Washing Your ATV

Your all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is built to take on tough terrains, conquer muddy paths, soar over sand dunes, and breeze through dusty trails. However, after all that adventurous riding, your quad is bound to get dirty, and that mud and dirt can cause damage to its finish and inner workings if not taken care of. 

Before you start, make sure you have everything you need, including a bucket, car wash fluid or bike soap, sponges, a mud scraper, a stiff brush, an air compressor, lint-free towels, and a powersports-friendly polish.

Step 1: Prep Park your ATV on a flat surface with good drainage. Avoid washing it over your lawn as the soap suds and debris can damage your grass. A concrete or gravel driveway is ideal. Then, get your hose and other cleaning tools ready.

Step 2: Soak the Mud If your ATV is caked in mud, use your hose to soak it down and let it sit for a few minutes. Take a mud scraper and remove as much mud as you can. You may not be able to get it all off, but removing as much as possible will make the next steps easier.

Step 3: Soap and Scrub Apply soap to a sponge or wash mitt and start washing your ATV, starting from the handlebars and working your way down. Be sure to scrub everything, including the plastics, seat, and wheel wells. Use a stiff brush to get into any tight spaces and a degreaser to remove oil residue.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry Rinse off your ATV with your hose, making sure to remove all the soap and dirt. You may need to rinse it a few times to ensure everything is clean. Then, use an air compressor to dry your ATV or use lint-free towels to wipe it down. You can also let it air dry in the sun, but this may leave water spots.

Step 5: Apply Polish Finally, to protect your ATV's finish and get that factory-fresh shine, apply a powersports-friendly polish to the plastics. Buff it to a shine and avoid getting it on the seat if possible. You can also apply tire shine to your wheels for an extra polished look.

Take a step back and admire your sparkling clean quad!