September 24, 2026
You can wash an electric car much like a petrol or diesel car. The battery and high-voltage components are designed to handle ordinary wet weather and normal washing. Before you start, unplug the car, close the charge port and check your owner’s manual for any washing instructions specific to your model.
Both hand washing and an automatic wash can be options, depending on the car. The choice is mainly about looking after the paint, reaching the dirt an automatic cycle might miss and following your manufacturer’s instructions.
Yes. An EV is designed to be driven in rain and washed without water reaching its protected high-voltage components. You don’t need to avoid an ordinary wash because the car has a battery.
You do need to take the same sensible care you would with any vehicle: don’t direct a powerful water jet into openings or damaged seals, and don’t wash over exposed or visibly damaged electrical components. If the charge port or surrounding area is damaged, have it checked before washing.
For a routine clean, use water, a mild car shampoo such as a pH-neutral shampoo, and the cloth or wash mitt recommended for your car’s finish.
Most of the wash is the same: remove loose grit, clean the body and wheels, then rinse and dry. However, these points deserve an extra check:
● Charge port: Disconnect the charging cable and close the port cover before washing. Clean around the closed cover, but leave the contacts inside alone.
● Car wash settings: Some EVs have a Car Wash Mode or specific instructions for automatic washes. A conveyor wash may also require Neutral or a free-roll setting. Follow your model’s manual rather than assuming it works like another EV.
● Cameras and sensors: Many modern cars have them. Keep lenses clear, but avoid abrasive cloths, harsh cleaners and a concentrated high-pressure spray.
You don’t need EV-specific shampoo. What matters is choosing products and techniques that suit your car’s paint, trim and any protective coating.
For a hand wash at home, make sure you have:
● Two buckets: One for shampoo and one for rinsing your cloth or mitt
● Mild car shampoo suitable for your vehicle’s finish
● A clean, soft microfibre cloth or a wash mitt approved by the manufacturer
● A separate cloth or brush for wheels
● Clean microfibre drying towels
● A hose for rinsing
A wheel cleaner approved for your car’s wheels is optional. You can also use a pressure washer if your owner’s manual allows it and you follow its guidance on distance and sensitive areas.
1. Prepare the car: Unplug it, close the charge port cover and windows, and switch off automatic wipers. Check the manual for any wash setting or other preparation your model needs.
2. Rinse off loose grit: Start at the roof and work down with a gentle flow of water. This helps stop grit being dragged across the paint during the hand wash.
3. Wash from top to bottom: Use your shampoo and a clean, soft cloth or suitable mitt, working in sections. Rinse the cloth often and leave the dirtier lower panels until last.
4. Clean the wheels separately: Use a different cloth or brush so wheel grime doesn’t end up on the bodywork. Choose a wheel cleaner only if it’s suitable for your vehicle’s finish.
5. Rinse and dry: Remove the shampoo, then dry the car with clean microfibre towels. Drying helps reduce water spots on the glass and marks on the paint.
Use a gentle touch around the closed charge-port cover, cameras and sensors. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning camera lenses.
For a normal car wash, clean around the charge port, not inside it.
● Unplug the vehicle and make sure the port’s protective cover and outer door are properly closed.
● Wipe the outside of the door and surrounding bodywork with a soft cloth.
● Don’t spray water or cleaning products into the open port.
● Don’t put a cotton bud, brush, contact cleaner or other object into the charging socket or touch its contacts.
If you see dirt, moisture, corrosion or damage inside the socket, consult your owner’s manual or contact the vehicle manufacturer or an authorised service centre. It isn’t a routine detailing job.
First, check what your car’s manual allows. An automatic wash isn’t automatically an electrical hazard for an EV, but manufacturers can specify which type of wash to use and how to prepare the car. For instance, Tesla’s Australian Model 3 instructions call for Car Wash Mode and specify touchless washes when using an automatic wash.
● Brush or friction washes are convenient, but contact with shared brushes can leave fine marks on paint over time. They may also be unsuitable if your manufacturer rules them out.
● Touchless washes avoid brush contact. Their products and spray methods vary, and they may struggle with dirt that needs careful hand cleaning.
● A hand car wash gives the person washing the car more control over products, pressure and areas such as the charge-port cover and cameras. Good technique still matters: a dirty cloth can mark paint, too.
If your priority is a careful, thorough clean, a professional hand wash is a strong choice. If you prefer an automatic wash, follow the instructions for your particular EV.
The weather and roads can be hard on any car’s finish. A few habits make cleaning easier:
● Sun and heat: Wash in the shade where possible so shampoo and water don’t dry quickly on hot panels. Use paint-care products suited to your vehicle’s finish.
● Coastal salt: Rinse salt spray from the bodywork and clean areas where grime collects, following your manufacturer’s guidance for the wheels and underside.
● Bird droppings, sap and bugs: Remove them promptly and gently. Bird droppings left on paint can be harder to remove without marking the finish.
● Dust and road grit: After driving on unsealed roads, rinse loose grit away before touching the paint with a cloth.
These aren’t EV-only problems. Looking after the finish regularly helps keep your car looking its best.
A wash every two to three weeks is a useful guide, but go by how dirty the car gets. Wash sooner if you’ve been driving on dusty roads, live near the coast or park where bird droppings and sap collect.
An EV doesn’t need a different washing schedule simply because it’s electric. Promptly removing contaminants matters more than sticking to a fixed date.
If you’d rather leave the wash to someone else, Star Car Wash offers 100% hand-washed car wash services using pH-neutral shampoo. A hand wash lets our team work carefully around the areas that need attention and give the paint a thorough clean.
If your EV has a particular wash setting, coating or manufacturer instruction, let the team know when you drop it off. With many Star Car Wash centres at shopping centres and café sites, you can get on with your day while we take care of the car.
Find your nearest Star Car Wash and book online.
Often, yes, but check your owner’s manual first. It may specify a touchless wash or require Car Wash Mode, Neutral or a free-roll setting for a conveyor wash. Don’t assume the instructions are the same for every EV.
Many EVs can be pressure washed if the manufacturer allows it. Keep the nozzle at the distance your manual recommends and avoid aiming a concentrated jet at the charge-port door, seals, cameras or sensors. See our guide to pressure washing an EV for more detail.
No. An EV doesn’t need a special “electric car” soap. Use a mild car shampoo suitable for its paint and any coating, and follow the manufacturer’s product guidance.
Rain on the outside of an EV is normal. Unplug before deliberately washing the car, then close the charge-port cover. Washing with a hose or pressure washer is different from a car being exposed to rain while using suitable charging equipment.
A well-performed hand wash gives more control over the paint and areas around the charge-port cover, cameras and sensors. An automatic wash may also be suitable if your EV’s manual permits it. The vehicle’s electrical system doesn’t, by itself, mean you must choose a hand wash.
