How to Clean & Wash a Cybertruck

The latest Tesla creation has made waves in the automotive industry and also in the detailing industry. The Cybertruck looks like your 8 year old kid drew it but it is packed with technology and wrapped in a stainless steel body that is daunting. Much like the DeLorean in the 80s, the Cybertruck's stainless steel body panels can be tricky to work on. While it is not rocket science you want to be cautious how you clean, wash, and protect this futuristic vehicle as Tesla does not recommend driving the Cybertruck through an automated car wash.

What do you need to clean a Tesla Cybertruck?

While washing and cleaning cars is pretty simple in practice there are so many products on the market now that it can get overwhelming. Adding in the uniqueness of the Cybertruck and you can get even more confused and nervous. The only true issue you want to keep in mind is that the raw stainless steel can get scratched and should be treated much like a matte or satin paint because you should not polish it or be too aggressive in cleaning it. Other than that you can keep your Cybertruck detailing products pretty simple. Here is our list of our tools, chemicals, and supplies we use for cleaning the Cybertruck.

• pH neutral car shampoo is the perfect shampoo to hand wash your Cybertruck without hurting any of the surfaces on the vehicle
• Rinseless wash for faster and more efficient cleaning and amazing for removing fingerprints, bug splatter, and bird droppings
• Waterless Wash for spot cleaning fingerprints, dust, bird droppings, and more
• Iron remover for decontaminating brake dust and iron deposits on the body panels and wheels
• Clay decontamination towel for removing embedded dirt and grime from the stainless body panels and glass as clay towels are not as abrasive as a clay bar
• Microfiber wash mitts for a safe and soft wash media that will not harm the stainless steel panels
• Microfiber drying towels will dry the Cybertruck quickly and efficiently without the risk of marring the stainless steel body panels like a chamois potentially can
• Drying aid for adding lubricity as you dry off the Cybertruck to help prevent swirls and marring
• Ceramic spray coating or a spray wax for adding protection from water spots and dirt and will allow the Cybertruck to stay cleaner more easily
• Wash bucket with a grit guard to help clean off your wash media and remove excess dirt
• Soft detailing brushes for cleaning nooks and crannies without the fear of scratching soft and delicate surfaces

Steps on Cleaning a Tesla Cybertruck

Cleaning a Cybertruck is much like cleaning any other vehicle because we do not recommend cleaning in direct sunlight. A cool vehicle is always easier to clean and wash and removes the issues of the panels getting water spots and etching from cleaning chemicals. We recommend washing the Cybertruck in a garage or under the shade. If you cannot wash a Cybertruck out of the sun we recommend washing it in the early morning or in the evening when the sun is not at its peak. 

We always start washing a vehicle by cleaning the wheels and tires with a dedicated wheel and tire cleaner. This is the filthiest part of the Cybertruck and can be the most difficult part of the wash process so we start here to set the tone for a positive wash session. Getting into the barrels, lug openings, and other crevices is great detail therapy and the more time you spend here the better the entire experience will be. 

When we begin washing the Cybertruck we start by presoaking the exterior with a high-quality car shampoo and letting the soap breakdown caked on dirt. If the exterior of your Cybertruck is covered in mud, salt, and other gnarly grime you can prewash the entire vehicle with a hose or pressure washer to knock the dirt off. Pre-rinsing with water can also help cool down warm panels before you begin soaping the Cybertruck.

Once we have presoaked the Cybertruck with a car shampoo or snow foam we let it dwell for a couple of minutes and then we rinse the entire vehicle. Then we begin hand washing the the Cybertruck with a soft microfiber mitt or wash glove in a bucket of soapy water. A quality car shampoo adds cleaning agents into the water but more importantly it added lubricity to your wash media. This lubrication will help prevent scratches and marring on the stainless steel panels of the Cybertruck. We like moving in straight motions and not circular motions to help eliminate swirls on the Cybertruck. After each panel we recommend dunking your wash mitt or glove into your wash bucket and scrub against the grit guard to release the dirt. You may also want to use 5 or 6 wash mitts and every time you wash a panel or so you can swap for a new mitt which will be faster and prevent scratches and marring more effectively.

After you have thoroughly washed the exterior of the Cybertruck you can use a leaf blower to help remove water from jams, body lines, and other places that catch water. If you do not have a leaf blower or car dryer you can just get to work with your drying aid and microfiber drying towels. Spray a light mist of drying aid on the panels as you dry the vehicle. This will help the towel dry efficiently and quickly while preventing swirls and scratches.

