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Maintenance
How to optimize the performance of your brushes.
Introduction.
The management of the brushes revolving around cars is entrusted to a machine whose more or less sophisticated mechanisms are definitely unable to establish whether the brushes are dirty, worn out or spent. This task is the responsability of the car wash owner who is supposed to evaluate the state of reliability of this important working tool designed to remove the dirt from vehicles, with the help of chemicals and high pressure. The materials which make up our brushes are extremely reliable, being the result of more than thirty years of expertise in the industry. Even though technical upgrades allow us to improve greatly, remember that good maintenance standards, combined with the use of optimised chemical products, is decisive to obtain great and long-lasting results.
Main point of reference: the machine manufacturer
Brushes have been appropriately fastened to new car wash systems according to their diameter and density. This original arrangement must be observed for a series of mechanical reasons linked to the design of the machine.
Results determining factors
Environmental
Finding "dried" tufts of brisltes, as if they had turned into plaster, on systems that stayed too long under the sun is not unusual. This phenomenon is commonly called "premature ageing" and can be attributed to a long and idle exposure to ultraviolet rays. Unfortunately, despite the addition of special "anti UV" agents during the manufacturing cycle of the bristles, the only remedy against this inconvenient is to shelter the bristles from the sun whenever the system remains idle for too long.
Mechanical
Always monitor the system for the brushes to plunge into the car in a calibrated way. Some "do it yourself" operations enhance the damping factor, which was not provided for at the time the brushes were manufactured. Damages to cars or brushes are therefore linked to maintenance practices performed by unskilled personnel or with second-hand spare parts.
Chemical
As far as washing is concerned, the chemical industry provides a strategic range of support. Shampoos, emulsions, waxes and so on to revamp your car in no time. The recommended quantities of products must be strictly observed to avoid just the opposite. In any case, to prevent chemical product residuals from lingering on the bristles too long, it is advisable to rinse off the brushes at night before closing. Micro acid emulsions are available on the market that suppress some forms of dirt within a couple of seconds; in fact, they are real time-delayed bombs likely to explode in the hands of the car wash dealer or in those of the motorist. It does not take much: just leave the product dry to a couple of extra minutes for the inox grill to be full of indelible shadows or gaskets to weaken. Basically, the "detergent" turns into a corrosive agent... These micro emulsions or similar products must be handled with the utmost care and only whenever no other solutions are available (obviously, after having ascertained their biodegradability). Very strong detergents are rather difficult to handle and may also damage the bristles badly. The report of the analysis performed on some "active shampoos" is adamant; they are lethal to brushes if used in improper quantities or with incorrect times of exposure. Cleaning the brushes must be done only out of necessity and with reliable products. Warning: clogged brushes clearly indicate that the daily detergents used on the system are inefficient, that the percentage of calcium contained in the water is too high and/or that the recycling devices are defective. Moreover, the centrifugal force tends to self-clean the brush: using additional products does not solve the problem and is likely to make it worse.
When do you change a brush?
Determining exactly when to change the brushes is not always easy. However, considering the frequency with which this query has been made, we suggest to all car wash owners to check the tip of the bristles (the last 10 cm.) to see if they're becoming thinner. Although it is generally assumed that bristles getting shorter is a sign of wear and tear, it is actually their getting thinner which is a clear indication. The fibres getting thinner makes the washing process less efficient. One set of brushes shouldn't be working for longer than two years: extra factors such as atmospheric agent or chemical products are anyway degrading the bristles.