There is something about Tesla owners. They are a proud and meticulous bunch of people. They take pride in keeping their cars clean, and protecting them. In that spirit, here is a recommended list of car cleaning products:
For Interior / Seat Cleaning of Your Tesla
If you’ve got a white interior like mine, there are only three things you need:
Don’t let anyone try to sell you anything fancy. The vegan white “leather” seats on the Tesla are excellent and easy to maintain without expensive products or processes. Use baby wipes for simple cleaning and occasional messes (these Kirkland ones made with Tencel are still natural, but tough and don’t fall apart like traditional baby wipes). If you do get what looks like a stain, simply use 409 spray and a clean rag.
For the headliner, I haven’t got mine too dirty. But when I have got it a bit dirty with my hand after some target shooting, I simply used the same baby wipes. I think I once used Resolve carpet cleaner after something had rubbed against one side of the rear headliner, and that cleaned it up easy.
For Exterior Cleaning of Your Tesla
For tough-to-remove bugs, tree sap, and left-behind adhesive from any stickers (including bumper stickers):
I’ve used both of these products and prefer Goo Gone because it has a nice citrus scent and seems milder (but still effective). Goof Off seems more like almost a lighter fluid. Beware with both of these that I’m no chemist and don’t know the long term effects of using these regularly. But I’ve used Goo Gone several times without causing paint problems.
For regular car washing:
- Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit. I’d never heard of this kit until I started driving a Tesla. This is a much easier way to keep your car looking good without having to wash it daily. You can use it with or without water, but most of the time a light spray of this on a microfiber cloth with allow you to spot clean your car without having to get out the bucket, soap, sponge, and water.
- Sun Joe SPX3000 Electric High Pressure Washer. There is a reason this is the highest-recommended and best-selling pressure washer on Amazon. This will change your car washing life, when you need to wash the whole car. Make sure to use the broad adapter and don’t get too close to the paint. Excellent for cleaning wheels too.
- Pressure Washer Foam Gun. This will also change your car washing life. The absolute easiest way to entirely coat your car in thick, soapy, sudsy, goodness in seconds.
- Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax. I’m old school. I grew up with carnauba wax. When I went to car shows, all the guys were using it on their hotrods, performance cars, and luxury cars. I will likely continue to use traditional car was indefinitely because of the beautiful shine and long track record.
- 10H Ceramic Coating 3.0. For owners who are into ceramic coatings, but who don’t want to get hosed by the local companies selling expensive application and maintenance plans, this is the highest-rated ceramic coating on Amazon. I’ve communicated with owners who’ve used it at home with excellent results, but be aware that the prep and application take a long time. Some paint correction work is often needed with a clay bar.
- Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating. As mentioned above, I’m still skeptical of the long-term value of ceramic coating, but I did buy a bottle of this Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic Spray Coating to try it out. So far, I like the results. And it’s a low-cost investment to try the ceramic craze.
- Chemical Guys Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towels. Honestly, I worry that microfiber towels cause microplastics to make it into the water supply and/or environment, but they are so much better for detailing than cotton towels. Until there is a holistically better option, this is what I use.
- Terry Towel Cotton Rags. If you’d like to avoid microfiber, these Terry towels are a good substitute.
- Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash. A little bit of this in a pressure washer foam gun goes a long way. Some people swear by the alternative Chemical Guys Mr. Pink Foaming Car Wash Soap, but I tend to like Meguiar’s just because it’s what I grew up with.
- Chemical Guys Chenille Microfiber Premium Scratch-Free Wash Mitt. Please don’t ever use a bristle brush or conventional sponge on your Tesla. You will get scratches and/or swirls. Use the two-bucket method to clean your car for the best chance at protecting the paint. These soft mitts are a great way to left and wash the dirt off of your car after soaping it up.
- Homer Buckets. Get two, for the two-bucket cleaning method. You do not need a fancier bucket.
- The Grit Guard Insert (bucket filter). These are great. Get at least one, preferably two. They keep the grit that comes off your car and mitt from getting back on to your mitt when you fetch more soapy or clean water.
