Touted as bulletproof, Tesla’s Cybertruck stainless steel body is vulnerable to smudges, streaking, watermarks, staining, fingerprints, and scratches. Although considered rust-resistant, stainless steel will corrode if not properly cleaned. Cybertruck’s are covered in a 3mm thick, proprietary 300 series (called 3-O-X) lean alloy cold-rolled stainless steel. This makes the metal very hard, strong and heavy, as well as difficult and expensive to shape and bend (which is why a Cybertruck’s body lacks soft curves). It also makes it stubborn to maintainall reasons there have been few stainless steel-body cars in the history of the automobile industry.
While there is considerableand conflictinginformation on the internet about how to properly and safely clean a Cybertruck’s stainless steel exterior, the Cybertruck’s owner’s manual lists 12 cautions and warnings for properly cleaning the exterior stainless steel. I spoke to several knowledgeable experts in auto collision repair, vehicle detailing, and metallurgy who have worked with stainless steel. Here’s what we learned.
Why Is It Important to Clean Tesla Cybertruck’s Correctly?
First, unlike a traditional painted finish, Cybertruck’s stainless steel has no clearcoat or other protective coatings. This leaves the matte (or semi-gloss) stainless steel surface exposed to a variety of harsh natural and man-made contaminantsskin oils, salt, acid rain, tree sap, road debris, brake dust, bird droppings, microplastics, and even plain water.
According to John Jacobs, NIMS certified master machinist, “cold rolled stainless steel is not perfectly smooth,” and stainless steel may have a texture, which one stainless steel cleaner’s directions call “directional grain.” This allows contaminants to cling to the uneven surface and, if not properly removed, leaves stubborn stains and watermarks and darkens the stainless finish. Therefore, to protect a Cybertruck’s stainless steel, it needs to be washed differently than a traditional vehicle.
How to Clean a Tesla Cybertruck Properly
SAFETY FIRST: Read the owner’s manual and understand all manufacturer’s warnings when washing or cleaning any electric vehicle (EV), including hybrids, full EVs, plug-in hybrids, or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Tools Required
- Garden hose with spray nozzle
- Large clean bucket (2-optional)
- Leaf or power blower (optional)
- New loose-napped, ultra-soft microfiber wash mitt
- New microfiber cloths
- New microfiber mop head
- Power washer and foam cannon or foam gun (optional)
Materials Required
- Bar Keepers Friend (optional)
- Isopropyl alcohol (optional)
- pH-neutral car shampoo
- Water
Step-by-Step
Built like a truck, the Cybertruck’s stainless steel has to be treated with “kid-gloves” when cleaning. Unfortunately, this truck is so new that there is still a lot of conflicting information on how to properly clean the external body panels. Here are the basic steps, followed by a list of dos and don’ts from the experts (and even the ubiquitous “try in an inconspicuous area first to test the results” warning).
- Fill clean buckets with fresh, cool water.
- Detailing and vinyl wrap expert Brett Magloff recommends using two buckets: one for shampoo and the other for clean water. The latter is used to rinse debris from the wash mitt after being used on the vehicle.
- Working in the shade, use cool water to thoroughly rinse the exterior to remove loose dirt and road debris.
- Keeping at least 12 inches from the vehicle, use a pressure washer and foam canon (or a garden hose and foam gun) to completely cover it in a heavy, thick coat of car shampoo.
- Before using a pressure washer, soap cannon or gun, read and follow all of the manufacturer’s safety precautions, including wearing the appropriate personal protection equipment. Also, correctly follow the manufacturer’s shampoo-to-water ratiosthis is one of those times when “one is good, two is better” isn’t the best idea.
- If using a wash mitt, Rocco Sexton, an American Welding Society (AWS) certified welder and metals expert, said, “Only use new or tools dedicated [to cleaning stainless steal], when working with stainless steel.” Sexton explained, “Using anything that touched another surface, especially anything that contains metal can cause rust or oxidize, will transfer contaminates to stainless steel resulting in staining, scratching or corrosion.”
- Using a wash mitt, slowly and deliberately wash the vehicle in a side-to-side motion only (not in circles). Magloff recommends that “because of a Cybertruck’s ‘acreage,’ using a microfiber mop head (on an extendable pole) will make the job go quicker.”
- Rinse the wash mitt in the second bucket filled only with clean water often to remove trapped dirt and debris before reloading up the wash mitt with fresh shampoo mixture.
