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How To Clean Your RC Car (No Matter How Dirty) 

With a controller in your hands and a vehicle zooming on the ground, you are enjoying every moment of playing with your new RC (remote-controlled) car. Not only is it really fast but it can handle water, snow, and mud. 

Its huge tires easily drive over bumps and splash into puddles. After your run is done, your cool-looking RC car is pretty dirty after all the mud and water it just drove through. 

You need to clean the RC vehicle after every run no matter how dirty it is, but what is the best way to clean it?

The easiest way to clean an RC car is with dish soap and water. You can also use some cleaning products to clean the tougher spots on your RC car to make it look new again.

Cleaning your RC car is important. Since you spent a lot of money on the toy, you will want to keep it in good condition. You don’t want it to rust from the water it drives through or sit with mud caked all over it. 

When you clean the car before storing it away it will prolong its longevity. Its mechanical parts will need to be cleaned to help them last longer as well.

You also have to be careful not to get any of the chemicals you are using to clean the vehicle within its electrical parts as this can damage them and cause your RC car not to work properly.

There are times when the car isn’t too dirty from its run. If this is the case, a brush is pretty much all you need to remove the loose dirt or dust. If it is really dusty try using compressed air for an easy clean. 

This will help to remove any unwanted dust and loose dirt from the car.

It is good to clean your RC car right after it gets dirty and you are putting it away for the day because otherwise the dirt will stick and be harder to get off. 

Maybe your car is really dirty and needs to be cleaned with something more than just a brush. For a more detailed clean, switch off the power and take out the battery. 

Grab a brush or a toothbrush for hard to reach spots to remove the loose dirt. If the first is stuck to the car you can use a cleaning agent and a cloth to wipe it away. 

If you went off-roading with your RC car it is a good idea to take off the tires and rear wing so you can easily clean the suspension. If you have been driving the RC car in humid weather or where salt is used to control the dust, spray its bearings and metal parts with WD-40. 

For a really deep clean before storing the car, take out all the electrical parts so they are out of the way and you can freely clean it. 

Brush it and spray with the cleaning agent. After letting the cleaning agent sit for a little while, wipe it clean. Be sure to dry the car thoroughly and spray WD-40 wherever it is needed like the hinge pins and bare metal surfaces. 

You may even want to remove the hinge pins and clean them separately before putting them back in the car. 

Grease the joints with graphite grease or lubricant and use only oil meant for the bearings. Clean your car thoroughly to keep it in good condition and so that it will last longer. 

It will also help the car to run more smoothly and function better when you take it out for a spin.

To see the most popular RC cars available just click here. 

HYPER GO H16DR 1:16 Scale Ready to Run 4X4 Fast Remote Control Car, High Speed Big Jump RC Monster Truck, Off Road RC Cars, 4WD All Terrain RTR RC Truck with 2 LiPo Batteries for Boys and Adults

A good RC car doesn’t have to cost a fortune. This 1/16 scale model is 4WD and can reach a top speed of almost 30 MPH!

With speeds like that and 4WD you can take this RC car almost anywhere!

What Can You Use To Clean Your RC Car? 

It’s important to take good care of your remote-controlled car. When you clean it well, it will last longer and run more smoothly. By knowing what to use to clean your RC, you will be on your way to a durable and shiny vehicle.

You can use a brush, compressed air (either from a can or air compressor), and cleaning agents (such as soap, Simple Green, or another all-purpose cleaner) to easily clean your RC car and remove loose debris.

Using a brush will remove all of the loose dirt or sand that is on the car. You can also use a toothbrush to get in between the little spaces and individual parts that are hard to reach. 

If the dirt particles are difficult to remove by just using just a brush, a can of compressed air should do the trick. You can also use an air compressor tank if you find yourself buying too many cans of compressed air.

If your RC car along with its electronic parts is waterproof, you can spray it with warm water and dish soap. If it isn’t waterproof some denatured alcohol or alcohol wipes can be used to wipe the car down to get a thorough clean.  

Cleaning agents will work great on grime but can’t be used on your RC car until after the power is turned off and the battery is removed. There are many general cleaners that you can use on the RC car to make it sparkling clean again. 

Remember to dry the car after cleaning it in the sunlight. This can be done by using low-pressure air, a soft cloth or towel, or even by using paper towels. You don’t want the water to sit on its parts causing the vehicle to rust. 

