What we watch for on a tesla
- Soft clear coat: plush mitt, constant rinsing, minimal pressure
- Charge port flap kept closed; no direct spray at the port or seams
- Glass roof cleaned and dried to avoid the streaking it shows so easily
- Vegan leather cleaned with pH-balanced products, no solvent wipes
Soft paint and why technique matters
Tesla's water-based paint process leaves a thinner, softer clear coat than most European rivals. It marks easily, so a rollover wash or a dirty sponge shows results within one visit. Every car here is washed by hand using the two-bucket method — one bucket of pH-neutral shampoo, one of clean rinse water with a grit guard — with wheels cleaned first using separate brushes and mitts so nothing off the road ever goes back onto the paint. On a Tesla we also rinse the mitt more often and reduce pressure across the flat panels.
Electrics: what we keep water away from
The charge port flap stays closed throughout and we never aim a pressure lance at the port, the panel gaps around it, or the underbody battery seams. Everything is designed to handle rain, but there is no reason to force water into anything. Cameras and sensors are cleaned by hand with a damp microfibre.
Interiors and the glass roof
Tesla's vegan leather cleans up well with a pH-balanced cleaner and a soft brush — no alcohol wipes, which dry it out. The centre screen gets a dry microfibre only. The full glass roof is the panel that shows every streak, so it is cleaned and then hand-dried with a dedicated glass towel.
Which package suits a Tesla
Wash & Dry at £13 is the sensible default because of the glass roof. Gold Valet at £35 adds a wax that gives the soft paint a bit more protection between washes.
Frequently asked
Is it safe to wash an electric car with water?+
Yes. EVs are sealed against rain and washing. We still keep pressure away from the charge port and underbody seams as a sensible precaution.
Can I stay in the car or leave it in Sentry mode?+
Leave it however you prefer — a hand wash does not require the car to be off, though disabling Sentry saves your footage storage.
Does your wash affect a paint protection film?+
No. pH-neutral shampoo is PPF-safe. Let us know if you have PPF so we avoid waxing over the film edges.