Choosing the right truck wash chemicals is critical for fleets looking to protect equipment, reduce corrosion, and maintain a professional appearance. With so many products available, fleet managers often ask the same question: what truck wash chemicals should I use?

The answer depends on contamination type, vehicle materials, climate, and wash frequency. This guide explains the different types of professional truck wash chemicals, what each one does, and how fleets should use them—especially when purchasing truck wash chemicals in bulk for commercial use.

What Truck Wash Chemicals Should I Use for Fleets?

Fleets require commercial-grade truck wash chemicals designed for frequent washing, heavy road film, and consistent results. Passenger vehicle soaps are not designed to handle the contamination trucks accumulate daily. Regular fleet washing is important for many fleets.

A complete fleet truck wash chemical program typically includes:

• Low pH presoak cleaners for road salt and mineral removal
• High pH alkaline soaps for grease and organic road film
• Aluminum cleaners or aluminum brighteners for tanks and trailer rails
• Neutralizers or rinse aids to stabilize surface pH
• Undercarriage detergents for corrosion prevention

For most fleets, the industry standard is a two-step truck wash process using both low pH and high pH chemicals.

Why One Truck Wash Chemical Is Not Enough

Road film is a complex mixture of:

• Oils and grease
• Road salt and minerals
• Brake dust
• Environmental fallout

These contaminants carry both positive and negative electrical charges. Because of this, no single chemical can remove all contaminants effectively.

This is why two-step truck wash chemicals are used in professional fleet washing instead of one-step soaps.

What Is the Best Truck Wash Chemical for Road Salt?

The best truck wash chemical for road salt is a low pH, acid-based presoak, used as the first step in a two-step cleaning process.

Road salt—especially calcium chloride and magnesium chloride—is mineral-based. Alkaline-only soaps cannot neutralize these salts.

What a Low pH Presoak Does

• Breaks down mineral-based road salt
• Neutralizes corrosive residues
• Releases salt trapped beneath road film
• Helps reduce aluminum oxidation

Low pH presoaks are essential for cleaning:

• Frames and undercarriages
• Fuel tanks
• Trailer rails
• Wheels and steps

Without this step, salt residue remains bonded to surfaces even after rinsing. Learn more about the effects of salt residue and how to clean it.

High pH Alkaline Soaps: Completing the Cleaning Process

After salt and minerals are loosened by the acid presoak, a high pH alkaline soap completes the wash.

What High pH Truck Wash Soaps Remove

• Grease and oils
• Organic road film
• Traffic grime
• Contaminants loosened in the first step

The alkaline soap also neutralizes acidic residue from the presoak, leaving surfaces clean and balanced.

Comparison Table: Types of Truck Wash Chemicals

Aluminum Cleaning: A Key Part of Truck Wash Chemistry

Aluminum surfaces are especially vulnerable to road salt exposure. Salt accelerates aluminum oxidation, leading to dullness and chalky buildup.

Using the correct aluminum cleaner:

• Controls oxidation buildup
• Reduces the need for aggressive brighteners
• Protects fuel tanks and trailer rails
• Extends aluminum component life

Low pH presoaks play a key role in aluminum maintenance when applied correctly and rinsed thoroughly. Learn more about how to clean aluminum on semi trucks.

Why Two-Step Truck Wash Chemicals Are the Industry Standard

Two-step truck wash chemicals are considered the industry standard because they provide consistent results, ease of use, and superior cleaning on irregularly shaped vehicles.

Unlike brushing systems, two-step chemicals clean without physical contact, which is critical for modern fleets.

Key Advantages of Two-Step Truck Wash Chemicals

Ease of Use

• Simple application process
• Minimal manual labor required
• Repeatable results across different operators

Effective on Irregular Vehicle Shapes

• Cleans mirrors, antennas, sensors, hoses, and brackets
• Reaches complex contours and uneven surfaces
• Ideal for tankers, flatbeds, refuse trucks, and specialty equipment

Touchless Cleaning Without Brushing

• No physical contact reduces damage risk
• No brush wear or maintenance
• Eliminates concerns with sensitive equipment

Improved Corrosion Protection

• Neutralizes salt instead of spreading it
• Removes trapped contaminants under road film
• Helps prevent long-term rust and oxidation

Industry corrosion studies show that untreated road salt can increase corrosion rates by 30–40%, especially on undercarriage and aluminum components. Two-step chemistry addresses this risk directly.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Truck Wash Chemicals

Understanding what truck wash chemicals to use is essential for protecting fleet equipment and controlling maintenance costs.

Key takeaways:

• Road salt requires chemical neutralization, not just rinsing
• Low pH and high pH chemicals work together
• Two-step truck wash chemicals clean without brushing
• Irregularly shaped vehicles benefit most from touchless cleaning
• Bulk truck wash chemicals improve consistency and efficiency

Using the right professional truck wash chemicals helps fleets maintain cleaner equipment, reduce corrosion, and extend vehicle life. 

Get in touch with a professional or view our product line here. You can also give us a call at (616) 777-7175 or email us at help@washproduct.com if you have any questions.