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Powersports
ATVs arguably cop the most consistent spattering of dirt and mud per ride than any other adventure sport vehicle. Big wheels, fast and tight turn circles and a rider’s desire to tear up rough terrain mean that keeping it pristine isn’t something that finds itself on the priority list. However, keeping it clean is a fairly big deal to ensure its longevity – nothing worse than having something scratch, rust or break preventably! So, get the soapy water out, we’re keeping the ATV clean so that you get more years out of making it dirty.
Cover areas that shouldn’t get water in them
Using a plastic cover, or thick width waterproof tape, cover the ignition switch and the muffler opening. This will just ensure no water or soap gets in and interferes with the mechanics.
Scrap and soak dirt and mud
Mud can get really caked on, especially if it has been left a while between cleans, or it has been out in the sun and the mud has dried. Leaving it like that can cause abrasions and scrapes to the painwork over time. Soak dried mud using a wet sponge over the needed areas to loosen it up. Then use a plastic scraper to have it dislodge from the surface.
Hose it down
You can use an actual electric or gas pressure washer, or you can just the narrow setting on your hose nozzle and increase the pressure to go over your entire ATV. If you’re using an actual pressure hose, keep the pressure low and use a broad tip to stop damage (also check your user manual to ensure pressure hose use is ok for your model).
Hosing will help take off any stubborn dirt and mud areas, but it’s also perfect for getting into the hard to reach nooks like tyre tread, around mud flaps and tricky spots on the frame (depending on the ATV you have and its design). The more you can get off with the hose the less elbow grease you need to put in for the rest of the cleaning process. Giving it a hose down should be part of your per-use process.
Give it a sudsy bath
Using water, mild car detergent and a sponge clean the entire ATV with small circular movements. This will remove all excess grime and dirt, and doing it by hand means you can also feel where build up is occurring and give a little more (gentle) elbow grease. It helps you get into the cleaning with a bit more even detail. You can use it for interiors too, just check the detergent instructions and have a dry cloth handy to wipe surfaces down immediately to avoid soap residue.
Rinse and shine
Lastly, gently hose off the suds from the exterior, dab dry it with a towel and then give it a good buff (small circular motions) with a shammy or soft dry cloth. It’s an ATV, not a show car, so you don’t have to worry too much about bringing up the shine, but it offers a great finish and doesn’t add much time to your cleaning time.
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