What is a Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment?
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment are workers who manually or mechanically wash, polish, wax, or clean vehicles, equipment, or machinery. This occupation includes car wash attendants, vehicle detailers, bus washers, aircraft cleaners, and heavy equipment degreasers. The goal is to ensure vehicles and equipment are visually appealing, sanitary, and free of dirt that could hinder operation or inspection.
Typical Education
No formal educational credential is typically required. Most positions are entry-level and new hires receive short-term on-the-job training covering proper cleaning techniques, chemical safety, and the use of specialized cleaning tools (e.g., pressure washers, buffers).
Salary Range in the United States
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment (excluding boat and aircraft cleaners) as of May 20234, the salary range was:
Median Annual Wage: $35,250
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Day in the Life of a Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment
The work environment can vary significantly, ranging from climate-controlled detailing shops to outdoor washing bays or industrial maintenance garages. The job is physically active and often involves exposure to water, cleaning solutions, and sometimes loud machinery.
Typical daily tasks often include:
- Exterior Washing: Operating automated car wash equipment or using hoses, brushes, and specialized soaps to manually clean vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, or heavy machinery).
- Interior Detailing: Vacuuming, shampooing upholstery, cleaning windows, and polishing interior surfaces.
- Applying Treatments: Applying wax, protective coatings, or specialized compounds to vehicles or equipment.
- Inspection: Performing a final check to ensure all spots, streaks, or debris have been removed to meet quality standards.
- Chemical Handling: Mixing cleaning agents and disposing of waste water and chemicals according to safety protocols.
- Maintaining Equipment: Performing basic maintenance on cleaning equipment, such as refilling soaps or clearing automatic wash tracks.
How to Become a Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment
- Possess Physical Ability: Be able to stand for long periods, crouch, reach, and lift equipment like buckets, hoses, and buffers.
- Seek Entry-Level Positions: Apply to employers like car wash services, auto dealerships, rental car companies, transit authorities, or fleet maintenance garages.
- Learn Safety and Technique: Receive on-the-job training focused on proper use of chemicals and tools, efficient cleaning practices, and adherence to company quality standards.
Essential Skills
- Physical Stamina: The endurance to perform repetitive and strenuous tasks, often in wet or outdoor conditions.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulousness in spotting and removing dirt, stains, or streaks to deliver a high-quality finish.
- Time Management: Ability to work quickly and efficiently, especially in high-volume environments like automated car washes or busy detailing centers.
- Knowledge of Cleaning Agents: Basic understanding of which chemicals and tools are appropriate for different surfaces (e.g., paint, glass, chrome).
- Customer Service (for Detailers/Car Washes): Professionalism and courtesy when interacting with clients and processing payments.
Key Responsibilities
- Thorough Cleaning: Ensuring all assigned vehicles or equipment are cleaned to the required standard, both inside and out.
- Resource Management: Minimizing waste of water, cleaning products, and materials.
- Equipment Care: Operating cleaning machinery (like buffers and pressure washers) correctly and safely to prevent damage to the equipment or the vehicle being cleaned.
- Safety Adherence: Following all guidelines for handling chemicals, working around moving equipment, and maintaining a clean, slip-free work area.
Questions?