Car wash at home.
What all products, techniques or tips do y’all use for washing the car at home. New Tesla owner here wanting to do some self care of the car. TIA.
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What all products, techniques or tips do y’all use for washing the car at home. New Tesla owner here wanting to do some self care of the car. TIA.
Optimum No Rinse, big red sponge, big bucket with a grit guard, griots extra large drying towel. This will cover 95% of your needs and works very well. Then add in ancillary products that you want/need. Bug remover, window cleaner, wheel cleaner, tire shine, interior cleaner, brushes, mf towels, blower, etc. Griots and Adam’s will cover most of your needs to get going then you can branch out to other brands as you go.
You are AWESOME!! Thank you !!!
Same but I use Wolfgang Concours-Series. But pretty much this exact same method. One bucket.
Optimum no rinse. Easy as that.
is this it? would like to buy it in EU Optimum No Rinse Car Wash 236 ml, https://amzn.eu/d/6teCvDw
Yup!
thanks!
I use this is the winter. Works pretty good.
I wanna try that stuff but some of the reviews are kinda scary.
Scary? lol. It works great. I used a diluted version as an interior cleaner and I clean exterior with it every few days. I also keep some as a quick detailer.
It’s super legit. Been using it for 10 years.
Do a pre wash first, don’t overuse the same microfiber (use like a dozen) and it is great. I use a pump sprayer with ONR to pre-rinse, hose that off, then do a rinse less wash with ONR in a bucket. One panel at a time, one microfiber per panel.
Us Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray about twice a year.
I see turtle is for black cars. Think I can use it for stealth grey?
This spray is for any color, and the ratio of “effort” to “result” is great.
https://www.turtlewax.com/products/hybrid-solutions-ceramic-wax-spray-coating-16-fl-oz?variant=30275683352629¤cy=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&campaignid=20208205366&adgroupid=&keyword=&device=m&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADnaw4A_aoOfZaVS5HK8MbH8z_IBs&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrKu2BhDkARIsAD7GBouN6HiGm8E7fm-47XGbRAwwolqNj46ss9b7Dgwa-Z8XCKLUuByfTfwaAk4GEALw_wcB
They’re FOS. It’s fantastic
Can you put this in pressure washer?
I use a different car shampoo for when I give it a full blown wash. I use mcguires car shampoo for that.
I put it in a spray bottle. Keep in frunk with cloths. I can spray and wipe anywhere. I use it on my interior also. But at home I sometimes use a different soap with two buckets and a pressure washer for rinsing it off.
OP here’s your answer.
Discovered it here and it makes it so easy in the cold winters (and hot summers too).
I have so far just rinsed with a hose and nothing else. I am also interested in what others are doing at home to wash their Tesla.
I hope you have deionized or at least soft water doing that. Get a detail kit with a clay bar etc. You can get real fancy with top of the line ceramic products etc but anything is better than nothing.
Wash it (with a car wash soap/shampoo)
Use a clay bar with lubricant (look up videos and you don’t have to do this every wash but do it before using a wax/coating)
Wash again to clean up after clay
Apply a wax
Detail spray like Adam’s is good for the plastic bits and doesn’t leave a greasy residue
Just wash it like a normal car.
I’ve never washed a car as a result would need to buy products & tools, hence my question.
It would be easier to watch a YouTube video on car cleaning/detailing then have people type it out for you here. There are many ways to do it.
2 buckets with a "filter" at the bottom, a car shampoo product, a sponge, and maybe a rim product and brush will get you far enough for a good clean. Then some larger microfiber towels that can hold some water for drying.
I agree that optimum no rinse is a decent solution. I really enjoy the Chemical Bros product lineup, all their stuff is quality and you can’t really go wrong. Pair this with a foam cannon for an iron decon soak prior to contact washing, and the turtle hybrid wax every 3 months or so after drying and you’ll be golden. If you have the $, get it professionally ceramic coated, or if you have the gusto do it yourself!
