Were tanks ever cleaned and washed in WW2?

Yep, rudimentary wash downs . Thorough claning wasn't too common

Very rarely were they actually "cleaned", especially on the main hull. Dirt and muck on your tank showed that your team knew how to survive, plus the debris acted as a natural ablative armor and camoflage.

demono69

Radiato grills/intake vents etc would have been kept clean as would weapons/mounts. Grease fittings would have been cleaned before use.

Wash downs probably only occured during victory parades through the liberated towns.. Other than that, rains were probably the most washing most tanks got.

during stops it may be sprayed down, or the rain would wash it. this, thoght, made in worse in spite of the water. it would smear the dirk and much of the dirt was "pied on". [:0]