Cleaning

Clean the outside

To avoid paint damage, corrosive substances (grease, oil, bird droppings, tree sap, dead insects, tar stains, road salt, industrial precipitation, etc.) must be removed immediately. Don’t wait until Model 3 needs a full wash. If necessary, use denatured alcohol to remove tar stains and stubborn grease stains. Then immediately wash the area with water and a mild, non-detergent soap to remove the alcohol.

Keep the outdoor cameras free from dirt, condensation or obstructions. These substances can cause the images to become blurry or the autopilot and safety features to stop working (see Cleaning a Camera).

Rinse dirt and debris from the vehicle with a hose before washing. Rinse off any build-up of mud in areas where dirt collects easily (eg wheel arches and panel seams). If salt was used on the highway (eg during the winter months), thoroughly rinse all road salt residue from the underside of the vehicle, wheel arches, and brakes.
Hand wash Model 3 with a clean, soft cloth and cold or lukewarm water and mild, high-quality car shampoo.
WARNING
Some cleaning products and car shampoos contain chemicals that can cause damage or discoloration, especially to plastic parts, exterior lighting, or camera lenses. For example, some car cleaning products contain hydroxide or other highly alkaline or caustic ingredients that can damage exterior components. Do not use acidic products either. Damage or discoloration caused by cleaning agents is not covered by the warranty.

Dry well with chamois. If necessary, dry the brakes by driving briefly and braking several times.
Use isopropyl alcohol wipes (such as those used to clean glasses or screens) to remove small stains.

Window cleaning and treatments

Clean windows and mirrors with a car window cleaner. Do not scratch glass or mirror surfaces and do not use abrasive cleaning fluid. Follow the instructions in “Cleaning the Exterior” for best practices when cleaning the exterior window.

To apply a hydrophobic coating to your vehicle’s windows, apply the coating only to the side and rear windows, not the windshield. This may affect the visibility of the autopilot cameras. Follow the hydrophobic coating manufacturer’s instructions for application details.

Note
Tesla is not responsible for any damage that occurs as a result of installing window guards on your vehicle.

Car wash mode

If you use an automatic car wash, Enable Free Roll keeps your car idling and enables free roll during the wash, while Model 3 doesn’t apply the parking brake when you leave the driver’s seat. To activate this, press the brake pedal and press “Enable Freewheel”. or shift to neutral.

The car wash mode is deactivated when the vehicle speed exceeds 15 km/h or by pressing “Stop” on the touch screen.

WARNING
Damage caused by car washing is not covered by the warranty.

Clean a camera

To ensure a clear image, the camera lens must be clean and free of obstructions.

Remove accumulated dirt by spraying water on the camera lens and wiping it with a microfiber cloth. Clean the camera lens weekly in wet weather (snow, rain, sleet) and monthly in dry weather.

WARNING
Do not use chemical or abrasive cleaners. Otherwise, the surface of the lens may be damaged.
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Do not clean an ultrasonic sensor (if equipped) or camera lens with sharp or abrasive objects that may scratch or damage the surface.

Precautions for exterior cleaning

WARNING
Do not wash in direct sunlight.
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Do not use liquids to treat windows. Otherwise, the friction of the wiper may be disturbed and a rattling sound may occur.
WARNING
Do not use hot water, detergents, strong alkaline or caustic cleaning additives or solvents, especially those containing hydroxide.
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When using a pressure washer, maintain a distance of at least 12 inches (30 cm) between the nozzle and the surface of Model 3. Do not point the water jet directly at parking sensors (if equipped). Keep the nozzle moving and do not concentrate the water stream in one area.
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Do not aim water hoses directly at windows, doors or hood seals or at electronic modules or exposed wiring.
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After cleaning the vehicle, dry the brakes by taking a short drive and applying the brakes several times.
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Avoid using hard-brushed or coarse cloths such as: B. Wash gloves. A high-quality microfiber cleaning cloth is recommended.
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If you wash in an automatic car wash, use contactless car washes only. With these car washes, there are no parts (brushes, etc.) that touch the surfaces of the Model 3. Some touchless car washes use corrosive solutions that can cause discoloration of the exterior trim over time. Avoid contact with soaps and chemicals above pH 13. If in doubt, check the product label or ask the car wash staff.
WARNING
Also, avoid using touchscreen controls that could cause doors or the trunk to open accidentally while the vehicle is being washed. Any damage is not covered by the warranty.
WARNING
Make sure the windshield wipers are off before washing Model 3 to avoid the risk of damaging the windshield wipers.
WARNING
Do not use wheel cleaners or chemical-based pre-washers.
warning
Never spray liquid at high velocity (such as when using a pressure washer) at the charging port while Model 3 is charging. Failure to follow these instructions could result in serious injury or damage to the vehicle, charging equipment or property.