Yup
I use a Ryobi power washer with Chemical Guys foam cannon and products. I rinse before and after the foam cannon and then hand dry with microfiber towels
This! And get the chemical guys woolly mammoth towel, it’s huge and makes drying a breeze.
There are a lot of good videos on You Tube on how to properly wash your car.
Use good quality wash mitt and microfiber towels. Cheap ones will cause scratches large and small ("the swirlies"). Check out The Rag Company on Amazon.
Use ph neutral soap for cars without any added wax .
Get some kind of wax or sealant on the paint. Getting a full out ceramic coating is nice, but the consumer grade ceramic waxes and sprays do a good job and last up to a year. The stuff you can get from Wal-Mart or AutoZone or whatever are fine (Meguiars, Turtle Wax, Griots, etc.). Get something like Soft99 Fussocoat or Gyeon Can Coat if you want to get fancy.
Dry with a high quality microfiber towel. Use a ceramic detail spray as a drying aid.
Its a car so nothing Tesla special in what I do. Though it is my first new to me car so I do avoid touch car washes when I don't wash at home as they seem a little more abrasive than I'd like.
I have a bunch of griots products, love their synth clays, they've worked well for me. Chemical brothers pads. My water is top charts in "hardness" so I have a 2 stage resin filter that feeds the buckets or pressure washer reduce spotting
Washing at home I have 2 types:
Normal wash/touch up coating:
2 bucket wash with
Hand dry
then ceramic speed shine
Extensive (usually whole weekend so do this spring fall basically):
2 bucket wash but with regular dawn dish soap
Hand dry
Decontamination with synth clay and their car wash in a 2 bucket method (best part of synth clay IMO)
Spray power washer
Hand dry (different sham usually)
bring it into the garage
Orbital pass(es) as needed:
first spring deep clean on panels that didn't show defects with a light or have much during decontamination all in one (im lazy at this point)
after first deep clean+Fall, on panels without defects in light ceramic wax
panels that have defects that take more correction are conditional but some formulation of chemical brothers pads and usually griots pad lubes lol
let it dry for 12+h and hit it again if needed with above
a couple days later basic spray down and finish with a pass of ceramic speed shine
But to each their own, it is technically a car with fairly normal car paint lol! Happy to take constructive criticism
Mr. Pink is what i use on my MY
Foam wash. Spray. Wipe it off with micro fiber. Done
I’m most likely going to be the oddball in this thread.
I use dawn dish soap, a water hose, and a very soft brush. Then I dry with a microfiber towel. For the windows I use Invisible Glass and either paper towels or newspaper if I have any. Interior is done with chemical and scent free baby wipes (floor mats are washed the same as exterior).
I have always washed all my cars this way and don’t feel like changing. If I start getting paint issues on the Tesla I’ll consider a new color wrap or something else but to be quite honest, I’m not very concerned.
I use dawn dish soap
Dish soap will strip away any wax on the car. You will be more likely to develop paint issues, especially if you aren't thoroughly waxing it after you wash it. Products made specifically for washing cars aren't much more expensive than dish soap.
Do what you want, but I wanted to make sure anyone reading this comment understands the downsides.
Heard. Thank you.
1 bottle Optimum No Rinse
10 microfiber towels
1 bucket
You can wash the entire car inside and out
Thanks. I may try that.
This is how i do it every Saturday.
https://youtu.be/gohks8xP5NY?si=OHKOWzfprl939jhl
jeezus... you do all that every week??
Not everything, if you already polish it, it is not necessary every week. Just rims, 2 bucket method etc.
Chemical guys
I've used chemical guys but their products seem kinda meh. Marketing makes it look good but the product itself is too expensive for the quality
Sorry but I’d advise virtually everyone to avoid chemical guys. There are far better products at the same price point.
Recommendations? I got their starter kit because everyone mentions them, but wasn’t impressed. Their wheel cleaner stuff left horrible residue on my Inductions, I found just car wash soap cleaned them better. The glass cleaner bottle they sent me had a broken pump thing and it just leaks all over your hand when you use it. Just frustrating things like that. Bad first impression.
