Barkeepers Friend Liquid & Windex Combo Issue - Now What?

[zreagan]

Hi all...

Loving my Beast here in NC!! It's everything I hoped for (for 4 years) and more!! Keeping it clean isn't fun though...

I used the Barkeepers Friend Liquid w/ Windex to clean up my truck and I've got a mess!!

I gave the whole truck a good wash first, dried it well and then tried the BKF/Windex thing. The first panel turned out great, just like the many YouTube videos. However, there are spots on other places where I've got streaks/patches and they look bad. They developed a bit after I finished.

I've tried to go back with BKF & Windex over them and it doesn't help!

What can I do to remove these and get it back?? Looking for some advise as to what to use now to remove these streaks. What do you think??

Many thanks!

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[Polen]

I have the same problem here in Texas. What I found that works best is the follow the instructions on BKF bottle the instructions say to use a moist towel or damp towel to wash off the stainless within a minute after applying it. So I got a bucket of water with Dawn soap and a good car sponge and got a panel wet put a good amount of barkeepers friend on the sponge and washed that panel and then rinse it off with high-pressure hose and then after I was done with the car, I drove through a car wash and dried it off and it looks great.

The problem I have in Texas is too damn hot. The flashing happens so quick that all you get is streaks and splotches so you need to use the water method of applying it and wash it off.

 

[Seribus]

Have you tried a clay bar or maybe that Sprayway glass cleaner without ammonia? I saw post recently on the glass cleaner working well for some. Just make sure ammonia free version.

 

[wtibbit]

Hi all...

Loving my Beast here in NC!! It's everything I hoped for (for 4 years) and more!! Keeping it clean isn't fun though...

I used the Barkeepers Friend Liquid w/ Windex to clean up my truck and I've got a mess!!

I gave the whole truck a good wash first, dried it well and then tried the BKF/Windex thing. The first panel turned out great, just like the many YouTube videos. However, there are spots on other places where I've got streaks/patches and they look bad. They developed a bit after I finished.

I've tried to go back with BKF & Windex over them and it doesn't help!

What can I do to remove these and get it back?? Looking for some advise as to what to use now to remove these streaks. What do you think??

Many thanks!

Windex typically contains ammonia, which degrades the surface passivation layer of stainless steel. I advise against using anything containing ammonia on stainless steel. I suggest you go over the truck again with BKF and wash it off thoroughly with water.

 

[ideaXfactory]

Why anyone uses this combo is beyond me... Other than many here following the ill-advised procedure, originating from a early youtube video...

 

[chaosmarine92]

I had that issue when I was prepping before putting on protecclear. I found that I had to go at those spots with the ammonia free Windex and fresh areas of my microfiber cloth. The slightest bit of dirt or oil on the cloth will just smear on the truck.

 

[SteelMyHeart]

Sprayaway Glass cleaner, ammonia free is great for surface grime and fingerprints.

Instead of bkf, tesla recommends citrisurf 77 and blue scotch Brite pad then rinse off with water

Water and white vinegar 50-50 mix works as well for spots Spray away doesn't get.

Regular automatic car wash.

I've done all of the above. The citrisurf 77 can leave white water spots on the stainless steel if not thoroughly rinsed. The white vinegar I think is easier because it is diluted more compared to citrisurf and gets spots that spray away doesn't get.

Less is more. Once you get the panels looking nice. Sprayaway and white vinegar and water are all you need and spray away mainly.

I did find the regular car wash works well and buys you even more time until Sprayaway needed.

In your situation I would used citrisurf77 and scotch pad and then rinse really well with water and see what you get. If you see swirls leave it for 24 hours and then see how they look then go with spray away if they are still there. Swirls from using microfiber towel are unavoidable to an extent and regular car wash may be best to avoid that.

 

[tmeyer3]

oxalic acid (bkf) is not something you should use lightly as it, intentionally, causes reduction, oxidation, and surface complexation of chromium. In the case of reduction, it does break down chromium oxide, albeit not quickly. Any amount of "strokes" you apply to the surface when it is coated is likely going to be reflected in the steel's finish and will look like fine "scratches" or a brushing pattern--no matter how soft of a cloth you use.
Good luck! Personally, oxalic acid is never touching my truck lol. Nor is ammonia.

Fortunately SS has a way of cycling through stains on it's own and with normal weathering. In future, I recommend cleaning with regular soap and water and embracing the SS look as it will be very difficult to maintain a perfect sheen with any SS. If you'd like that perfect clean look all the time, then I highly recommend a wrap.

 

[AlmostHuman]

I have not found it hard to keep the Cybertruck clean. I have hand washed it once, simply because it was nasty at delivery. Very wash after that was a simple touchless wash followed up with a microfiber dry. Nothing fancy .

 

[HaulingAss]

I've had all kinds of contaminants including bird poop, insects, wet tree leaves and needles sitting on the surface for days at a time, all kinds of mud and dirt, road grime, and industrial fallout on my Cybertruck and a bucket of soapy water and a long-bristled brush with a long handle works really well. I've used the inexpensive Meguires Crystal Auto shampoo that comes in a half-gallon bottle as well as two more expensive auto shampoos, but they all seem to work about the same. Which is to say it looks great afterwards. I just hose the soap off with a garden sprayer and towel dry. I've used a old cotton bath towel but I prefer a smaller microfiber cloth that I just wring out periodically.

The reason this works so well is I haven't stripped off the passivation layer using harsh chemicals. Fingerprints don't show up very well either, once the surface is passivated. Isopropyl alcohol on a rag can also be used to spot clean without removing the passivation layer. Any streaking is easily removed by regular washing (above).

I do have a lot of very fine scratches from all the off-roading/mud/bushwhacking I've been doing but they just make the truck look like it's been driven through mud and brush. Once the fresh scratches have passivated, they blend in more. It doesn't hurt the metal, if I ever get tired of it, I'll just polish the scratches away with a very fine abrasive pad on a random orbit polisher/sander. That will bring the surface back to new again and I'll let the passivation layer develop again by washing with soap and water.

 

[Mini2nut]

I blame YT for the BFK and Windex combo recommendation. They are not mentioned in the Cybertruck owners manual.

CitriSurf 77 is recommended and I trust their top notch material science team.

I have already purchased the recommended products for my future non-FS Cybertruck.

 

[digitalboi]

I agree with the KISS comments from above. I have had zero issues here in Central Florida keeping mine clean by just taking it through the car wash... It works great, wipe it dry after I exit and the truck looks fantastic.

 

[Deleted member 17810]

Bar Keeps needs to be rinse off with a good amount of water.

Pans are cleaned in the following order:

Remove all crud with water/soap/etc.
Paste up with Barkeeps and clean with scrubber
RINSE off with good amounts of water and soap.
Dry off to prevent water spots.

 

[Coagulation]

Like others have said, spray away, ammonia free glass cleaner with microfiber towels has been amazing.

I have yet to actually wash the truck with a hose. I can once over the entire surface with sprayaway, including windows in like five minutes. It also works well on all of the plastic components and the tonneau cover.

Only problem is, I have not figured out a great solution to apply it to the huge windshield, while being able to give the towel the same pressure I would with my hand.

I tried barkeepers friend liquid, and I was getting streaks like that. Never going to use it again. So far spray away seems like the winner to me.

 

[carsly]

Ten days in, I'm just hosing it down every few days. I do have a spray nozzle attachment for my hose.

I do notice that if I dry with my leaf blower I get no spots. If I skip the leaf blower I get a few water drop spots due to our hard water in NJ, even with my water softener going.

Once it cools down a bit I think I'll fire up the pressure washer and foam cannon it. But so far no need at all.

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