the same detergent to tackle these hard-to-reach areas. We recommend increasing the PSI and GPM slightly, especially if caked-on oil or grease stains are left on the undercarriage.

Post-Wash Procedures

Once your vehicles are fully saturated, you can start the post-wash process. You will rinse the vehicles with water. If you notice any still dirty or uncovered areas, start the process again in those specific spots.

Drying and Final Inspection

After rinsing, you’ll begin drying your vehicles. While you can air dry your vehicles, we recommend going over the area with microfiber towels where feasible to maximize the final result.

Be sure to look over the final result and spot clean as necessary.

Maintenance Post-Cleaning

Your vehicles are now sparkling clean and dirt-free. Storing a pressure washer is a simple process, but one that is crucial to ensuring the success of future cleaning tasks. Be sure to remove your fuel tank or unplug your washer depending on your power source, clear the machine of water, and store your machine, accessories, and soaps in a cool and dry place.

You can also check out our in-depth guide on how to maintain a pressure washer for more information on the process.

Closing Thoughts on Fleet Pressure Washing

Fleet pressure washing is the most effective way to keep your vehicles in peak condition. Unlike manual cleaning methods or outsourcing vehicle cleaning, a pressure washer will give you a speedy clean in just minutes.

If you enjoyed our guide on pressure washing fleet trucks, check out our blog! Our recent articles include pressure washing licenses in Texas, pressure washer hose length, what size pressure washer do I need, commercial building pressure washing, parking lot pressure washing, pressure washer rental costs, and restaurant pressure washing.

Otherwise, if you’re ready to invest in a power washer for cleaning your vehicles or for any other reason, Hotsy of Houston is here to help. Whether you want to know how to use pressure washer soap or need assistance with pressure washing trailer setup, our friendly team has your back.

Call us at (832) 968-WASH(9274) or stop by our Pasadena store to get started!

Fleet Pressure Washing: Efficiently Cleaning Trucks, Vans, and Other Vehicles