Career summary

Details for Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment


Description

Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.

Tasks

  • Inspect parts, equipment, or vehicles for cleanliness, damage, and compliance with standards or regulations.
  • Scrub, scrape, or spray machine parts, equipment, or vehicles, using scrapers, brushes, clothes, cleaners, disinfectants, insecticides, acid, abrasives, vacuums, or hoses.
  • Mix cleaning solutions, abrasive compositions, or other compounds, according to formulas.
  • Press buttons to activate cleaning equipment or machines.
  • Clean and polish vehicle windows.
  • Rinse objects and place them on drying racks or use cloth, squeegees, or air compressors to dry surfaces.
  • Drive vehicles to or from workshops or customers' workplaces or homes.
  • Turn valves or handles on equipment to regulate pressure or flow of water, air, steam, or abrasives from sprayer nozzles.
  • Pre-soak or rinse machine parts, equipment, or vehicles by immersing objects in cleaning solutions or water, manually or using hoists.
  • Lubricate machinery, vehicles, or equipment or perform minor repairs or adjustments, using hand tools.
  • Monitor operation of cleaning machines and stop machines or notify supervisors when malfunctions occur.
  • Disassemble and reassemble machines or equipment or remove and reattach vehicle parts or trim, using hand tools.
  • Connect hoses or lines to pumps or other equipment.
  • Maintain inventories of supplies.
  • Apply paints, dyes, polishes, reconditioners, waxes, or masking materials to vehicles to preserve, protect, or restore color or condition.
  • Turn valves or disconnect hoses to eliminate water, cleaning solutions, or vapors from machinery or tanks.
  • Sweep, shovel, or vacuum loose debris or salvageable scrap into containers and remove containers from work areas.
  • Transport materials, equipment, or supplies to or from work areas, using carts or hoists.
  • Collect and test samples of cleaning solutions or vapors.
  • Clean the plastic work inside cars, using paintbrushes.
  • Fit boot spoilers, side skirts, or mud flaps to cars.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Knowledge

None found.

Skills

None found.

Related careers