Prep — masking and protection
Mask pitot tubes, static wicks, antennas, intakes, and exhausts. Cover exposed avionics openings. Document with photos.
Chemistry — pH-neutral only
Aviation washes are pH-neutral, low-foaming, and rinse-clean. No automotive degreasers, no household soaps. Specific brightwork polishes for unpainted metal.
Sequence — top down, sectional
Top down so dirty rinse never crosses clean surfaces. Sectional so soap never dries on paint. Two-bucket method for grit isolation.
Brightwork — separate workflow
Unpainted aluminum, stainless, and titanium get their own polishing workflow — never combined with painted-surface chemistry.
Post-wash inspection
Walk-around inspection for missed spots, water intrusion, and damage to documented condition. Photo log everything.
Key takeaways
- ›Mask sensitive components before any chemistry hits the aircraft.
- ›pH-neutral, low-foam, rinse-clean — nothing else.
- ›Top-down, sectional, two-bucket.
- ›Document with before/after photos every time.