The most simple guide to washing your fire apparatus

Firefighters rely on all sorts of equipment to ensure they can complete their jobs and save the lives of the people. Without this equipment, putting out fires would become increasingly challenging. The most significant piece of equipment that every fighter should maintain is the fire apparatus. Without this fine piece of machine, firefighters would not be able to get their jobs done quickly and efficiently. 

Making sure your fire apparatus is clean is critical for several reasons. First of all, your fire apparatus represents not only your fire department but the community as a whole. Secondly, the fire department spends millions of dollars on acquiring one of these fire apparatuses. They are an investment that needs to be washed, waxed, and classed as part of general preventative maintenance. 

Furthermore, making sure the fire truck is cleaned and polished regularly not only removes potentially harmful chemicals, dust, dirt, and smoke but also offers the opportunity to inspect for wear and tear from your fire truck. Mechanics also like clean trucks because they have an easier time performing maintenance and diagnosing any problems when there are not many layers of grime to clouding their site. 

Having your fire apparatus frequently cleaned makes it easier to check for any potential damages, which prevents corrosion from occurring and prolongs the life of your department’s hefty investment. Some fire departments do not have the luxury of having a full-time maintenance shop near them and have to instead send their fire truck for repair at a third-party fire apparatus repair facility. 

That is why it is crucial to ensure your fire apparatus is cleaned constantly. Doing so will prevent any costly repairs that need to be made to the fire truck. However, most people do not have the time to spend researching how to properly care for and clean these expensive yet crucial pieces of machinery. 

For this guide, we will go over what you need to know about washing your fire apparatus.

Wash from top to bottom

First of all, you should take a close look at the fire truck and map out where the various body panels and surfaces change. To ensure your washing process is efficient, go panel by panel. Rinse off your towel and accumulate more soup each time you transition into another section. Doing so ensures that you maintain the same soap application and lowers the amount of dust the towel gathers each time it is rinsed. 

Begin from the top of the fire truck and work your way down towards the wheel wells and wheels themselves. The majority of the dirt tends to accumulate near the lower parts of the fire apparatus. That method is used to prevent the chance of bringing that dirt up and spreading it all over the fire truck. 

Another great idea is to wash the fire truck’s wheel wells and wheels during a separate washing area. Since they are the dirtiest parts of the apparatus, it is better to limit the dust and grime to a single spot without contaminating the rest of the washing. Most firefighters agree that these are the best areas to wash last. 

If you are washing your fire apparatus during the wintertime and your area experiences snow during those times, then you are most likely deicing your fire apparatus regularly. Cleaning your fire truck immediately after exposure to deicing agents is highly recommended. While exposing your fire truck to salt does not straightaway cause it to rust, once the chemical process of corrosion has begun, it does not halt until the chemicals have been properly cleaned away. 

On a final note, you should never forget about cleaning the undercarriage of your fire truck. The undercarriage can be a bit challenging to deal with but highly necessary to maintain peak performance on your apparatus. It’s especially vital to ensure this part remains clean since debris, road salt, and dirt tend to accumulate in the nooks and crannies of the undercarriage. Even performing a simple water rinse on the undercarriage would help prolong any potential issues from arising. 

To ensure you are appropriately cleaning the fire apparatus undercarriage and frame rails, you need to move underneath the truck. Fortunately, there are tools available that make it easy to look at the underside of your fire truck. Search for chassis, underbody, or undercarriage flush tools and use them frequently to remove salt and other chloride agents. Combine a solution of warm water with detergent to remove every bit of deicing agent entirely. 

Some fire departments have installed underbody flush stalls in their fire stations to speed up the cleaning for the undercarriage. While installing one of these may not be possible for every fire department, your local fire truck dealer could possibly help out with this process. Some dealer service centers have an offering for underbody flush units. Others sell under truck rinsers that fire departments can use to wash the undercarriage of their fire truck.

Cleaning equipment

Every fire department will have its own set of cleaning equipment that is used to keep the fire apparatus clean from dirt and grime. Some places tend to use mops and wash buckets with industrial car wash and wax liquids to clean their fire apparatus. Others may use towels and powdered soap solutions with buckets of water to clean the fire truck.

Some of the equipment you are using will most likely not be best suited for cleaning your fire apparatus. The quality of some of the cleaning solutions you are using could be subpar. They could potentially cause damage to your fire truck instead of keeping them clean from harmful stuff. Keep in mind that most firefighters need to clean the fire truck quickly so they can prepare for any emergency calls that could happen early on, so taking their time isn’t possible.