If you live in an apartment complex, a condo, or have other water restrictions we recommend a rinseless wash like DIY Detail Rinseless Wash, Labocosmetica Idrosave, Armour Detail Supply Hero, or Koch Chemie Rapid Rinseless Wash. A rinseless wash is a great way to maintain your Tesla Cybertruck because it is efficient, fast, and can be done with only a bucket of water. Rinseless washes are great on Cybertrucks and other stainless steel surfaces because they clean really well and can even be used for simple cleaning like fingerprints and bird droppings. Rinseless washes clean like a car shampoo but do not require a hose, pressure washer, or other tools and equipment. You can easily rinseless wash a Cybertruck in an apartment parking spot or inside a parking garage as quickly as 20 minutes from start to finish. 

How can you decontaminate and clay a Cybertruck?

Much like painted surfaces, glass, and trim; stainless steel body panels can get embedded with grime, dirt, and iron contaminants. While a traditional clay bar works great on most surfaces we do not recommend one on stainless steel. We much rather would use a clay towel or clay scrubber to decontaminate the panels and glass on a Cybertruck. Clay towels and clay scrubbers are not as aggressive as a clay bar and if you drop a clay towel you do not need to punt it into the trash. You can simply clean the clay towel or scrubber and get back to work. Clay towels and scrubbers use a synthetic clay media that remove dirt and iron from stainless but without the concerns of marring the paint like a traditional clay bar as they can have abrasives in them. To kill two birds with one stone we like using an iron remover like DIY Iron Remover or Turtle Wax Rapid Decon with our clay towel and do both a mechanical and chemical decontamination at the same time. You only need one spray on the towel and one or two per panel or as needed and you can quickly clay the entire vehicle in 15 minutes or so. This process will remove the embedded dirt, fallout, brake dust, and iron particulates from the Cybertruck's surface and getting it ready for a protection product. One thing to note is you do not need to clay and use iron remover on your Cybertruck every time you wash it. It is a process you may need to do on occasion but if you end up ceramic coating the Cybertruck you can get be even less.

How can you protect a Cybertruck's stainless steel body panels?

We recommend adding a protectant to the stainless steel surfaces on a Cybertruck as soon as possible to help keep the metal clean and from premature oxidation. We always would use a ceramic coating if that is in you or your client's budget and really enjoy DIY Detail's Metal Ceramic Coating for this task. It is a very durable coating meant for non-painted and coated metal and will not yellow over time. You can also coat the Tesla Cybertuck's wheels while you are at it which will keep them cleaner because dirt and brake dust will not stick as well.

If you do not want to ceramic coat the Cybertruck we recommend a ceramic spray coating like DIY Detail Ceramic Gloss, Phoenix E.O.D. Immortal, Lithium Ceramic Slam, Armour Detail Supply Ceramic Spray Sealant, or Ethos Resist. Most of these ceramic spray sealants will add several months of protection, enhanced hydrophobics, and improve the ease of cleaning the Cybertruck. These spray coatings are great because they are cost effective, DIY friendly, and can be applied quickly. You should be able to spray the coating on the entire vehicle including the glass and trim in as fast as 15 or 20 minutes.

What not to use on a Cybertruck?

While the Cybertruck can stop bullets, Joe Rogan's arrows, and other weapons you do not want to use certain products on it. We recommend not using any abrasives, polishes, compounds, or bar top cleaners. While metal polish sounds like a good idea it is not and will ruin the factory look of the Cybertruck. While some folks may want the entire vehicle polished to a chrome like shine you only should go that route if the client is paying for it and if you know what you are doing. We also do not recommend any wildly acidic or alkaline products if you are not comfortable doing so. Always test chemicals in a small section of the Cybertruck and do not go hog on the entire truck. We also cannot emphasize the need for soft towels, wash media, and brushes as more stiff and rough tools can cause lots of scratches and swirls that will not be easy to remedy. We also do not recommend using glass cleaners or alcohol based cleaners on your Cybertruck as they will degrade your wax or ceramic protection over time and are not meant for regular vehicle washing.

How often should you wash a Cybertruck?

While there is no real answer on this question we believe regular washes and cleaning of a Tesla Cybertruck is ideal. They are expensive vehicles and with proper care will last longer and look nice over the year. If you use our steps above and continue using good wash methods, chemicals, and equipment you can wash your Cybertruck as often as you like. As always use discretion and do not get any electronics wet.

For the best car detailing products check out GLOVEBOXRx for the interior and exterior cleaning of your Cybertruck.