I haven't received my 3 yet, but typically in my current car I go to your everyday car wash couple times a month since I funny have a house to wash it at, and don't think anything of it. With my model 3, I don't plan on that as I hear car washes are bad for your paint. What is the best way to wash it without having a home to do the "2 bucket" method?
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Your preferred method of washing your model 3?
- Thread starter Big1matt
- Start date
woodisgood
Optimustic Pessimist
I'm sure you will get far more knowledgeable posters than me commenting, but in your situation I'd look at first applying a ceramic coat (either DIY if you are comfortable or have it done professionally). Then to keep the car looking great, "waterless" wipe-down washes (e.g. Optimum No-Rinse, aka ONR) that you can do yourself with a spray bottle and some microfiber towels.
This is what I plan on doing for the wife's new 3 - she likes a clean, sparkling car but gets impatient waiting for me to wash/wax so she goes through those gas station washes...
This is what I plan on doing for the wife's new 3 - she likes a clean, sparkling car but gets impatient waiting for me to wash/wax so she goes through those gas station washes...
I assume you don’t have access to a hose. Probably your best option is ONR (Optimum no rinse) or one of the other rinsless or waterless wash setups. I can do a two bucket ONR wash inside my garage, which is nice. Since you live in a winter state, you may need to periodically hit a touch free car wash to rinse the undercarriage and general winter grime though.
I live and park in a condo building. I do this:
4 high quality microfiber rags from the rag company
2 high quality waffle weave drying towels
0.75 gallons of water with ONR in a bucket. Throw the 4 microfiber in there, thy soak up most of the water
Spray bottle of 0.25 gallon water with ONR
go to garage, spray car all over and wipe down with saturated rags
Fold the rags in half twice, resulting in 8 sides to wipe with
That’s 32 fresh sides of the rag. Just wipe down a section then flip the rag.
Works great. I’ve done it many times. ONR is amazing
4 high quality microfiber rags from the rag company
2 high quality waffle weave drying towels
0.75 gallons of water with ONR in a bucket. Throw the 4 microfiber in there, thy soak up most of the water
Spray bottle of 0.25 gallon water with ONR
go to garage, spray car all over and wipe down with saturated rags
Fold the rags in half twice, resulting in 8 sides to wipe with
That’s 32 fresh sides of the rag. Just wipe down a section then flip the rag.
Works great. I’ve done it many times. ONR is amazing
There's nothing different about the paint than any other car. They use "commercial" paints just like every other car company.
With all new cars it's typically advised not to do any washing for the first 30 days as new paint may be curing still. I probably won't be able to do this, but I'm going to compromise with a Kozak rag for light dusting. I was tempted to dust with a swiffer duster as those are very soft, but the Kozak offers a little more "wiping" action.
Popular Mechanics did a good article about a year ago on car washing practice:
How to Wash Your Car Like a Pro - Best Car Cleaning Tips
With all new cars it's typically advised not to do any washing for the first 30 days as new paint may be curing still. I probably won't be able to do this, but I'm going to compromise with a Kozak rag for light dusting. I was tempted to dust with a swiffer duster as those are very soft, but the Kozak offers a little more "wiping" action.
Popular Mechanics did a good article about a year ago on car washing practice:
How to Wash Your Car Like a Pro - Best Car Cleaning Tips
I use water. The dry cleaners wanted too much money.
Buddy
Member
AnarchyEOD
Member
I use a foam cannon and two bucket method and keep a quick detail in the car to maintain between washes.
Just an FYI the green(wax) version not recommended if u have PPF or ceramic ..if that’s the case get blue version
I go way overboard...
1) Connect hose to (softened) water source
2) Connect hose to pressure washer
3) Pressure rinse entire car
4) Foam cannon entire car, let sit for 5 minutes
5) Wipe down with a microfiber mitt
6) Pressure rinse entire car
7) Use a squeegee to get water quickly off of the glass
8) Use a leaf blower with a special attachment to dry the rest of the car as much as possible
9) Touch up with microfiber towels
10) Clean wheels with car soap and microfiber cloths
Takes about 1.5-2 hours.
1) Connect hose to (softened) water source
2) Connect hose to pressure washer
3) Pressure rinse entire car
4) Foam cannon entire car, let sit for 5 minutes
5) Wipe down with a microfiber mitt
6) Pressure rinse entire car
7) Use a squeegee to get water quickly off of the glass
8) Use a leaf blower with a special attachment to dry the rest of the car as much as possible
9) Touch up with microfiber towels
10) Clean wheels with car soap and microfiber cloths
Takes about 1.5-2 hours.
As soon as I get my Model 3, I'm going to:
(Btw, not sure what you're referring to about "home" in your post, but here are my two cents)
1. Pressure Wash it
2. Hit it with a foam cannon pressure washer (electric of course) and let stand 5 mins (Pressure washer somewhat optional, it's just really fast and easy)
3. Pressure Wash it again
4. Pull it into the garage
5. Use Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine (ONR) as a lubricant, and clay bar the entire car. Immediately wipe dry with a cloth sprayed with some Optimum Instant Detailer and Gloss Enhancer (Also somewhat optional, but it's good to really gloss the car before ceramic coating)
6. Apply Cquartz UK 3.0 edition
7. Apply Cquartz Reload (included with kit linked above)
(By the way, steps 6 and 7 only need to be done once every 2 years)
Wish I did the same process on my White X, though I'm going to be really strict when caring for the paint on my Midnight Silver 3
Hope that helps!
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Why is this? Wax won't hurt PPF or ceramic at all? It may not bond as well but its not going to hurt it?
One of these other car wash threads a PPF installer mentioned that ..I have always used blue ONR as that green stuff is fairly new ..so not sure why other than this detailers comment ..also there are some threads on this on the opti detail forums that discuss in way more detail than I care ..plus blue is cheaper
insaneoctane
Well-Known Member
May be buried somewhere here ...blue stuff works good and I use hydrosilex every other month as maintenance coat on the ceramic ..my setup is ppf ..ceramic over ..than simple wash with blue onr ...
Optimum No Rinse VS Optimum no rinse wash and wax
timk225
Active Member
I hose down the entire car first to get the heavy dirt off, with a spray nozzle and water pressure at 50 psi line pressure. Then a bucket with yellow Meguiars soap and a microfiber sponge with fluffy yellow yarn things on it, wash down the whole car, trying to use a lot of water to flood the dirt off. Then rinse it all good and dry with an old shower towel.
It'll suck in the winter when it's too cold outside to wash the road salt off, I don't want to take it to automatic car washes. Hope for a warm winter!
It'll suck in the winter when it's too cold outside to wash the road salt off, I don't want to take it to automatic car washes. Hope for a warm winter!
Sparky
Member
Hmmm. My Tesla parks itself, un-parks itself, mostly drives itself and has trained me to leave all ICE cars unlocked with the motor running.... Now I learn I have to wash it! That's it, deal breaker.
Like some others here, rinse all over, soap with microfibe, gently get bugs off bumper, rinse, waffle towel then a trip over the surface with microfiber + Griot's waterless spray-wash to leave the skin silky shiny smooth so bugs and bird poop slide right off. Takes 20 mins. The 3 is so much easier to clean than the X.
Like some others here, rinse all over, soap with microfibe, gently get bugs off bumper, rinse, waffle towel then a trip over the surface with microfiber + Griot's waterless spray-wash to leave the skin silky shiny smooth so bugs and bird poop slide right off. Takes 20 mins. The 3 is so much easier to clean than the X.
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