Keeping a cab clean, how do you do it?

[dntfxr]

I'm looking for suggestions on keeping out mud when it's wet, and dust the rest of the time. So far I only have a towel I keep on the floor next to the door and I wipe off excess mud that I can't scrape off on the tires or step. I also have a disposable duster I stole from my wife that works really well for the dust on the glass and interior panels. I've been kicking around gabbing a boot scraper and/or a piece of bristle welcome mat on the step. Also I'm considering finding a small rechargeable vacuum I can leave in the cab. Any suggestions? Surely someone has this figured out by now, but I haven't had a cab tractor since riding in my Dad's IH when I was a toddler. I did a search but didn't find a ton, maybe I used the wrong words... All replies are appreciated!

 

[Gordon Gould]

I don't have a cabbed tractor but my one-ton has all the problems you describe and more. I just let it build up instead of spending a lot of time fighting the grime. And then sometime I have the air hose out I just open the doors and blast her out. I call it the construction special - interior car care.

gg

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

I'm having a hard time telling if this is tounge-in-cheek or not. Surly it is?! Perhaps I am incorrect assuming that the op is referring to a tractor cab.

 

[Gordon Gould]

No I think he is honestly trying to keep his tractor cab clean. There is nothing wrong with that in my book. It is just very hard to do and keep up with. To hard for me anyway.

gg

 

[jenkinsph]

I use my Stihl backpack blower to blow out the pickup and tractor cabs. I avoid muddy conditions as much as I can but sometimes I have no choice. So when I get mud in the cabs I have one of my guys clean it out. JK

 

[cat fever]

Having a dirty/dusty cab bothers me like crazy.
I just clean them a couple times a year. More if needed. The mat comes out so I just hose it off and wipe the rest down with a damp cloth.
If you come across a better way please share.

 

[Pipestone Kid]

My friend has the perfect answer---He has his WIFE do it!!!

 

[Apsterbobed]

I don't have a cab so I don't have to deal with the glass but I just kick off the boots on the step and try to avoid playing in the mud. A few time in the summer I will hit it with compressed air or maybe the preasure washer if it's real bad. Same thing with the work truck, just dump the floor mats out and wipe the windows down when it's hard to see through them. Maybe cut a rubber mat to fit then you can just dump it out.

 

[jenkinsph]

I don't have a cab so I don't have to deal with the glass but I just kick off the boots on the step and try to avoid playing in the mud. A few time in the summer I will hit it with compressed air or maybe the preasure washer if it's real bad. Same thing with the work truck, just dump the floor mats out and wipe the windows down when it's hard to see through them. Maybe cut a rubber mat to fit then you can just dump it out.

I always get Ford XLT interiors in my Ford service trucks but go with carpet delete and get the rubber floor mats. Way easier to keep clean imo.

 

[5030]

No I think he is honestly trying to keep his tractor cab clean. There is nothing wrong with that in my book. It is just very hard to do and keep up with. To hard for me anyway.

gg

Both my M's stay fairly clean and I farm. I blow 'em out with an air hose when I fuel them in the evening.

 

[joefromga]

Plowing in the rain?

 

[prs]

I have no cab, but the super powerful backpack blower has replaced the water hose for me. Danged thing will almost blow the paint off of the metal. The only better suggestion I have is don't get out of the cab where it is muddy. Park tractor and implements on gravel or pavement and have gravel or paved walk ways around the barn yard. When working around barn yards it is good practice to wear rubber over boots that can be easily removed before tracking filth into living quarters, maybe that could work for keeping the cab clean.

One of big reasons to run with a cap is to avoid allergens and toxins that can make you feel bad or make you sick; so in that regard the cabs do need to be kept clean.

prs

 

[cat fever]

Plowing in the rain?

Funny you mention that. I will wait as long as possible for a rain storm, then hit the field the next day.

 

[PHPaul]

I'm not especially fussy about such things, so vacuuming it out once a month or so and Windex on the glass as necessary to be able to see well covers it for me. I have taken the rubber floor mat out for a good scrubbing and vacuumed under it . I've also wiped down the plastic with Armor All once since I bought the tractor in April.

My wife gives me a rift of shat about it.

My cleaning is mostly about not allowing dirt to build up, hold moisture and start rusting things. Appearance is secondary, it IS a tractor.

 

[joefromga]

Just have your guy do it. I have my guy do all that stuff. He's pressure washing something as I type.

You have a guy, don't you?

 

[Jerry/MT]

I'm looking for suggestions on keeping out mud when it's wet, and dust the rest of the time. So far I only have a towel I keep on the floor next to the door and I wipe off excess mud that I can't scrape off on the tires or step. I also have a disposable duster I stole from my wife that works really well for the dust on the glass and interior panels. I've been kicking around gabbing a boot scraper and/or a piece of bristle welcome mat on the step. Also I'm considering finding a small rechargeable vacuum I can leave in the cab. Any suggestions? Surely someone has this figured out by now, but I haven't had a cab tractor since riding in my Dad's IH when I was a toddler. I did a search but didn't find a ton, maybe I used the wrong words... All replies are appreciated!

I clean our tractors once a year whether they need it or not!(Grin).

Seriously, a whisk broom and a shop vac is what I use on the cab. The shop vac can get dust and hay chaff that is otherwise hard to get at. Personally I think some better design could make cab tractors stay cleaner. A removable floor mat made of astroturf type material that is removable and can be hosed off and is cut to the floor shape would be a starter. I found some outdoor carpet at Costco and I'm going to make my own as a project.
As far as the open station machines, they get a pressure washing once a year. I don't do much farming on our cow calf operation so plowing and disking etc aren't a part of our operation. We do cut hay, however.

 

[cat fever]

Just have your guy do it. I have my guy do all that stuff. He's pressure washing something as I type.

You have a guy, don't you?

I would have my guy do it, but, he is off shore checking on all my accounts.:cool2:

 

[coobie]

I'm looking for suggestions on keeping out mud when it's wet, and dust the rest of the time. So far I only have a towel I keep on the floor next to the door and I wipe off excess mud that I can't scrape off on the tires or step. I also have a disposable duster I stole from my wife that works really well for the dust on the glass and interior panels. I've been kicking around gabbing a boot scraper and/or a piece of bristle welcome mat on the step. Also I'm considering finding a small rechargeable vacuum I can leave in the cab. Any suggestions? Surely someone has this figured out by now, but I haven't had a cab tractor since riding in my Dad's IH when I was a toddler. I did a search but didn't find a ton, maybe I used the wrong words... All replies are appreciated!

Hand held leaf blower..

 

[Looking4new]

I clean mine once a year with the shop vac.

 

[dntfxr]

Thanks for the replies. Some good suggestions so far, and yeah no tongue n cheek I got serious mud down here lol. As far as staying out of it, I have no choice until I can improve roads and drainage. That is a process. Feeding animals this time of year it's just wet everywhere and I have to get in and out a lot. I try to scrape most mud off before I get in but it happens. I've got a boot scraper on my porch that works pretty good, I may make something like that and attach to my cab step. When it gets too dirty inside I'll remove the mat and get the shop vac out. I've tried the air hose and stihl blower but it seems to put dust everywhere, I like the shop vac better. But for maintenance between major cleaning I'm thinking a small handheld vac I can plug in the 12v would be nice, and could just be left in the tractor if small enough. Something that small with good enough suction may not exist though. As particular as some are with their tractors I figured someone may have a good solution, but I may be in the minority here with all this riverbank mud!