Tips for optimum pre-cleaning
Pre-cleaning is the first step towards optimum car washing and should be carried out with high-quality brushes, spray lances and supporting chemical pre-cleaners.
At very service-oriented facilities, manual car pre-cleaning with a high-pressure jet and brush is often still done today, while fully automated car washes tend to rely on mechanical pre-cleaning. With regard to the principle of Sinner’s circle, manual pre-cleaning in particular can be primarily supported chemically by a suitable pre-cleaner due to the limited time available and the lower mechanical force.
Mechanical pre-cleaning
In express washing lines, on the other hand, manual pre-cleaning is omitted altogether, as cleaning is carried out by using highly alkaline cleaners and high pressure, making manual pre-cleaning superfluous as well as too cost-intensive. Here, pre-cleaning is the first step of the normal cleaning procedure and can be supported by a product such as the RMS Aqua pre-cleaner.
Manual pre-cleaning
Manual car pre-cleaning is usually only carried out at certain car washes from the premium segment or at service-oriented portal facilities. Manual pre-cleaning has the advantage that even the heavily soiled areas as well as the hard-to-reach “problem zones” of the vehicle are cleaned well and thoroughly. Important for high quality manual car pre-cleaning is the appropriate working equipment for the employee. The quality of the hand brushes and high-pressure spray lances is often decisive for the cleaning success.
High-pressure and low-pressure pre-cleaning
A good high-pressure cleaner – either as a hand-held device or as an element of the car wash – is the be-all and end-all of a perfect car pre-cleaning. In many cases, only clear water is initially used to remove coarse dirt. However, better cleaning results can be achieved by adding a special pre-cleaner to the water in the high-pressure cleaner, for example the RMS Aqua pre-cleaner from Caramba. This alkaline product dissolves dirt and insect bodies and can be used in hand-held units as well as in systems.
Pre-cleaning at your carwashHowever, certain vehicles should preferably be treated with a low-pressure cleaner, such as convertibles or vehicles with delicate paint or loose parts. Some facilities have a special convertible program with low pressure. Alternatively, however, the pre-cleaner can be applied with a low-pressure unit during a manual wash.
You would like to benefit from Caramba’s years of experience in operating your car wash? Would you like a consultation at your site?