Tips for Cleaning Your Side-by-Side

Blazing through dirt trails can bring plenty of thrills, but your side-by-side can get dirty fast! Cleaning your side-by-side will help it last longer and prevent debris and dirt from clogging up vital engine components. We’ve created a list of tips for efficiently cleaning your side-by-side. Read on to learn more.

Pre-Soak the Mud and Scrape

First, you need to find a place to wash your vehicle. If you use your driveway, hose down the sidewalk to get as much of the grime down the drain so that it doesn’t affect your neighbor’s lawn or mess up the street.

If your side-by-side is particularly muddy, you’ll need to scrape the mud or soak it off before you apply any soap. A plastic mud scraper will allow you to pull off chunks of dirt without damaging your vehicle’s paint. You can also hose down your rig and wait for the grime to run off.

Use a Pressure Washer

A pressure washer is a great way to clear away any stubborn grime left after your initial soaking and scraping. Even at full blast, the water shouldn’t damage your side-by-side. You can use a gas or electric pressure washer. A gas option is usually more powerful. A hose and nozzle will also shoot the water aggressively if you don’t own a pressure washer. The goal is to remove as much dirt as possible so you don’t have to scrub for hours on end.

Add Soap and Scrub

Next, it’s time to start scrubbing. After you’ve rinsed your vehicle, use a wash mitt or sponge with a bike soap or automotive detergent to scrub your UTV. Work on the frame, wheels, and seats. A stiff brush can come in handy for dragging out dirt from the nooks and crannies. After this, you’ll want to again rinse your vehicle with a pressure washer.

Dry it Off

If the weather is dry, you can simply let your side-by-side dry outside in the sun. You can also take it into your garage and use a lint-free towel to dry it off. If you have an air compressor, you can use it to get water out of every crevice and help your side-by-side dry faster. This will prevent rust and save you the work of dying by hand.

Polishing

It’s time to put the finishing touches on your machine! Give your vehicle a good polish. A plastic polish that you can spray and wipe down will make your side-by-side look brand new! Avoid applying polish on the seat since that will make it slick.

Are you ready to start cleaning your side-by-side? If you have any questions, contact us at Sky Powersports Cocoa. You’ll find us in Cocoa, FL, where we proudly serve all those in Palm Shore and East Orlando.