Best Way To Clean Your UTV [ 7 Easy Steps ] 2023

A nice cleanup is one of the few ways to show some kindness to your thrill-igniting UTV.  In my opinion, it really does deserve it.

The reward of a good clean isn’t limited to giving your UTV a fine and shiny outlook, in fact, the longevity of your four-wheeler is further assured by how well and often it gets cleaned, with the intent of keeping dirt, debris, and grime out of it.

Of course, there are several methods and processes employed by different people for cleaning their UTV, but there are certainly wrong ways to do it. 

In order to get the job done right, here is the ultimate guide on the best way to clean your UTV; the perfect way to keep the machine looking and feeling good inside out.

What Supplies Do You Need To Clean Your UTV?

Water source

A garden hose or pressure washer is required. Usually, a garden hose is good enough to achieve a great result but sometimes, especially when there’s been a buildup of tough dirt or mud, a garden hose may be quite powerless which is where a pressure washer comes in handy.

A pressure washer with a PSI of between 1200 and 2000 is safe to use on your UTV. A PSI above 2000 may likely damage the paint finishing of your UTV.

Buckets

You’ll need at least two separate buckets; one for the cleaning solution and the other for clean water. Using multiple buckets while cleaning a UTV is a way to ensure that grime and other particles from one bucket do not find their way into the other.

If such happens, you might scratch the paint on the four-wheeler. We don’t want that to happen right?

Soft-bristled brushes

These come in different sizes and the right sizes depend on the areas within the UTV we intend to reach. There are large, medium, and small-sized brushes.

Car wash soap

Sometimes you may be tempted to just use detergents or some other harsh soap on your UTV; I strongly advise you not to.

This damage the paintwork of your four-wheeler over time. Instead, shop for a car wash soap that is suitable for use on vehicles which includes UTVs.

Microfiber towels

Like the brushes, you will also require up to three different microfiber towels. One will be used to clean the top of the UTV, the other for the bottom areas and the third one (larger) will be used to dry the vehicle after washing.

Spray nozzle

Typically a foam canon; is needed to spray the cleaning solution on the UTV.

Gloves and safety goggles

For your safety, it is always advised to use these to protect your hands and eyes from contact with harmful chemicals that may be present in some of the solutions being used in the cleaning process.

Wax/Detailing spray

For a more shiny and appealing result, this is usually applied on the UTV at the final stage. Apart from providing a fine outlook after washing, this also helps to protect the paint on your UTV.

A step-by-step Guide To The Best Way To Clean your UTV

Park under a shade

Be it a canopy, carport, or under a tree, you will need to carry out the cleaning away from direct sunlight which can cause the cleaning solution to dry up quickly.

Give it a thorough rinse

This is the first step of the whole cleaning process which is precautionary in some ways.

Giving the machine a rinse will remove loose dirt and debris from the surface of the UTV, therefore, making the cleaning process easy and more effective. But ease and effectiveness isn’t even the main reason why a rinse is important.

The main reason is, it is more than likely to get scratched while scrubbing the UTV without first giving it an initial rinse down with water, as a result of inadvertently rubbing abrasive dirt/debris into the UTV’s paint. So, it is not a risk worth taking to skip this part.

Your garden hose or pressure washer with a PSI of between 1000 – 1,500  or its equivalent is all you need to achieve a good rinse.

Spray on a cleaning solution

Make a cleaning solution by adding some soap (car wash soap/mild all-purpose cleaner) into the foam cannon container, fill it up with water, and generously spray it all over your UTV.

There are foam cannons designed to work without needing a pressure washer at all, those will be preferable if all you have is a garden hose as your water source.

Scrub

Get your soft bristled brushes and microfiber towels, it’s time to scrub. For those parts of the four-wheeler that are easily accessible, you may scrub with a towel while other less accessible spots can be reached with the brushes.

Make sure to scrub gently and give extra attention to parts that accumulate more dirt/debris such as the undercarriage, wheels, and tires.

It is advisable to scrub from the top down to avoid getting grit from the dirtier areas, usually the bottom, on the paint which will most likely cause scratches.

I would like to reiterate that, extra attention is needed down there. The undercarriage and tires, most especially. You want to get the brushes between and behind the wheels to further reach the hidden dirt lurking within obscurity.

Rinse thoroughly again

After all that scrubbing, what comes next is rinsing the vehicle once more to remove the cleaning solution and all the dirt, grime, and grit that have just been scrubbed off. Rinse the surfaces thoroughly with water, the wheels, and the undercarriage but don’t drown your UTV.

Dry it up

This is a necessary step to prevent rust or corrosion. A soft absorbent microfiber towel will do a good job in wiping down moisture off the UTV. However, one towel may not be enough, so have one or two additional (unused) towels nearby.

It would be an added advantage if you have an air compressor or a leaf blower to blow off excess water from the areas you cannot reach with a towel.

Afterward, allow it to sit there for a couple of minutes to allow the remaining moisture to evaporate.

Apply protective coating

Your UTV is almost set. Get some wax or sealant, you need it on your utv to help prevent dirt and debris from sticking to its body. This also adds a beautiful shine to the vehicle making the colors look brighter and aesthetically pleasing on a whole new level.

Things To Avoid While Cleaning A UTV

• Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia, unfit detergents, or any other abrasive cleaners which may likely damage your UTV’s paint and some of its plastic/rubber components.

• Too much pressure from your water source is unhealthy for a UTV. It could damage the electrical components. A garden hose is a safe choice if you can’t adjust the PSI (Pounds per square inch) of your pressure machine.

• Do not use abrasive pads or towels to scrub. Soft-bristled brushes and soft pads are safer to use on your UTV.

• You shouldn’t use the same pads or towels to scrub both the body,  the undercarriage, and the tires, it may leave your paint in bruises

• Avoid getting excess water in sensitive areas such as your air filter, exhaust system, and engine areas. Including other exposed electrical components.

• Always read the label of any product you intend to use on your UTV and don’t overdo it.

How often should you clean your UTV?

The major factor that determines the frequency with which you should clean your UTv is how often you take it for a ride, and the terrain, and conditions your encounter during a ride.

If after a ride you can clearly see that your four-wheeler is anything else but pretty, probably as a result of dirt, debris, or mud accumulated on the ride, that’s an indication for you to give it a clean.

And if your regular terrain isn’t that dirty, then one clean per month will be just fine and this is highly recommended for preventing the buildup of dirt or grime that may damage the vehicle over time.

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Wrapping it up – Best Way To Clean Your UTV

Cleaning your UTV is highly beneficial to its performance and longevity therefore, it must be taken seriously. To get you cleaning like a pro, this article provides a guide on the best way to clean your UTV, with step-by-step instructions that are easy to comprehend.

We hope you will fall in love with your UTV all over again after following this guide.