Cleaning carwash interior

JBurd

JBurd

New member
I'll be doing some site visits to clean the interior of a few car washes soon. Some are touchless some are not. Does anyone have any tips on special chems or techniques to clean the floor, walls and equipment?

Thanks.
 
HF is the ticket. I have tried the Phosphoric car wash cleaners, but if you want to get it done, HF.
 
HF on everything? I'm assuming you want to avoid any windows with it. Is the HF to cut through the basic soap scum on everything? Any special precautions on equipment. Saying just use HF without details can be dangerous for people reading this thread.
 
Kris, HF refers to Hydrofluoric Acid, usually a main ingredient in aluminum brighteners. It's very dangerous in concentrated forms, but, on certain things, nothing else will clean like it.
 
JBurd said:
HF on everything? I'm assuming you want to avoid any windows with it. Is the HF to cut through the basic soap scum on everything? Any special precautions on equipment. Saying just use HF without details can be dangerous for people reading this thread.
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I try and avoid the door openers and have had issues with streaks right below tips/nozzles. I think they were brass. I mix it hot enough to get clean with two applications typically and neutralize with truck wash soap before rinsing. Keep doors open for ventilation and yea I put it on glass
 
Car washes can take a beating with chemicals. Usually the damages that are in them are caused by high humidity and the abrasion from sand/gravel flying around. Yes to HF on everything. I usually do it in one shot then neutralize with truck wash soap. The average one will take me 45 mins if done monthly.
 
Great job on the carwash Mike, especially the glass.

How long for a carwash that has not ever cleaned it, we have some of those here but when I give them the price, they decide to not clean it. My price is not that expensive.
 
Christopher said:
Great job on the carwash Mike, especially the glass.

How long for a carwash that has not ever cleaned it, we have some of those here but when I give them the price, they decide to not clean it. My price is not that expensive.
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It depends on hows long they are and what they have for equipment. MOst of the ones around here are about 50-60 feet. I've done them where they can take a couple hours.
 
I've been doing a few carwashes lately, I use a mix of HF and Sulfuric Acid (branded aluminum cleaner) The ones I've been doing haven't been cleaned in years, it usually takes a few rounds of chems/turbo tip for me to get them clean. I apply chems to glass windows and scrub those. Been using a Chapin Sprayer for application. Definitely wear a mask, especially when spraying because it turns everything into fine particles and is easily inhaled.
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Don't be suprised if you see some bad or failing painted surfaces if it is old. That is why strong chems are a must so you can hit those areas lightly with the pressure and not blow all the paint off.
 
We cleaned one of them yesterday, and the results were good...eventually. We used GSR on the walls and Nu-Wall on the aluminum. It took forever so I think I want to get some HF for the next ones. What concentration and application method do I use with HF?
 
How good was the nu-wall product?

Did it clean good? In a reasonable amount of time?

There is a self-wash car wash here with brick walls that was painted about 17 years ago and the paint is still in good shape, they just want the dark gray/brown soap/wax scum off the walls so they can re-paint.
 
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