Cleaning Your Aluminum Trailer
Trailers work almost as hard as their owners do, and your aluminum trailer’s lightweight build makes it a reliable and convenient coworker. But like any vehicle or tool, a trailer needs your help staying clean. We here at Countryside Trailer Sales know that’s not your favorite chore, so we’ve put together some easy tips to make cleaning your aluminum trailer easy. To learn more, or to see the trailers we have for sale, contact our store in Spring, Texas, today!
1: Tidy Daily
The first step in cleaning your trailer is working to keep it from getting too dirty in the first place. Every day your trailer sees use, it’s good to sweep it out and hose it down. That keeps it reasonably clean and free of muck.
2: Wash & Scrub
When your trailer does need a thorough cleaning, a power washer is an invaluable tool. Use it to remove large chunks of mud or dirt, or just a garden hose and some gentle cleaner like a dish soap. If your trailer is painted, the more abrasive power washer probably isn’t a good idea. Instead, use a car wash soap to restore the paint’s glossy look.
However you clean it, be sure to thoroughly rinse the trailer afterwards and let it dry fully before its next use.
3: Polish
Though aluminum is corrosion-resistant, oxidation can still occur over time, resulting in that familiar crusty and discolored substance. Preventing oxidation is easiest with foam or spray polish, preferably applied after a cleaning and once your trailer is full dried. Use a rag to buff the polish in while it’s wet and try to cover every aluminum surface.
4: Treating Oxidation
If your trailer has some oxidation already, don’t worry. It doesn’t impact the trailer’s structural integrity or strength, it just looks bad. You’ll need to use an acid bath to remove it, though.
However, we recommend using a truck-washing service for this process. One of the agents commonly used, hydrofluoric acid, is intensely corrosive and dangerous, so leave it to the professionals. A citrus cleaner can help remove some lighter oxidation at home, though.
5: Maintenance
The easiest way to find something wrong with your trailer is a careful inspection, and the cleaning process provides plenty of opportunities to get up close. If there’s a maintenance problem or some damage to the trailer, you’ll find it during this process. Make sure to get anything you find taken care of ASAP, for your safety and the safety of those around you.
We hope this guide helps you get your aluminum trailer sparkling like new! If you have any questions, or you’re just hoping to browse our inventory of trailers, contact us at Countryside Trailer Sales. We proudly serve the people of Houston and The Woodlands, Texas—let us serve you today!