Essential Tips for Cleaning Your Farm Equipment

Keeping your farm equipment clean often feels like an uphill battle. Farming is dirty work, after all! At the same time, caked-on dirt and grime tends to encourage rusting and deterioration. If you want your farm equipment to last longer and work better, you’ll need to get into the habit of cleaning it on a regular basis. These tips from K.C. Nieslen Ltd. can help you get started.

Develop a Cleaning Routine

How frequently you will need to clean a particular piece of farm equipment depends on two factors: how often you use the equipment, and how heavily you use the equipment. We recommend weekly cleanings at the minimum. These cleanings can also be a good opportunity to inspect your farm equipment for problems. 

Use Appropriate Cleaning Solutions & Tools

Cleaning products are useful for removing contaminants like grease and oil. However, the wrong products can actually cause damage to your equipment. That’s why you should check your owner’s manual to see which cleaning products are designated by the manufacturer as safe to use. It’s also important to remember that while the outside of your farm equipment may be built to withstand the worst of conditions, the internal components may not be as tough. As such, you should only use non-abrasive tools like soft brushes and sponges to clean your equipment’s more sensitive areas. 

Focus on Critical Components

Speaking of internal components, keeping your farm equipment’s engine compartments, hydraulic systems, and electrical components clean and functioning well is just as important as washing the outside. Don’t forget to cleanse your vents and remove dirty filters as well.

Clean Attachments Separately

If your farm equipment utilizes implements or attachments, be sure to remove them before cleaning your equipment. Failure to do so can result in damage or cross-contamination. These implements can usually be cleaned separately. 

Shop farm equipment at K.C. Nielsen Ltd. We operate 11 dealership locations throughout northwest Iowa, including Humboldt, Iowa. We’re proud to serve communities like Fort Dodge, Iowa. We also offer parts ordering, servicing, and financing.