Truck Driving Jobs

Double L · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1431 Location: Illinois

As you all know I plan on washing and detailing the inside of tractors and was curious if using Simple Green auto detail and degreaser would harm doors, gauges, and the dash? Was also curious as to how good it performs?

Rev.Vassago · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject:

I've heard of guys using Simple Green to remove the ink off of BOL's where the time was. Supposedly it works quite well. :lol:

As far as intended applications, I haven't the foggiest. I normally use that stinky ammonia spray to clean my dash.

Malaki86 · Joined: 28 Aug 2004 Posts: 2126 Location: West Virginia

I can't handle that Simple Green. There's something in it that will drive my breathing absolutely nuts. My wife decided to do a good deed a few years ago for me and cleaned my entire truck's interior with Simple Green. I ended up having to take a week off because I couldn't be in it for more than a couple of minutes.

Double L · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1431 Location: Illinois

At my previous employer I had to use soap and water to detail their trucks. That was 2 years ago so I need to find something that'll get the job done that doesn't have bleach or any harmful chemicals in it that will mess up the interior of the trucks. I read on simple green's website they make some stuff that you can use to wash the trucks with, it's like 1 quart or pint of simple green to 1 gal of water or something like that! Like I said I want to make a good impression and show them I take pride in my work. Their trucks on the outside are clean for the most part and I'm glad the wheels and tanks don't need to be polished too much so soap and water should knock the dirt off. I want to be able to my job as quickly as possible but also focus on QUALITY.

Rev.Vassago · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:42 pm Post subject:

Double L wrote: At my previous employer I had to use soap and water to detail their trucks. That was 2 years ago so I need to find something that'll get the job done that doesn't have bleach or any harmful chemicals in it that will mess up the interior of the trucks. I read on simple green's website they make some stuff that you can use to wash the trucks with, it's like 1 quart or pint of simple green to 1 gal of water or something like that! Like I said I want to make a good impression and show them I take pride in my work. Their trucks on the outside are clean for the most part and I'm glad the wheels and tanks don't need to be polished too much so soap and water should knock the dirt off. I want to be able to my job as quickly as possible but also focus on QUALITY.

That foaming ammonia stuff works really well on interiors. Any all purpose cleaner will do the job also. I've used both on my interior, then sprayed the entire cab and sleeper with Febreze to eliminate the smells of the cleaners. I think you'd be hard pressed to mess up the interior of the truck with any off the shelf all purpose cleaner. Even one that has bleach in it (since the bleach content is quite small)

Double L · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1431 Location: Illinois

I forgot all about febreze, can't detail a truck and not make it smell good! :lol: I planned on using amour-all to go over it when I got done getting the grease off and using windex for the windows. I also planned on using some tire shine for the tires and will probably just use soap and water for the wheels and fuel tanks since I don't think I'll have the time to spend a couple hours polishing them since the summer months is the busiest time of the year. If I learned one thing from my previous employer it's that soap and water doesn't detail trucks good at all! Plus that was my first job detailing trucks and that was pretty much trial and error. So I learned my lesson from them!

Uturn2001 · Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject:

Simple Green, if used full strength will bleach out fabrics.

To get grease out of fabrics use DAWN dish soap or a laundry soap.

For general cleaning use any multi purpose cleaner or simple soap and water.

On the rubber mats on the floors use Mop-N-Glo after washing them to get a good shine without it being slick.

Use Pledge (or other dusting product) on the dash. Less shine (wont get the reflective glare on the windshield) less dust build up.

Double L · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1431 Location: Illinois

The fleet is consisted of alot of newer Freightliner Columbia's and Sterling's so the doors are that plastic stuff. They got alot of older FLD120's which is most of the fleet I believe but I think they are in the process of being an all Sterling fleet. Not sure on that at all!

Ridge Runner · Joined: 18 Oct 2004 Posts: 2577 Location: North Ga.

Regardless of which product you wind up using, if mixed with 2 parts elbow greese, I'm sure the truck will look good when you finish. :wink:

Double L · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1431 Location: Illinois

You got that right, I don't want to use too much elbow grease cause I'll be doing alot of painting and inspecting rail cars. But seriously as long as it'll get the job done that is all that matters! :wink: :)

century451 · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Sparta, MO

mix liquid fabric sofetner with water and use as a interior freshener.....smells better and bunches cheaper than febreeze

Rawlco · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 1166 Location: Central Maine

In my truck for the "woodgrain" dash I use glass cleaner because I have heard anything harsher will cause peeling.

For the vinyl parts of the dash and interior I use Armor All cleaning wipes, followed by Armor All protectant wipes. If it gets really dusty I might use glass cleaner to get the first layer off.

For the rubber floor and pedals I get some orange oil degreaser stuff from the Automotive section of Wal-Mart. I don't remember the exact name but you can't miss the bright orange bottle. Get the refill size and a spray bottle because you want to dilute it with water to be economical. Get a good STIFF brush to scrub it around with and loosen the dirt. One large brush for the big areas and one toothbrush size for the tight spots. I usually follow this with some foaming carpet and upholstery cleaner that I vacuum off. Finish off the rubber interior parts with a good coat of Turtle wax tire shine.

For Leather seats I get leather cleaning and protecting wipes, also from Wal-Mart.

Double L · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1431 Location: Illinois

I was thinking about getting amour-all cleaning wipes and amour-all protection wipes and windex for the windows and febreeze to make the truck smell good.

BigDiesel · Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:55 pm Post subject:

It would be best that you use whatever cleaning supplies that the employer wants you to use....

When you start signing the paychecks, you can use whatever products you want....

Double L · Joined: 26 Sep 2007 Posts: 1431 Location: Illinois

He told me whatever I need to let them know and he'll get it for me. From what I seen the trucks are cleaned regularly well the exterior anyway!

Truck Driving Jobs

Trucking Jobs

Truck Drivers

Trucking Companies

Class A Drivers.com