Washing SxS - Tips, Tricks, Products, Advice

[ehart814]

Arguably, the worst part of owning a side by side is the dirty and time consuming job of cleaning the mud off after riding. We have spent thousands of dollars on these machines and want to keep them nice.

Please post up your tools and tricks that you use to get it cleaned up after having fun with it!

Hoping to learn some magic trick to make it quick and simple!


Unless I have a bunch of time to do a really nice wash job, I use my electric pressure washer after spraying Super Clean on the machine. I cut the Super Clean 50 / 50 with water and spray all the suspension, frame, engine, under the bed, or anywhere else that I get a lot of dust and mud. I avoid spraying the windshield. Let the stuff soak for a minute and then start rinsing with the pressure washer from the top down. I did this last night and spent about a half hour and it's pretty clean for the amount of time spent.

If I do a real wash job, I spray everything down with SC1 after it dries off. I love SC1

 

[Admin]

 

[KeithinLouisiana]

I’m new to the Side by side world so I’m hoping for some good ideas for dealing with gumbo mud.

 

[Bastardchild]

Pressure cleaner and soapy solution in a mop bucket with one of the soft type scrub brushes from the auto parts store for cleaning. After it dries Ive always used Tire Foam in the spray can for the shine. Just spray it on and it foams up and leaves a nice shine when it evaporates. Just dont get it on the windshield because dust or pollen will stick while its wet. Windex for the windshield. Even after all this is done its still not a show machine, but looks halfway decent.

 

[Todd627]

[HASHTAG]#sxswhorebath[/HASHTAG]

@Mudwing can elaborate more....

 

[Mudwing]

[HASHTAG]#sxswhorebath[/HASHTAG]

@Mudwing can elaborate more....

Super easy. After a long day of mudding find a crick and drive through. Now drive it to dry. Easy sleezy.

 

[Todd627]

In all seriousness, @Russ989 could put on a clinic showing you how to make your rig shine brighter than showroom new. He is the man you want to talk to.

And if you do talk to him, tell him not to buy that Popo General

 

[JimmyA]

Pressure cleaner and soapy solution in a mop bucket with one of the soft type scrub brushes from the auto parts store for cleaning. After it dries Ive always used Tire Foam in the spray can for the shine. Just spray it on and it foams up and leaves a nice shine when it evaporates. Just dont get it on the windshield because dust or pollen will stick while its wet. Windex for the windshield. Even after all this is done its still not a show machine, but looks halfway decent.

If the windshield is made of Lexan, I wouldn't spray it with Windex because it will cause it to cloud!

 

[ehart814]

View attachment 163807
Super easy. After a long day of mudding find a crick and drive through. Now drive it to dry. Easy sleezy.

I used to do that all the time last couple years. This summer was so wet though that all the cricks were either mud or too deep.

I crick I used to go to was great. It's a fairly wide one - bought 150 - 200 feet wide but there is a spot that gets islands every summer when it gets dry. When the water would get low enough, we could ride out to the islands and ride between them. Cleaned the mud off pretty good. Sucks it was such a rainy summer here - never got to do that this year.

 

[Rustell]

One of the things that I do is drive my P5 up on the loading ramp of my flat bed trailer. This allows me to get a better shot underneath with the pressure washer.

 

[ehart814]

One of the things that I do is drive my P5 up on the loading ramp of my flat bed trailer. This allows me to get a better shot underneath with the pressure washer.

I hadn't thought to mention it, but I do a similar thing. Most of my property is hillside and I agree that it seems to help get stuff out of the chassis having it pointed uphill when spraying.

 

[JTW]

https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Joe-SPX3000-Pressure-14-5-Amp/dp/B00CPGMUXW/?tag=sxsweb24-20

 

[GlockMeister]

I spray my down with Awesome stuff(dollar general) then power wash. No scrubbing

 

[Tigermark]

I spray my down with Awesome stuff(dollar general) then power wash. No scrubbing

I don’t do anything anymore. No machine

 

[Dirtstiffs-1000]

I'm a clean freak.
Mudbusters made the most difference.

J

 

[dnjones161]

I use Spray Power 50/50 with water out of a cheap Amazon foam cannon.

Crown Spray Power Cleaner Gallon 72044

Let sit for 5 minutes or so before rinsing. I tend to rinse with a hose (no power). When doing the final rinse I find that the power washer throws soap so it's almost impossible to get a clean rinse.

 

[dnjones161]

I use Spray Power 50/50 with water out of a cheap Amazon foam cannon.

View attachment 163906

Crown Spray Power Cleaner Gallon 72044

Let sit for 5 minutes or so before rinsing. I tend to rinse with a hose (no power). When doing the final rinse I find that the power washer throws soap so it's almost impossible to get a clean rinse.

Ohhh and FYI like 6 bucks a gallon. Potentially not the BEST product out there, but great bang for your buck IMO

 

[JTW]

Ohhh and FYI like 6 bucks a gallon. Potentially not the BEST product out there, but great bang for your buck IMO

I agree.. I love that stuff!

 

[Mudder]

Just got a soap foam cannon for the pressure washer, amazing how much soap it creates, and an adjustable spray pattern. The extra trigger handle included is good for upside down tip spraying and is easy to swap from cannon to tip while running. Price was right with everything that was included.
Multi - Foam Cannon recommendations

 

[Brett002]

I am also a clean freak! I use this stuff. Can be found at local walmart. Half a bottle takes care of my pioneer 3. If it's real nasty I use a whole bottle. Simply watch the mud and grime slide down the machine. Pressure wash pretty quick after spraying. Also leaves a slight film so that cleaning next time is super easy.


For that added snaz... or especially if I'm going to ride in nasty conditions... I lather the buggy down with this. I get under the back bed and front fenders where the mud tends to fly and accumulate. Between both products I watch mud simply fall off my machine leaving a new machine look underneath.

 

[Adam490]

I usually just hose mine off with a firehose style nozzle then let it soak for a bit. Then I come back with a small pressure washer similar to what @JTW listed earlier and blast everything off. I like to go over the machine after a ride so I'll take my time and pull the wheels/tires and skid to get all the crud out then I go over everything with SC1. Also, if you've got the rear door storage mod on the P1k, it's good to open them up and let some air get in there after you've sprayed it down.

I've always been leery to using the tire shine; it doesn't make everything sticky? I know when I put it on my tires it's definitely got some tack to it unless I wipe it down.