If you notice signs of rust or if you just want to be thorough in the cleaning process, spray your RC car’s bearings and metal parts with WD-40.

When cleaning your RC car it is a good idea to make a habit of removing and cleaning the air filters as well as any other parts of the RC car engine that have gotten dirty. Although you can take your RC engine apart pretty easily with the right tools, it isn’t something that you have to do if you don’t want to.

Can you Clean Your RC Car With Water? 

Cleaning an RC car is easy. But before you grab the hose and start spraying water all over the car, you should remove the batteries and check to see if it is waterproof or not. 

If your RC car and its electronic parts are waterproof/water resistant then you can clean it using water. If not just stick to basic household cleaners or a brush.

If you do own a waterproof RC car, then cleaning it is easy. You can spray it with warm water and detergent or a low-pressure hose. Use the water to wash off the chassis and the wheels while making sure the breather hole is covered so you don’t get water into them. 

After the washing is done, take some compressed air and blow off the water. Then wipe the remaining liquid off with a soft cloth.

Just like with regular cleaning, dry the RC car well so it won’t rust. By spraying some WD-40 on all the parts that may rust you will prolong the life of your vehicle. 

Don’t clean your RC car by dousing it with water if it is not waterproof. You don’t want to chance to ruin it so stick with the regular cleaning method. 

Waterproof or not you should always clean your RC car after driving it and before putting it away no matter how dirty it is.

Can you Use WD-40 On Your RC Car? 

RC cars are fun for adults and kids. It should be cleaned often with the right products. If you aren’t sure whether you should use WD-40 on your RC car or not, remember it never hurts to be careful. It’s an extra step but one worth taking.

You can use WD-40 on your remote-controlled car. It helps the metal parts not to rust after the car has been in humid weather or driven through water.

Use WD-40 after cleaning your RC car. This will make the car more durable and last longer. Plus it will prevent rust from building up on the car. 

After you have thoroughly cleaned and dried the vehicle, just spray some WD-40 on the exposed bearings and metal caps. Let it dry and you are good to go.

WD-40 works well on your remote-controlled car parts and is a good way to protect them from rust build-up. 

Follow all the tips for keeping a clean RC car and you will be able to enjoy driving it for years to come. It’s easy and important to keep your car in good condition and it is okay to use WD-40 on the RC which will help you have smooth driving.

How Do I Clean My Traxxas Car?

If you are an adventure-seeking RC racer, you probably put your vehicle through some tough stuff. Mud, grass, water, and dirt can all find their way all over and into your RC car but thankfully cleaning it is pretty easy to do.

Cleaning your Traxxas car should be done after every run. It is easy and quick to get your RC car back into tip-top racing shape.

To clean your Traxxas RC car you will just need to give it a good wipe down, use compressed air to remove any stubborn or hard-to-reach dust and dirt, and then dry it completely. 

After every use, you should clean the vehicle to keep it in good condition. Remove any batteries and blow off the loose dirt with compressed air or by using a brush (a clean paintbrush works great). Sometimes rocks can get caught between the gears which will interfere with operation. 

If your run was on pavement, grass, or dirt this is all that is probably required to clean your vehicle.

If you have run the car in more harsh conditions such as snow, mud, or water, then extra cleaning is required. 

You don’t want rust to build up on your expensive RC vehicle so proper cleaning is vital. 

After removing any debris, if it is water resistant, spray it down with a general all-purpose cleaner. A build-up of mud and/or grass will need some brushing or some additional cleaner to let it soak to get it off. 

If you need to clean the wheels take them off and clean them along with the steering and suspension.

Now you can use a low-pressure hose to wash off the chassis and the wheels making sure to cover the breather hole in the wheels so you don’t get water in them. 

Next, you will want to use compressed air to blow off the water and wipe any remaining liquid off with a rag. Once it has dried, spray some WD-40 on all the parts that can rust. 

You can then put the vehicle away to await the next racing day. 

A video on how to clean your Traxxas car is found below

Final Thoughts

RC cars are fun for off-roading but when they get dirty they have to be cleaned. Whether they are just dusty or really muddy, cleaning your RC car before putting it away is important. 

By following the simple cleaning tips mentioned in this article you will help keep your RC in good condition and running smoothly.