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Today we are in the Cybertruck Studios for a bit of a milestone: the very first wash for our stainless steel beast.
Now, if you’ve been following the channel, you know I’m a fan of a “dirty truck” aesthetic—especially after an off-roading trip to Glamis. But after catching a massive amount of bugs during the Cyber Odyssey run, the real boss of the truck (Abby) wasn’t too thrilled with the look. So, it’s time to get to work.
Washing a Cybertruck isn’t like washing a standard car. You’re dealing with raw stainless steel and some notoriously sharp edges. I’ve done some research and picked up a few must-have tools to make the process safer and more efficient. Let’s dive into the technical breakdown.
Essential Tools for the Cyber-Wash
I’m not a professional detailer, but I’ve found a few items that make a huge difference, especially when dealing with the Cybertruck’s unique geometry.
- Hose Guides (The Tire Rollers): My buddy Edgar from San Diego recommended these. They sit in front of your tires so your hose doesn’t get caught on the rubber while you’re circling the truck. It saves a lot of frustration and keeps your hose from kinking.
- Flexzilla Hose: Speaking of hoses, don’t buy the cheap stuff. Flexzilla is durable, doesn’t kink, and actually lasts.
- Chemical Guys Auto Wash: I used a pH-neutral soap. This is critical for stainless steel to avoid staining or damaging the finish.
- Wide Mouth Bucket: To accommodate my wide Chemical Guys wash brush (which extends for those hard-to-reach areas on the massive windshield), I picked up a 6-gallon wide-mouth bucket.
- Ammonia-Free Glass Cleaner: For quick touch-ups on fingerprints and water spots, an ammonia-free glass cleaner (like Sprayway) works wonders on the stainless panels.
Technical Prep: Car Wash Mode
Before you spray a drop of water, you must enable Car Wash Mode in the Tesla UI. This:
- Closes all windows and the charge port.
- Disables the wipers (you don’t want those giant blades moving while you’re scrubbing).
- Locks the frunk and trunk.
- Disables Sentry Mode and walk-away door locking.
I also recommend setting your Ride Height to the lowest setting. The Cybertruck is tall, and lowering it makes reaching the roof and the center of that massive hood much easier.
The Danger Zone: Sharp Edges and Fingerprints
This is where things get serious. The Cybertruck has some incredibly sharp points.
- The Corners: Be extremely careful when drying the frunk and the corners of the vault. I’ve had a few close calls where my microfiber towel got snagged, and one wrong move could easily result in a cut.
- Fingerprint Removal: Stainless steel is a fingerprint magnet. I found that spraying an ammonia-free glass cleaner directly onto a microfiber towel (not the truck) and applying a bit of pressure easily removes handprints and smudges.
The truck looks fantastic, and even the brake dust on the rear wheels (which was there since delivery day) finally came off with a bit of scrubbing. It’s a learning process, and while I still prefer a truck that looks like it’s seen some dirt, keeping the stainless clean is essential for long-term maintenance.
