Getting the concrete off from the mixer

Clean tools make for successful concrete pours. From tampers to edgers to floats, all of the tools for your concrete project will work better for you if they are clean. So, after every pour all of the tools must be cleaned so they will be ready for the next use.

That includes the cement mixer. The cement mixer is often the biggest, most obvious tool that remains dirty or isn’t cleaned very well. The excess concrete in the mixer will need more than a quick rinse, guys. This tool needs some extra attention to remain a loyal worker.

Six cubic foot and smaller mixers, sometimes called utility mixers or homeowner mixers, are often run by an electric motor. First of all, always unplug the mixer before rinsing. Be careful when rinsing the outside of the mixer so you don’t get water in the motor. These units don’t have much in the way of mixing paddles and transfer fins. In fact, many of them only have molded-in humps in their puny plastic bodies. A quick wash with a hose and light scrubbing with a brush, or even the palm of your hand, will clean these units up just fine.

Nine cubic foot or larger cement mixers, often called contractor mixers, are usually gasoline powered. The drive mechanism will vary depending on the age of the mixer, but be sure to clean any concrete residue from pulleys or gear drives. The inside of the drum will have true mixing paddles. Concentrate your cleaning efforts on these paddles. The water used to rinse them will help clean the walls of the drum. Stubborn patches of mixer drum may need a brush to scrub them off. The back sides of these paddles will need special attention.

The concrete mixing trailer, with their large capacity, have the most area to clean. They also have not just mixing paddles but transfer fins. Rinse the mixing paddles as you would a contractor mixer, and do this while the drum is rotating in the mix direction. Most of the debris will wash off easily with a garden hose. Leave that water sloshing around for a while since it will clean the walls of the drum and the tank head. To clean the transfer fins, keep the drum rotating in the mix direction, but very slowly. A quick rinse will clean the front of the fins. The place to really pay attention to is the back side of the concrete trailers transfer fins. This spot is the most overlooked and where the most build-up occurs. Cleaning the back side of these fins will ensure the best performance of the mixing trailer. See you at the job site!