- Rinse the entire truck with lots of clean, fresh water.
- Quickly dry the vehicle. First, use the blower to force water from all the vehicle’s nooks and crannies, and then finish drying it in straight lines with microfiber towels.
Cybertruck Cleaning Dos and Don’ts
Do
- … check product ingredients and safety labels before using on stainless steel.
- … place the vehicle in “Car Wash Mode” if you must use an automatic wash facility.
- … use a microfiber towel or chamois dampened with water to thoroughly remove, then dry streaks or watermarks.
- … use a non-ionic, pH-neutral, waterless wash with a high-quality microfiber towel to “dry wash” the vehicle.
- … use isopropyl alcohol or Bar Keepers Friend to remove tree sap, bug splatter or stubborn fingerprints. Flush with lots of clean water when finished.
- … wash and dry the body panels in back-and-forth motions. Without a protective coating, rotating in a circular motion will leave swirl marks.
Don’t…
- … aim the pressure washer or hose nozzle directly at any openings, seams, window or door openings, and lowor high-voltage charging ports.
- … use Dawn Detergent. According to the Proctor and Gamble Customer Service and Support hotline, although Dawn products are fine for kitchen stainless steel appliances and traditional tires and wheels, they have not been tested for safe use on Cybertruck’s stainless steel panels.
- … let shampoo or water dry on the vehicle.
- … use harsh detergents or high alkaline or acidic (pH) cleaning solvents or agents.
- … use hot water.
- … use window cleaners containing ammonia or vinegar or add caustic windshield washer fluid enhancers to the washer solvent. For example: ammonia a is a base, with a pH of around 11 (an alkaline); while vinegar (an acidic) has a pH of 2; water has a pH of 7, or neutral.
- … wash in direct sunlight.
- … wash the vehicle while charging.
Optional methods to try
Even the experts have differing opinions on this, so if you’re inclined, try these methods in a small, inconspicuous area to test the results before investing too much money and time.
- Applying a “quick detailer” spray. Some contain wax that may affect the stainless finish.
- Ceramic coating. If not done properly, it will highlight stainless steel imperfections, and it is incredibly difficult to remove.
- Metal polish for uncoated metal. A Cybertruck’s stainless steel has a sheen; polish could make it shine.
- Using a clay bar to remove contaminates. If done incorrectly, clay-barring any vehicle can cause deep, challenging-to-remove scratches
About The Experts
- Rocco Sexton has over 35 years of experience as a fully certified and credentialed American Welding Society (AWS) welder, shop supervisor, business owner and is a recognized expert in metallurgy. Seven years ago, Rocco left industry and is currently a certified Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Welding and Fabrication Technology instructor at North Montco Technical Career Center in Lansdale (NMTCC), PA., preparing the next generation of welding technicians.
- John Jacobs has over 30 years of experience as a fully certified NIMS master/journeyman machinist and accomplished tool and diemaker. Eight years ago, John left industry and is currently a certified PDE Computer Integrated Machining Technology instructor at NMTCC, training the next generation of urgently needed machinists/technicians.
- Brett Magloff has over nine years’ experience as an expert vehicle wrap installer and automotive detailer at Apple Graphics, Inc., located in Ivyland, PA.
Resources
- SAE International: “Tesla’s Cybertruck is audaciously austenitic” (2020)
- Kloeckner Metals Corporation: “Types of Stainless Steel and Their Grades” (2021)
- Tesla, Inc.: “Cybertruck Owner’s Manual” (2024)
- The Wall Street Journal: “The Toughest Part About Owning a $100,000 Tesla Cybertruck? Cleaning It.” (2024)
- Bob Hunter, ASE Master and I-CAR ProLevel Auto Collision Repair Technician and certified Pennsylvania Department of Education Auto Collision Repair instructor; email interview Oct. 11, 2024
- Chemical Guys, a world leader in the detailing and car care industry, technical support hotline; phone and email interview with Robert, technical support specialist, Oct. 14, 2024
- Procter and Gamble (P&G), the largest consumer goods company in the world, technical support hotline; phone interview with Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, consumer support specialist Billy Jean, Oct. 14, 2024
- Meguiar’s, one of the world’s leading surface care product companies, providing highly specialized products for almost every conceivable type of surface, technical support hotline; phone interview with Lance, product specialist, Oct. 14, 2024
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