Electric cars are slowly becoming the next big thing. Almost everyone wants to get their hands on their very own electric car. And it’s a no-brainer why.
They’re more efficient, more high-tech, plus they’re environmentally friendly. But just like any other car, maintaining it is always a lot of work.
New car owners are indeed pondering the question, can you wash an electric car?
The answer is, yes. Electric cars can definitely be washed. Now, it all comes down to how to wash an electric car. The first thing to know, it’s unlike the usual gasoline-fueled cars. With that, there are just a few things you have to keep in mind.
Step-By-Step Guide
What to prepare
- Electric Car wash machine or jet washer – preferably, a no-emission jet washer
- Foam Sponge
- Microfiber Towel
- Car Wash Soap Solution
Step 1: Prepare your car
Before going in with washing your car, make sure to prep your car to avoid any damage. To do this, the first step is to put your gear in park (p).
Make sure to turn off the ignition and check all the windows and doors to ensure that they are locked. This includes the sunroof and the side mirrors. Also, be reminded to retract the antenna.
Keep in mind that antennas get broken easily when cars are being washed. This is because the weight of the sponge and the pressure of the car washer usually snaps them off so removing them or simply retracting them lessens this risk.
Step 2: Ready your electric car washer
Electric car wash machines are often better than gas pressure washers since their low maximum pressure is perfect for cleaning cars.
Once you’ve got your electric car wash machine, plug the hose into the car washer and switch it on. In using your car wash machine, it’s best to start with the lowest available option in its pressure.
Slowly go your way up and increase the pressure as you’re using it. The standard pressure setting should be at 1200 to 1900 PSI. Any higher than this can induce damage to your car.
Don’t go too close to the car when using your electric washer. With the nozzle at hand, keep it at 7 to 13-inch distance from the car.
Read more about how to use a pressure car wash and what to keep in mind here.
Step 3: Start with the tires & wheels
First, hose off the wheels of your car. The tires usually go first since they are the dirtiest part of the car.
Remember to use a separate sponge in washing the tires. You can also use warm water if you prefer to make sure germs and bacteria are cleared off.
Apply your car wash soap solution. Dish soap works just as well if you want to save your car soap specifically for the car surface.
Clean one wheel and tire at a time. Scrub the tires with soap, move on to the wheels, and rinse. Repeat this step until you’re done.
Step 4: Rinse & apply soap
Spray water all over your car to get rid of any dust or dirt. Begin at the top of the car or the roof, down to the windows and the body of your car.
Once every inch of the car is rinsed off, it’s time to get your sponge wet. Apply soap to your wet sponge and again, start from the top to the bottom.
Scrub and rinse per section. Once you’ve ensured you haven’t missed any spot, proceed to rinse every part of the car again.
Step 5: Dry using a microfiber towel
Microfiber towels are great absorbers of liquid. They make it faster to dry the surface of your car. Using the same technique, dry it from top to bottom.
If you don’t have a microfiber towel, you can always use an old t-shirt. While it may take a little longer, it still does the job quite well.
For this, it’s best to use two old shirts. One to wipe and another to wipe again but in the opposite direction, this makes sure that there are no lints left behind.
You can also use an air compressor to dry water inside cracks and crevices that you might not reach with your microfiber towel.
Take an Electric Car Through a Carwash
If you want to skip all the hassle and take your electric car through a car wash, this is an option you can do as well.
In a car wash service, they cater to all types of cars, whether it’s fuel-powered car, hybrid car, or electric car.
Some car wash services have staff manually wash your car. Some, on the other hand, operate through an automatic car wash tunnel.
- Before you bring your electric car in car wash tunnel, check your battery if there is enough.
You wouldn’t want your car to run out of battery in the middle of the wash, keep in mind that electric motors are used during the wash.
- In tunnel machines, the few things you have to remember are to turn on your ignition and switch your gear to neutral (N). With this, the drag train can pull the car along the tunnel.
- Don’t forget to do the usual things, such as checking if all windows and doors are locked, folding side mirrors and windscreen wipers, and retracting or removing the antenna.
Helpful Tips
1. Avoid washing in direct sunlight
Washing your car in direct sunlight can cause the soap and water to dry easily. This may leave a spot on your car that you’ll have to rinse again, prolonging the whole process.
2. For extra protection, apply some wax
The sun’s UV rays often fade off a car’s paint. If you want your car to be more protected from the sun’s UV rays, polish your car with some car wax.
3. Wipe glass windows inside out for more shine
If you want to add more shine to your windows, the best way to achieve this is to spray some glass cleaner and wipe it with a microfiber cloth inside out.
Conclusion
Washing an electric car may seem a little intimidating given its hyped-up image and high-tech features. But you should know that with the proper care and the right materials, there’s nothing to be stressed over.
It’s as simple as ABC. Prep your car, clean starting with the top going down, and dry them thoroughly.
So if you have an electric car that needs some washing, you already know all the bits and pieces of information you need.
And if you’ve stumbled upon someone with the same “how to wash an electric car” question, save them the worries and share this post to help them out too.
