Food trucks are a hip trend in the US. They commonly slow down during winter and uptick the business as spring comes. The beginning of spring is a signal to check, clean, and get ready to have your food truck kicking. It is very important to have a spring-cleaning checklist before you get rolling. This is to keep your food truck looking good as new. 

But where do I start?

How do I perform a general clean-up on my food truck?

These are common questions running in the minds of a food truck operator. The answer is simple. Have a checklist. To help you more, here is a 7-step food truck spring cleaning checklist.

7-Step Food Truck Spring Cleaning Checklist

Step 1 – Start with the food truck’s exterior

Wash your food truck’s exterior starting from the roof. Then, proceed to wash the body, doors, and windows. Do a thorough check of the roof and all the caulking on the door, vents, and windows as you wash them. Look for cracks, holes, or missing caulks. These little issues must be repaired immediately as they can cause serious water damage to your food truck.

Step 2 – Clean the food truck’s tires next

When it comes to cleaning the tires of your food truck, simple dish soap and water can do the trick. Avoid using harsh chemicals as they can cause damage or weaken the tire treads. Inspect the tires while cleaning. Look for cracks between the treads or on the sidewalls. Check the tire pressure. Try filling them up using an automatic air gauge to find the right pressure.

Step 3 – Clean the food truck’s batteries

Warm weather is the best time to address your food truck’s battery problems. The average lifespan of an automotive battery is around three and a half years. Heat, not cold, shortens the battery’s life. Heat causes the fluids in the battery to evaporate and damages its internal structure. 

• The first thing you need to do before cleaning your food truck’s battery is to disconnect all the power. 
• Make sure that all the appliances or equipment are turned off. 
• After doing so, check the battery connections, terminals, and trays for any corrosion while wiping them with a clean rug. 
• Coat the corroded areas with baking soda and pour a little water in each area. 
• Scrub the solution using a bristle brush or an old toothbrush. 
• Make sure that you reconnect the battery properly after cleaning.

Step 4 – Clean the water system

A food truck commonly uses two water tanks: the holding tank and the grey water tank. Start by sanitizing the holding tank using a bleach solution. The common ratio of bleach you will need to use is 1 milliliter of bleach per liter of the water tank’s capacity. 

For example, if your food truck has a 300-liter holding tank, you will need 300 milliliters of bleach. Mix the bleach with water in a gallon jug and pour it on the holding tank. Open all of your food truck’s faucets for water to run until you detect the smell of the bleach. Turn them off and let the solution sit on the holding tank for around 4 hours. 

After the waiting time, drain and refill the tank until the bleach odor and taste subside. Do the same when cleaning your grey water tank. But using 1 part of bleach for every 4 parts of water instead as the cleaning solution.

Step 5 – Clean the food truck’s interior

If possible, remove everything inside the food truck to clean the interior of its body. Like how you clean your kitchen, start cleaning the upper parts going down. 

• Remove everything inside the cabinets then dust and wipe them. Be sure to put everything back in order and group them per inventory. Discard all junk items. 
• Dilute mild dish soap in water to clean the countertops. You may use baking soda solution or vinegar to remove tough dirt. To disinfect, fill a spray bottle with 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide. Spray the natural solution on the surface and wipe. 
• To clean the sink, fill it with a cup of bleach, hot water, and dish soap. Let the solution stand for 1 hour before scrubbing it, then rinse. 
• Remove everything in each of your food truck appliances before cleaning them. These include all items on the oven, stove, refrigerator, etc. Experiment using natural cleaning solutions like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar. They serve both as a mild cleaner and disinfectant. 
• Sweep the floor inside your food truck. Pay attention to recessed areas like space under the stove. Mop it with dish soap and water solution. Add some vinegar to the solution to remove any odor inside the food truck.

Step 6 – Clean and check your food truck’s propane tank

Most food trucks use propane tanks to power up their cooking appliances. To clean such a tank, use a soap and water solution. First, make sure that all connected appliances are off. If possible, disconnect them from the tank. Turn on the leak detector on your food truck. Put the soap and water solution on a spray bottle. Spray and wipe on every section of the propane tank. When you see some bubbles, it indicates a leak. Stop the process and call a professional to check your propane tank. If there’s none, continue with the process until it’s cleansed. 

Step 7 – Clean and check your food truck’s generator

Make sure that the generator is off before cleaning. Get a soap and water solution ready in a spray bottle plus some brittle brush and rags for wiping. Start removing the debris and dirt on the radiator fins. Then, clean the fuel filter, battery, and engine in respective order. It is recommended to change the fuel filters every year. Look for cracks, leaks, loose fittings, and wet spots while doing the cleaning. These are all signs that you need to have your generator inspected by a professional. 

This season is also the best time to shop for new trucks. Head to UsedVending.com now and browse our amazing collection of food trucks.