Barkeepers Friend Liquid & Windex Combo Issue - Now What?

[Chris9702L]

I say BS to all the people who poo-poo the BarKeepers Friend/WIndex combo. It works great. Just spread a light coat of BKF on. Work it in. I used a lot of Costco microfibers as they would get dirty. And then have two towels for the Windex. Now the first towel is used to get the main body of the BKF off and the second towel is used to get off the fines and little residue. Change towels often. If a door or panel is not perfect than use the combo again.

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[ideaXfactory]

I say BS to all the people who poo-poo the BarKeepers Friend/WIndex combo. It works great. Just spread a light coat of BKF on. Work it in. I used a lot of Costco microfibers as they would get dirty. And then have two towels for the Windex. Now the first towel is used to get the main body of the BKF off and the second towel is used to get off the fines and little residue. Change towels often. If a door or panel is not perfect than use the combo again.

Unless you change from ammonia windex, well... enjoy your Stainless, as you destroy the surface...

 

[Spacenoddle]

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 .

Exactly, pressure wash to wet the vehicle, using one towel remove most of water another dry towel finishs the job. The key is doing this by sections, the SS panel dry fast under the sun, you need to hand towel dry the vehicle before sun does. Then at the end, some spanaway glass cleaner to remove some stubborn fingerprints. End to end is 10 min work… nothing fancy.

 

[SteelMyHeart]

I say BS to all the people who poo-poo the BarKeepers Friend/WIndex combo. It works great. Just spread a light coat of BKF on. Work it in. I used a lot of Costco microfibers as they would get dirty. And then have two towels for the Windex. Now the first towel is used to get the main body of the BKF off and the second towel is used to get off the fines and little residue. Change towels often. If a door or panel is not perfect than use the combo again.

It's not a question of if it works but the cost to the stainless over time and also the time and effort it takes. It's more complex than other cleaning options and seems to take longer. I also think telsa, knowing the special steel variant they used and having the biggest incentive to keep the product high quality, recommends different products says something.

 

[Chris9702L]

It's not a question of if it works but the cost to the stainless over time and also the time and effort it takes. It's more complex than other cleaning options and seems to take longer. I also think telsa, knowing the special steel variant they used and having the biggest incentive to keep the product high quality, recommends different products says something.

I can agree with not using it day in day out. But using it occasionally will do nothing to the long term health of the metal. But to get it looking pretty and getting off the funk and spots It’s probably the number #1 method that has been found. I think you also definitely need a coating, whether it by DIY Metal, Protectaclear, or something similar. It just makes life easier and it makes it drastically easier to clean.

 

[SAMMYD]

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!

When using Barkeeper’s Friend and windex(ammonia free); if was recommended to change your applicator and microfiber towels often so you don’t smear the dirt/sludge all around the vehicle. Don’t let the Bar keepers friends sit for too long after application. I did a section at a time and used quite a few of fresh applicators and towels. One use of Barkeepers Friend should be good enough and maintain routine wash with a normal wash of your choice. I prefer ONR.

 

[Texarado]

Has anyone found a soft enough (I.e., non abrasive) polishing pad that would work with a normal cordless drill? I don’t know enough about polishing pads to know what to get and what to stay away from, but that has to be easier and more consistent than manually wiping it on, which is what I’ve done to date so far.

 

[ideaXfactory]

I can agree with not using it day in day out. But using it occasionally will do nothing to the long term health of the metal. But to get it looking pretty and getting off the funk and spots It’s probably the number #1 method that has been found. I think you also definitely need a coating, whether it by DIY Metal, Protectaclear, or something similar. It just makes life easier and it makes it drastically easier to clean.

Disagree, no coating is necessary if you allow the hard oxide layer to form. But if the surface is compromised by this method you and others use, then yes, you likely will next be wrapping or coating it, while still promoting this method (you no longer use) to others.

 

[Chris9702L]

What hard oxide layer?

 

[Carnasis]

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!

I had this, do another application, this just means that those spots didn't get enough BKF. If done properly, the whole truck should be a uniform shine. What you're doing is getting rid of the top layer of patina with BKF. Make sure you're doing 1 panel at a time, wipe off with Sprayaway or Windex.

 

[Mini2nut]

I'm still puzzled as to why users aren't using a blue non-scratch ScotchBrite pad for BKF application. Routine pad rinsing with a standby water hose while applying should keep it clean.

 

[TECH49]

I had to use BKF on my new truck to deal with issues on the surface of many panels. I used a big soft yellow sponge and after a couple panels with ammonia free Windex, I switched to an ONR mix I had initially tried as one of my steps before BKF. It was handy and I just wondered if it would work. It worked fine.

I masked off the panels and did them one at a time quickly, no rubbing, just once over lightly with the sponge. It finished up amazing. I found getting every bit of the BKF off was important. After the initial drenching and wiping, I'd get a new towel, spritz ONR just enough to allow the towel to wipe it off, a little, then a little less until done. This part was fiddley. I didn't use a hose because I didn't want to deal with all that water as I was masking every panel, which I felt was important.

Since then, I have only washed and dried once (easy), and have used Sprayway for fingerprints. Looks terrific.

I used BKF because nothing else I tried worked. Though, I didn't try Citris77, as I learned of that after I used BKF.

If I have to do BKF more than once a year, I'll probably wrap, but it's not my first choice.

 

[FarAway]

Wonder why TESLA doesn't apply that white plastic film to the stainless steel (SS) as almost every SS appliance manufacturer does? It would at least protect the vehicle until it gets delivered to the SC.

As for BKF, I have used it for years in the kitchen on the ALL-Clad pots and pans. It cleans well with some elbow grease, but the overall appearance (shine) never looks as nice as they did when they were new. For my pans I will prioritize clean, for my CT I will prioritize appearance; therefore, No BKF. Yes, a fine line, but definitely a difference.

 

[TECH49]

...for my CT I will prioritize appearance; therefore, No BKF. Yes, a fine line, but definitely a difference.

That wouldn't have worked for me because I prioritized appearance. Before passivating with it, the panels were clean, but every panel had an issue and a couple were just plain bad.

 

[HaulingAss]

I say BS to all the people who poo-poo the BarKeepers Friend/WIndex combo. It works great. Just spread a light coat of BKF on. Work it in. I used a lot of Costco microfibers as they would get dirty. And then have two towels for the Windex. Now the first towel is used to get the main body of the BKF off and the second towel is used to get off the fines and little residue. Change towels often. If a door or panel is not perfect than use the combo again.

That sounds like a lot of unnecessary mucking about. Soap and water is much simpler and less toxic. Why constantly remove the passivation layer if you don't have to. That just invites stains on the metal and visible fingerprints.

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