There is one fundamental factor that enables a machine or any mechanical device at all to last longer.
And that’s maintenance culture.
Maintaining a piece of equipment will enable that equipment to last longer and remain in a good condition for as long as possible.
Knowing how to clean fertilizer spreader ideally is a maintenance culture you shouldn’t neglect.
If you own and use this machine, it is essential you adhere to a certain cleaning procedure, so as to ensure that the fertilizer performs appropriately.
Moreover, cleaning your fertilizer spreader is a straightforward process that anyone can practice.
Below is the ideal procedure for cleaning a fertilizer spreader:
Materials needed:
- Brush
- Pressure washer
- Water
- Lubricant
Step 1:
The very first thing to do when cleaning a fertilizer spreader is to empty the hopper on the spreader, so as to get rid of any remaining product in the machine.
It is essential you remove all fertilizer residue to prevent the substance from hiding in certain delicate areas of the spreader.
In order to carry out this step effortlessly, it’s advised you use high-pressure air with the right nozzle.
Step 2:
Wash the spreader thoroughly by using a pressure washer.
The pressure washer is often recommended when cleaning a big fertilizer spreader, so as to enable you to wash the machine faster and easier.
However, in the process of cleaning your fertilizer spreader with a pressure washer, you must be careful not to allow water to touch the electrical components of the machine.
If water accidentally comes in contact with some wiring and electrical components of a fertilizer spreader, some serious damage can be done.
Trust me, you wouldn’t want to create more problems by trying to eradicate a problem.
Related: Here is an article I wrote on how to keep a fertilizer spreader from rusting
Step 3:
The next important thing to do after washing the fertilizer spreader is to let it dry.
Ensure that the machine is completely dried and rid of every drop of water or moisture.
Otherwise, the spreader would be corroded quickly.
Corrosion on a fertilizer spreader is primarily caused by constant dampness. Always leave the spreader to dry totally after washing.
Step 4:
Immediately the fertilizer dries, the next and last important thing to do is to lubricate the machine.
Applying lubricant is a sure way to prevent your fertilizer spreader from rusting quickly.
You can check the manufacture’s instructions on how to lubricate the spreader, so you can be certain you’re doing the right thing.
The manufacturer’s instructions will also enable us to know the right lubricant to use in this process, and how to go about it as well.
Once you’ve completed the entire cleaning process of your fertilizer spreader, ensure you store the machine in a clean and dry location, away from direct sunlight.
Should you wash a fertilizer spreader?
The need for washing a fertilizer spreader is as important as the functions of the spreader itself.
It’s funny how many people who use spreaders believe that the device doesn’t necessarily need to be kept clean since it’s being used outdoor.
This is a fallacious belief that affects the maintenance culture of these users.
Just as you think it’s right to wash your car or motorcycle, it’s also appropriate for you to clean your fertilizer spreader by washing, drying, and lubricating it properly.
Cleaning a fertilizer spreader shouldn’t be done only for the sake of hygiene, but to also maintain the machine and enable it to perform efficiently.
The moment you stop washing your spreader regularly, granules and fertilizer residue will begin to pile up in certain delicate areas of the spreader.
This can result in a serious mechanical problem in the long run.
For you to avert a problem such as this that can cause you to spend money to even purchase another spreader, you should always keep your fertilizer spreader clean.
More importantly, when you constantly maintain this mechanical device by cleaning it properly, you would rarely encounter operational problems.
The spreader would perform ideally, enabling you to enjoy the process of using it.
How often should I clean my fertilizer spreader?
It’s quite important for you to understand how frequently a fertilizer should be cleaned, so as to enable you to know the right time to carry out the cleaning process.
Based on advice from experts, a fertilizer spreader can be cleaned periodically, especially when it’s a small spreader.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you have to clean your spreader every single time you use it. You shouldn’t do that.
The machine is not a human being that needs to necessarily bathe every day of his or her life.
A fertilizer spreader should only be cleaned after it must have been used to perform a large-scale work.
If you are someone who owns a small lawn in your backyard, you don’t necessarily need to clean your spreader each time you use it to spread fertilizer on your lawn.
The reason for this is that your spreader has worked only for a little while and hasn’t acquired much dirt and unwanted substances.
It is ideal for you to wash your fertilizer spreader after you must have used it repeatedly.
More importantly, if you wash your spreader all the time, it may begin to encounter problems such as corrosion.
Remember that you have to use water in cleaning your spreader, and when water comes in contact with the machine all the time, it will definitely get rust.
When your machine begins to get corroded, that’s a bad sign telling you that the machine now has a short lifespan.
Conclusion
Maintenance will always remain the only way to prolong the life of your fertilizer spreader.
And one good way to maintain your spreader is by ensuring that it’s clean.
Interestingly, you don’t necessarily need to wash your spreader before you can keep it clean.
You can simply drive away fertilizer residues in the machine with high-pressure air.
Once these residues have been wiped out, your spreader is more or less clean enough to perform another operation.
Frequent washing will result in corrosion, which is why you should consider using this method sometimes.