The rough and fast way is usually taken when it comes to cleaning the fire truck. If the equipment used has harsh textile to the towel or mop, it could cause damage to the fire truck, such as scratching the paint. The issue here is that the terrible quality of cleaning equipment can cause damage to the apparatus. 

A truck brush can contain bristles that are made of synthetic material capable of picking up dirt particles from the truck’s surface, but using it causes scratches on the paint. Moreover, the buckets you use are collecting dirt on the bottom of the bucket. Whenever your brush is dunked back into the bucket, you are not entirely rinsing the dirt off the brush.

That same brush is most likely used to wash the entire apparatus, including the wheels that are covered in brake dust. Brake dust is known for being one of the worst contaminants for a soft brush. That is because it contains metallic particles that are deposited and dragged all over the sensitive paint surfaces. 

Here are some things you should consider when cleaning.

Two-bucket method

To wash your apparatus in the best possible manner, start using just two buckets. Fill the first bucket with soapy warm water and the second with just water to use for rinsing. 

Dip your towel or brush into the soapy bucket and make sure it is thoroughly covered. Once the area has been washed, if you require more soap, rinse your off in the second water bucket. After the towel has been thoroughly rinsed, wring it out carefully to ensure any excess water is removed and dip it back in the soapy water bucket. Continue repeating until you have finished soaping up your fire truck. 

The idea behind the two-bucket method is to minimize the number of dirt particles that gather on your cleaning tool. If you only use a single bucket to rinse and apply soap, the towel will remain dirty instead. The dirt will eventually spread all over your apparatus, and the debris will cause scratches to appear on the pain. So make sure to implement this method immediately to prevent future damages. Grit guards can also be applied to further diffuse dirt from the towel. 

Microfiber towels

When it comes to cleaning your fire truck, microfiber towels are the way to go. These microfiber towels are cost-effective and make cleaning your apparatus seamless. The texture for them is very soft, and the material is highly absorbent so, you won’t mar the finish. Best of all, these towels are very easy to wash after each use. However, you should make sure the towels are separated appropriately for each use. Some of them should be used for washing and drying the fire apparatus, and others should remain in reserve to clean up any potential spills, such as fluids or oil. 

Furthermore, you should consider skipping over the use of sponges. Sponges are not really ideal for soap applications, and they can accumulate dirt and debris, which will end up scratching the fire truck. Additionally, if the towels fall to the ground, grab a clean towel instead of reusing the fallen one. A towel that has hit the floor will already have gathered dirt and debris that can damage the fire truck.

Drying process

The drying process for a fire apparatus may seem the easy part of washing your fire truck, but there are some things you need to consider to prevent streaking and water spots. To ensure you are drying optimally, use large microfiber towels for this part. Microfiber towels are known for being immensely absorbent and allow the user to dry larger areas before needing to grab another dry towel. 

However, if you are stuck with washing the apparatus in direct sunlight, make sure to carefully water down the truck as you clean to avoid potential water spots as the fire truck dries. To prevent any streaks and water spots altogether, try to maintain the fire truck wet through the washing process and make sure it remains wet when you start the drying process. 

Blow-dry is another method you can use to remove water in various areas. Either an electric or gas blower is enough to do the job. Blow drying is one of the best methods to use when it comes to removing water from every area, cracks, handle, and roll-up doors before you bust out the microfiber towel. Using this method helps you avoid needing to use too many towels and does an exceptional job at pushing water off the fire truck. 

Polishing

Once you have finished drying off the fire truck, you will need to start polishing off with some wax or some form of lubricant like spray wax/quick detailer. Manually apply the polishing solution on the chrome or shiny metal areas to keep the apparatus looking at its best and also layering a protective barrier between the metal. Using polish on your fire truck will ensure that environmental dirt and debris don’t easily stick to the surface of the vehicle and are resistant to harm from the chemicals on them. 

Using some instant-detailer also has similar effects for painted surfaces. Instant-detailer should be used frequently to help water bead up and run off effectively. Doing this will ensure your truck manages to continue looking great for a longer time. The frequent application of polishing solutions and detailers will also make it easier to wash the apparatus in the future since the dirt and grime will come off quicker with a simple water rinse. 

Conclusion

Keeping your fire apparatus clean is crucial for ensuring you can operate each day when an emergency call comes in. These fire apparatuses are expensive to maintain and especially replace. Regularly cleaning your vehicle will ensure it maintains its integrity and remains in operation for a longer time.

The cleaning process will also make sure you can spot any damages done to the vehicle and lead to less required maintenance in the future. Make sure you apply the information provided here and keep your fire truck clean and ready at all times.