I’m not an expert but using onr for washing, including wheels, invisible glass, griots interior and detail spray, griots xl drying towel. Ironically using cg bug remover which works pretty good.
Ceramic coat it. Hand wash with microfiber towel and blow dry with a Milwaukee leaf blower. ( hand drying with towels leaves swirls )
I use everything Chemical Guys.
Timely post, as I just returned home from my first wash. I was feeling nostalgic, so I picked up a bottle of Armour All to zuzz up the dash - what a mistake. Wild streaking and uneven coverage. Looked terrible on the dash, center console, doors. Hot garbage.
Meguiar’s Deep Crystal Car Wash, rinse, and dry off with Turtle’s Wax & Dry spray (while car is still wet). The wax spray helps to prevent any water spots and leaves behind wax (it lasts like a week).
I use CarPro Reset for my wash. I also touch up with waterless wash using CarPro EcH2O. I also use Adams Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating. I use Invisible Glass on the windows.
Don’t joint r/autodetailing. You’ll never get your free time on weekends back.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
ONR with wax spray, then whatever you want to use for your glass
Had my 2021 3.5 years. I hand washed with big red sponge and microfiber cloths. Sometimes one-bucket, sometimes two-bucket system. Until about 2023 when the build quality started to show — door stuck closed, fold-down sun shade footing ripped off, rattles, and now steering wheel melt.
It doesn’t respect itself, it doesn’t get respect from me. Lease is up in two weeks.
Never wash in direct sunlight or when it’s hot. Do it at sundown or early morning in shade.
Matco wash soap, Di water rinse, blow dry, beadmaker si02 spray seal after.
Meguiars gold class car wash, chemical guys lucent spray wax, invisible glass, and whatever your favorite tire shine is and it’ll look like you paid for an expensive detail. Depending on your driving location you may also need some bug remover for the nose
I got some regular car washing product off Amazon like Mcguire stuff. I just make sure to wash it every 2-3 weeks so it's a simple and quick wash.
Watch YouTube videos from Pan the Organizer, IMJOSHV, Obsessed Garage, and Hawaiian Detailing. They all have great tips and tricks on car washing and the different methods. Obsessed Garage and Hawaiian Detailing have videos where they are actually washing/detailing Teslas. I use ONR as much as possible. It really is my favorite way to wash my Model Y. Best of luck and enjoy your first wash!!!
If you have room to go the power washer route, I have an electric one with the soap cannon attachment that works fantastically. Biggest tip is always use a new or extremely clean microfiber when applying/removing wax etc. The biggest mistake new car guys do is use a dirty applicator.
I was a fan of chemical guys products for my previous ICEs, but since I've moved and changed to a Tesla I haven't had the chance to wash at home anymore.
Wait, people wash their cars?
2 bucket method with foam gun!
Remember...Foam, rinse, foam, contact wash, then rinse, and dry with drying aid.
use this method for major washes. depending on your water hardness, use deionized water for your final rinse to avoid permanent water spots and possible etching. you can incorporate high and low ph soap depening on what you want to remove (ie bugs/road grime/oil film/road salt etc). dont bother with claying...just use decontamination towel instead with iron remover and water spot remover few times a year (follow mfg instructions). just remember hi/low ph soaps will strip wax/sealant off your car so you want to minimize use of these soaps unless it is necessary.
do rinseless washes in between. onr and diy detail riseless wash supposedly can reduce water hardness but havent tested it out. i use regular water to pre-rinse, spray car with rinseless solution andnd use 2 gallons of distilled water with rinseless to wash the car using 10-12 microfiber towels. use 1-2 towel per panel and throw it into a second bucket with mf cleaning solution...then throw them all into washer after you are done.
Shine Supply, their cleaners have matching hose or pressure washer gun/nozzles that dispense soap and foam. They have a soap for ceramic coating/PPF I use and it's great.
ONR all day
Bumper shine spraybox for bumper etc👍