First of all this process can be used on any car.
Things you will need:
- Two bucket technique set with a Grit guard (possibly cheaper via Amazon) or just buy two cheap buckets locally and be extremely careful that no stones/dirt get trapped in your mitt
- A decent Wash mitt (or this one)
- A pressure washer – Nilfisk are better value compared with Karcher if you’re buying new
This is the pressure washer I use and recommend, it has an integrated hose storage which is worth it’s weight in gold + a 9M length hose + Car Nozzle + upgraded tap connector
- A decent hose pipe that doesn’t kink that is connected to either mains pressure or my water butts via a 13mm water filter + Hozelock Pro connectors
- A snow foam lance (make sure the fitment is correct for your pressure washer)
Nilfisk ones £19.99 or £49.99 version both are very similar but the £49.99 one is solid brass - The actual snow foam, I use Blizzard as it purely cleans the car, no extra additives that will ‘eat’ my ceramic coating (others recommend The Ultimate Finish)
- Some decent car shampoo that doesn’t leave a wax coating e.g. Dodo Juice or Liquid Elements
- A few micro fibre cloths – Make sure these are discarded or thoroughly washed (without soap/clothing detergent) – Remember if brake dust is on them it may leave your washing machine with marks
Optional but recommended:
- Some wheel brushes (I use these and they’re superb and surprisingly worth the money), no chance of scratching the wheels as they’re lovely and soft.
- Wheel arch brush (any brush will probably do the job)
- A water filter e.g. Aqua Gleam or Ionic (a must IMO if you’re in Hard water area, check your water with a PPM Meter)
UPDATE: I’ve now purchased this filter setup and it’s superb - Glass Cleaner that doesn’t remove ceramic coatings
- Interior Screen Cleaner
- A Hand Duster for inside the car
Things you will need if you don’t have paint protection:
- Some Alloy Wheel Cleaner
- A car shampoo that will leave a slight wax finish OR some car wax & some Microfibre cloths / Applicators to apply it or for the adventurous owner some Carnauba Car Wax + an applicator + a buffer
- Glass cleaner
Things you will need if you don’t have a water filter & live in medium/hard water areas:
- A couple of large drying Microfibre cloths
For a car with ceramic paint protection applied this is how I would (& do) clean the Tesla:
- Snow foam the whole car (1/5 liquid 4/5 hot water)
- Wait 10 minutes for the snow foam to loosen and lift the dirt
- Whilst you wait: brush wheel arches to remove large debris (with specific wheel arch brush that isn’t used anywhere else on the car)
- Pressure wash the whole car to remove the snow foam and large bits of dirt, be careful with the paint (i.e. don’t get too close)
- Use a dedicated wheel brush to gently brush alloy wheels to remove brake dust/dirt etc (might not be needed on every wash)
- Two Bucket Technique the whole car (from top of car down)
- 1st bucket filled with car shampoo and hot water
- 2nd bucket filled with fresh clean cold water
- Use wash mitt to clean from top of the car downwards e.g. always start with the roof, then edges of roof, then top parts of doors and so on…)
- After each section (or part of section), squeeze dirty water from mitt then dip in cold water, squeeze water out again. Then dip in hot bucket and continue to clean.
- Remember door shuts and inside the boot
- Finish with cleaning the wheels (not needed on all washes), you might want a separate wash mitt for this or use wheel brushes
- The wash mitt might become very dirty, if you’re careful you can pressure wash the mitt to remove any stubborn stains
- Avoid washing the mitt in the washing machine etc
- Rince car with filtered water or rinse car and then dry with large microfibre cloths
- Clean glass/lights
- Done.
Things you should never do:
- Use a sponge
- Use a dirty wash mitt
- Use any wash mitt you’ve dropped on the floor
- Clean the car in direct sunlight on a warm/hot day (it will leave marks on the car)
Post not associated with Calvets car cleaning, it was just the only photo I had at the time.