OK the quad got christined last weekend with SC red Clay mud when I got stuck in a 3-4ft stump hole that I THOUGHT was a puddle.
I had sprayed some cooking spray on the inside of the fenders so it's not horrible but I still have a lot of clay. I had no trailer with me so it sat in a shipping container for the entire week so the mud BAKED on the rig.
I just hosed off what I could but I still have a lot that will not come off. What does everyone use to get their ATV's squeeky clean ? I don't want to buy a whole pick up truck full of cleaning agents to try to get everything off. I am sure the clumps will come off with the pressure washer (next step) but I got a lot of stains. Simple Green ? Easy Off ? Citrus Cleaner ? I just don't want to re-invent the wheel here and I don't have a lot of time this week before I take it back to the property. I want to get it somewhat clean since I plan on installing a winch if I can get one here before next weekend.
No local Dollar Tree but I'll check it out the next time I spot one.
For now the wife is at WallyWorld and I told her to get me a spray container of Simple Green and a jug of it also, it's always handy. I'll mix some up in a gallon jug and use it on the siphon hose with the pressure washer.
What worries me more than the ATV is the ZTR mower. I have not washed it in about a year and want to take it in for service at John Deere. I worked on police cars and hated it when they brought me a mess. The wheels have some dried on dirt that a hose will not even touch and some mud stains. I want to get that cleaned up before a full service call.
We ride around the Red River and get all that crappy red clay on the bikes that seem to stick like glue.
After the bikes sat for (let's just say "a while"), I took a water hose and washed the bikes to get them wet and to get the caked on mud wet (kind of a pre-soak). Then I put some "Shout", yes "Shout" stain remover in a five gallon bucket with some water. Added a sponge, a little arm action and it came right off. What is even better is that the bikes had no stains.
I just figured that if I could get the "Red River" out of my clothes by soaking in a bucket of "Shout" and water, then I could probably get it off the ATV leaving no stains and IT WORKED!
And if it's soft enough for clothing, then I knew it wouldn't scratch the bikes.
Sounds silly, but that's how I got the mud off ours when it was caked on
i use a pressure washer to get the big stuff off. then i put purple power in a bucket and use a car wash brush. it gets all the stains off even on the tires. any kind of aluminum cleaner with acid in it works good for the motor but dont use that on anything shiny.
You need to check out some new products from some guys in Huntersville, NC. Xtreamclean is the name and they have some products that are for ATVs & MX bikes. I have used them many times and the products really work great and quick. Link is X-Tream Clean XTC check it out.
Well I got most of the mud off with the pressure washer, small spots of mud still remained but the Simple Green Foam worked well to take those off. A few spots took 2 applications but otherwise clean with no elbow grease, just a pressure washer.
Now the stains did not disappear but a good rub down did remove them from most areas. I'll try shout out the next time. The interesting part is that even though I pam'ed the rear fenders and wheels and the front fenders that did not help much. The LARGE clumps of mud did not stick well but there was still a nice coat of clay all over. I would have thought that the pam would have made fender cleaning a purely pressure wash job but I was wrong.
Now as far as simple green what it did work well on was dirt/dust and grass. My JD mower had about 2 years worth of dirt and grass stains on the wheels and it was rough. Moisture and hosing off the tractor made it like a paste like stain. Sprayed the wheels, pressure washed and repeated and the wheels/tires look like they came out of the factory.
I have been using XTC products now for about 4 months and comparing it to other products I have used it really does a much better job. It does a better job cleaning, eating up the red clays and such, grease, chain lubes etc... But what I find cool about the wash product is that it leaves a slick shine to the bike when your done. It also has the mud guard in it that helps knock off mud easier. With all that to me it’s more than just a wash. I have also used the mud guard product by itself and it does a good job. It also adds some shine. Neither product has harmed any plastic or the decals, ones that came on the bike or the ones we have added have not crumbled, fallen apart or anything.
I have been very pleased with all the different kinds of dirt and junk it has taken off our bikes and clothes, boots. I don't know the "secret" formula that makes it clean as good as it does, but I know I will definitely keep using their products. Best thing I can tell you is to give it a try.
Pressure washer for the big stuff and in all the nooks and hiding spots. After that, any soapy solution will work to remove the stains off the plastic. After drying, I sometimes use spray tire foam to coat the whole bike. It makes 'em shine up and helps keep mud from sticking next time around. Get the engine and everything really good too. I normally use 1 can per quad per cleaning.
bleche-white from wal-mart..not sure if that is the right spelling but you can't mess it, wierd name and in a white spray bottle. its for tires, will bring the dirt out of or off of anything at all thought, and puts a great shine on plastic parts. also good for rubber hoses and such. works great i use it all the time
I found some LA Awsome the other day in an orange bottle. Not sure if it's the same thing but I got a bottle and I'll give it a try. The pressure washer did not clean it all, I'll try hitting it again and use a scouring sponge this time. Next time out I'll be sure to really spray the PAM on heavy. I did the last time but probably not enough.
What is even better is that the bikes had no stains.
