Cleaning routines you recommend?

[davecox37]

I am struggling with this and have been using the rinse cycle only at a pressure washer place and other than that, I use waterless wash by hand with microfiber cloths.

grok told me I should be able to go in a touch less car wash, but had seen problem posts re: car wash mode and so forth before so hesitant. any experience?

the mud flaps and stuff don't get clean enough with a pressure wash and need scrubbing but I'm also hesitatant to use the soap brush near the stainless in case of accidental scratching.

anyone have a routine that works to keep cyber clean and looking top notch?

I also wondered about getting a ceramic coating done to make it easier. appreciate any thoughts and advice, thanks!

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[Coolhandz]

I am struggling with this and have been using the rinse cycle only at a pressure washer place and other than that, I use waterless wash by hand with microfiber cloths.

grok told me I should be able to go in a touch less car wash, but had seen problem posts re: car wash mode and so forth before so hesitant. any experience?

the mud flaps and stuff don't get clean enough with a pressure wash and need scrubbing but I'm also hesitatant to use the soap brush near the stainless in case of accidental scratching.

anyone have a routine that works to keep cyber clean and looking top notch?

I also wondered about getting a ceramic coating done to make it easier. appreciate any thoughts and advice, thanks!

Only used a car wash once in 20k miles after an off-road excursion. Brushless without issue. Otherwise just ammonia free Sprayway and half a dozen micro fibers. Once in a great while, if it's really bad, a generic car wash soap with a hand sponge then wipe with microfiber and Sprayway to clean up the windows.

 

[That Beast Mode]

I've never been to a car wash with my CT because washing my vehicles myself brings me joy. First I go over any fingerprints or tough dirt with either windex or BKF if its stubborn. Then I use the power washer with the foam cannon filled with water, dawn and simply green. Put some elbow grease in with a sponge and rinse clean. Leaf blower excess water off then microfiber dry. For me the glass is the biggest pain in the ass. I got a cleaning wand thing you put microfiber cloths on with an extension pole but I have yet to test it out for the glass.

 

[CyberGus]

I just completely refinished the frunk lid to eliminate some deep scratches, and it looks perfect. Too damn perfect, in fact, compared to the rest of the truck

It will get little scratches over time, and they'll all sort of blend in. I never even realized until I refinished a panel.

I'll be trying out a ceramic coating, but I'm waiting for the weather to cooperate.

"Out Of Spec Detailing" has a number of Cybertruck videos:

https://www.youtube.com/@OutofSpecDetailing/search?query=cybertruck

 

[That Beast Mode]

I just completely refinished the frunk lid to eliminate some deep scratches, and it looks perfect. Too damn perfect, in fact, compared to the rest of the truck

It will get little scratches over time, and they'll all sort of blend in. I never even realized until I refinished a panel.

I'll be trying out a ceramic coating, but I'm waiting for the weather to cooperate.

"Out Of Spec Detailing" has a number of Cybertruck videos:

https://www.youtube.com/@OutofSpecDetailing/search?query=cybertruck

Gus what did you use to refinish the frunk lid? Did you just do BKF or you went through the whole sanding disc process? I've thought about doing this and then putting a clear wrap on the truck. I love the stock stainless look and dont want to change it with a wrap, but it is a pain in the ass to clean. I wonder if they have a stainless steel wrap that looks oem instead of clear.

 

[SlegMD]

City slicker CTs generally need some kind of soap surfactant use once weekly, maybe biweekly, in my experience Otherwise you can use spray away for touch ups. For road grime etc. Non-wrapped.

 

[Peterwtf]

I take my CT into a car wash 2-3 times a week. As long as nothing snags, you won’t have any problems. Water will get into your vault, but that’s not an issue. I think most owners over think about cleaning. I’ve tried some of the expensive sprays and can’t tell much difference. I don’t have any kind of wrap on my CT and will say it gets dirty easily. I went into a $10 drive thru car wash near my house, towel dry the access water and it was so easy and clean. I liked it so much, I joined the monthly car wash for $25, unlimited wash or something like that. ive been doing this for almost a year and I think it’s the best.

 

[4 SPACE]

Hand wash for personal satisfaction, once a week. I use Exoforma products especially the oversize microfiber towels to dry work great

 

[hemiarch]

I have a membership to a car wash and run my car through at least once a week usually.
I do have PPF and ceramic on mine but purely for cosmetics and ease of cleaning, not protection.
In general, if it doesn’t survive the dishwasher it doesn’t survive our kitchen and I feel the same way about cars. They are here to serve me and not he other way round

 

[4 SPACE]

I have a membership to a car wash and run my car through at least once a week usually.
I do have PPF and ceramic on mine but purely for cosmetics and ease of cleaning, not protection.
In general, if it doesn’t survive the dishwasher it doesn’t survive our kitchen and I feel the same way about cars. They are here to serve me and not he other way round

I pay a car wash company to wash service trucks and my other personal cars. Ive never like the sound of the drive thru car wash brushes smacking the paint. But since day 1 I have washed the CT and Y. Gives me some exercise but they just seem simple to wash maybe because of all the black plastic and glass

 

[hemiarch]

I pay a car wash company to wash service trucks and my other personal cars. Ive never like the sound of the drive thru car wash brushes smacking the paint. But since day 1 I have washed the CT and Y. Gives me some exercise but they just seem simple to wash maybe because of all the black plastic and glass

If it’s meditative for you, absolutely. I don’t care for it so it’s not a great way to spend my limited r&r time.
I really do respect people who do that. Just not for me.

 

[L3it3R]

When it gets too muddy to see the steel, I wash it off.

I did two BKF w/random orbital polisher when I first got it, but 20 months later I just rinse it off once in a while.

 

[CyberGus]

Gus what did you use to refinish the frunk lid? Did you just do BKF or you went through the whole sanding disc process?

I used a DA polisher and nonwoven pads of various grits, following the Tesla procedure. It cleaned up the scratches nicely, and looked absolutely perfect… except for the “lawnmower stripes” visible in the sun. I imagine it’s due to the DA instead of a true random-orbital.

I was able to eliminate it with repeated passes of cross-hatching and circular motions. It was much more work than I expected but hopefully I’ve got the hang of it now.

 

[That Beast Mode]

I used a DA polisher and nonwoven pads of various grits, following the Tesla procedure. It cleaned up the scratches nicely, and looked absolutely perfect… except for the “lawnmower stripes” visible in the sun. I imagine it’s due to the DA instead of a true random-orbital.

I was able to eliminate it with repeated passes of cross-hatching and circular motions. It was much more work than I expected but hopefully I’ve got the hang of it now.

I've heard its a pain in the ass... Hope you were wearing PPE instead of breathing that shit in. You planning to do the whole truck now?

 

[CyberGus]

I've heard its a pain in the ass... Hope you were wearing PPE instead of breathing that shit in. You planning to do the whole truck now?

It’s not like sanding wood, there’s no spray of dust. Very little material is removed, and most stays on the surface. Plus, I was outside, so I didn’t feel a mask was necessary.

I started with a courser grit for defect removal, but I’ll use just the finer grit on the rest of the truck to shine it up.

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