How To Clean Your Jeep After Off-Roading

 

How To Clean Your Jeep After Off-Roading

You've wrapped up yet another off-roading adventure. Now it's time to clean your rig. Read these tips on how to clean your Jeep after off-roading.

You had a great time out on the trails in your Jeep. Now that you’re back to reality, it’s time to clean your rig up.

Make it a breeze to clean dirt and other debris off your vehicle. Read these tips on how to clean your Jeep after off-roading.

1. Clean the Exterior

This general cleaning rule holds true when it comes to cleaning your Jeep—do it sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the more mud solidifies. And when it hardens on your vehicle, you run a greater risk of damaging the paint or engine. To thoroughly clean your Jeep, remember to:

• Rinse the entire vehicle with a pressure washer. Use the lowest pressure setting that will get the job done.
• Apply a car-cleaning soap that’s safe for car exteriors. Dish soap is too abrasive for your car’s protective coating. If you have a foam cannon on your pressure washer, you can use that to apply the cleaner easily.
• Rub your vehicle with a car cleaning mitt or soft rag. Don’t miss any areas on your wheels or behind the bumper. If you’ve made modifications to your Jeep, such as a new grille, be sure to wash carefully around these pieces, too.
• Rinse the vehicle completely. Wipe dry with a soft towel and let hard-to-reach places air-dry.

2. Clean the Engine Bay 

Let your engine cool down completely before you clean it; this tip on how to clean your Jeep after off-roading ensures the cleaning agent works effectively. Then, follow these instructions:

• Use a leaf blower or brush to remove dirt and other solid debris. 
• Use rubber bands or tape to secure waterproof bags or plastic wrap over electrical components such as the distributor cap and alternator. 
• Double-check to make sure you haven’t missed covering anything; you don’t want to short any electrical connections.
• Soak the engine bay in a non-corrosive degreaser detergent according to the detergent’s instructions. 
• Rinse with a hose if possible. If you need more pressure, use a pressure washer at the lowest setting with a wide-angle spray. 
• For hard-to-reach places and precise cleaning, spray the detergent, rub the solution in with a brush, then rinse off. Repeat if necessary.
• Dry everything you can with a rag. Let areas you can’t reach air-dry. 
• Don’t forget to remove all plastic bags or wraps from the electrical components.

3. Apply Protection

After cleaning, you can use various products to protect your Jeep from normal wear-and-tear. They also help make it easier to clean up your Jeep in the future.

If you have a soft top, use a protectant specifically designed for exterior vinyl. You can use this product on your Jeep’s soft top and windows, and it won’t harm other auto components like chrome or plastic. 

Spray the bottom of your Jeep with an oil, wax, or tar-based coating that helps keep out moisture and dirt; an undercoating protects your car from rust. Follow the instructions on your product to get the best results.