Clean the interior

If possible, wipe up spills immediately and remove stains. For general cleaning, wipe interior surfaces with a soft cloth (eg microfiber) dampened with a mixture of warm water and a mild, non-detergent (test all cleaning agents on an inconspicuous area before use). To avoid streaks, wipe immediately with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Inner glass
Do not scratch glass or mirror surfaces and do not use abrasive cleaning fluid.

Airbags
Be careful not to get any substance into the airbag cover. This may affect proper operation.

Dashboard and plastic surfaces
Do not polish the top of the dashboard. Polished surfaces are reflective and can affect your visibility while driving.

Seats
Wipe gently in circular motions. Then wipe with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Although the seats are designed to resist stains, Tesla recommends cleaning them regularly to maintain new performance and appearance. Treat color transfer from garments, e.g. B. indigo dyed denim, immediately. Avoid contact with strong chemicals, including some cosmetics. Never use cleaning agents that contain alcohol or bleach. Test the cleaner on an inconspicuous area before applying to visible surfaces.
If necessary, vacuum the seats to remove loose dirt.

WARNING
Non-Tesla seat covers can affect the sensitivity of a seat’s presence sensors and cause stains or damage.
Carpets
Avoid overwetting carpets.

Seat belt
Pull out the belts to sweep. Do not use detergents or chemical cleaners. When removing the straps, allow them to dry naturally, preferably out of direct sunlight.

Door seals
Wipe the door seals with a damp cloth to remove dirt. Too much dirt on the door seals can cause damage if it comes into contact with surrounding surfaces. Avoid using alcohol wipes or chemicals that could potentially damage the coating on the door seals.

Touchscreens front and rear

Clean the touch screen(s) with a soft, lint-free cloth specially designed for cleaning monitors and screens. Do not use alcohol-based cleaning products (such as glass cleaner) or gel products (such as hand sanitizer), and do not use wet wipes or a dry, statically charged cloth (such as a freshly laundered microfiber cloth). If you want to clean the front touch screen without activating buttons and changing settings, you can activate the screen cleaning mode. Tap Control > Display > Screen cleaning mode. The screen darkens, making dust and smudges more visible. To exit screen cleaning mode, press and hold the HOLD button to exit.

Chrome and metal surfaces
Polishes, abrasives, alcohol-based gel products (eg hand sanitizer) and rough rags can damage the finish on chrome and metal surfaces.

Instructions for cleaning the interior

WARNING
Use of solvents (including alcohol), alcohol-based gel products (such as hand sanitizer), bleach, citrus-, naphtha-, or silicone-based products or additives on internal components may cause damage.
WARNING
Statically charged materials can cause damage to the touch screen.
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If you notice any damage to an airbag or seat belt, contact Tesla immediately.
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Be careful not to allow water, cleaning agents or dust to enter the belt mechanism.
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Contact with chemical cleaning agents can be dangerous and irritate eyes and skin. Read and follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the chemical cleaner.

Polishing, touch-up and body repair

To maintain the body’s cosmetic appearance, periodically treat paint surfaces with an approved varnish containing the following:

Very mild abrasive to remove surface contamination without removing or damaging paint.
Fillers that fill in scratches and reduce their visibility.
Wax to form a protective layer between the paint and environmental influences.
Check the exterior paint regularly for damage. Treat small nicks and scratches with a color marker (available from Tesla depending on market region).

Repair stone chips, cracks or scratches. For more information on repair locations and services available, visit .

WARNING
Do not use sharpening pastes, paint fresheners, or polishes that contain aggressive abrasives. These can wear down the surface and damage the paint permanently.

Use a car cover
To maintain the body’s cosmetic appearance when Model 3 is not in use, use a genuine Tesla car cover. You can buy car protection online in the Tesla Shop.
WARNING
Use only a Tesla-approved car cover when Model 3 is connected. Using a non-Tesla car cover may result in insufficient cooling of the battery during charging.
Foot mats
Maintain doormats by cleaning them regularly and checking that they are firmly in place. Replace floor mats if they become too worn.

warning
To avoid possible interference with a foot pedal, make sure the driver’s floor mat is properly attached and positioned READ FOR MORE