We compiled expert recommendations from Zani and researched items for washing, waxing, polishing, vacuuming, deodorizing, and disinfecting your ride. Our favorite car cleaning product is the Chemical Guys 16-Piece Arsenal Building Car Kit because it has everything you need to make your car shine, from foam cannons to microfiber cloths. Here are the best car cleaning products you can buy. This kit works amazingly well on plastic, leather, dashboards, glass, and navigation screens, so the interior of your car will be ready to show off in no time. As for actual cleaning solutions, you’ll get a medley of products. This bundle comes with the brand’s signature Butter Wet Wax, Silk Shine Dressing, Diablo Wheel Cleaner, and Speed Wipe—to name just a few. This is great for someone who wants to order the best kit and move on, but it might not work well for someone who has a few of these products already, because then you’re double-buying. Price at time of publish: $140 It’s a concentrated formula, so add 1 to 3 ounces to a 5-gallon bucket, and you’ll be looking at a clean car in no time. We like that it can be used with a foam cannon, a pressure gun, or just an old-fashioned bucket of water. This cleaner is so sudsy that it could leave a slight residue behind, so make sure to thoroughly rinse when cleaning. Price at time of publish: $40 If you’re looking to banish crumbs, dirt, and even sand from your car’s interior, you need a powerful vacuum with the right attachments, like the Black+Decker GEN 2 FLEX Vacuum. This vacuum not only impressed our testers with its compact design and powerful suction, but it’s also cordless, so you can easily navigate tight cracks throughout your car. This vacuum weighs just 3.2 pounds and comes fully assembled out of the box. It promises fade-free suction from its 20-volt battery, and our tester can vouch for its strong suction on both soft and hard surfaces. While the GEN 2 FLEX has a simple attachment package—a combination brush and crevice tool, plus a nozzle tool—it also comes with a rubber pet hair brush, which sets it apart from other car vacuums we tested. This pet hair brush helps to agitate embedded hairs from upholstery and carpet. Combined with the 4-foot hose, these simple attachments make this vacuum an unbeatable interior cleaning tool. Our tester did find that the hose nozzle was too narrow for larger debris like mulch, but overall it was incredibly effective at passing hair, dust, and Cheerios. This vacuum does have a longer charge time (four hours to be exact), which can be a pain if you forget to charge it after each use. However, our tester was willing to overlook the large charge time and narrow hose diameter because of this vacuum’s otherwise impressive performance and user-friendly design. Price at time of publish: $125 The handle extends up to 71 inches, allowing you to reach all the way over the roof of your car. It also has a variable-slide water control valve that you can hook your hose to if you’d rather not use a bucket. Depending on the water pressure, this feature can make it harder to control. However, if you wear gloves while using this brush, it may take some of the discomfort out of holding such a long handle for a longer period of time. Price at time of publish: $43 This formula is supposed to last between three and six months, and its spray application makes it an easy addition to your at-home car maintenance routine. The packaging says that a little of this product goes a long way—you only need to spray once every 2-by- 2-foot section—so you can expect the 18-ounce bottle to provide up to six treatments, depending on the size of your vehicle. To apply it best, spritz on the wax, wiping it with the microfiber cloth provided, then buff it with the cloth’s reverse side. Car Guys recommends applying this car wax only if the car’s exterior is cool enough to comfortably rest your hand on, and it’s best to apply this wax when your vehicle is not sitting under direct sunlight. Price at time of publish: $20 These towels can go right in the washing machine, and you don’t have to worry about their durability over time. They’re only designed to be used for car detailing as they’re not durable enough for household scrubbing. Katie Berry, a cleaning expert and member of The Spruce Cleaning and Organization Review Board, does stress that you don’t want your microfiber cloths to be too soft. “When your microfiber cloths begin to feel super soft, they’re no longer as effective. That softness is a sign that the microfibers have shed, so what you’re working with is just plain old cloth.” When you’ve run down one towel’s effectiveness, there’s no need to fret as they come in packs of 3, 12, 24, 36, and 60. Price at time of publish: $14 Leather Honey’s concentrate is premixed, so you can apply it directly to your seats using a clean, damp cloth. Work in circles until you’ve cleaned it to your liking. While it might be tricky to spread in colder environments, you can always mix the concentrate with a little water to create a thinner consistency. Price at time of publish: $25 This Armor All cleaner won’t discolor your car’s fabric and even restores the soft, plush look and feel of fabric materials. The bristled brush makes it easy to scrub away stains, and you can remove it if needed when cleaning more delicate surfaces. It is scented, so it may not be the best choice for your car if you’re sensitive to smells. Price at time of publish: $11 Not all products are specifically designed for certain materials—there are plenty of multi-purpose cleaning products on the market. Those products are generally safe to use on a variety of material types. Just check the label before purchasing to make sure it’s compatible with the materials in your car.
Ease of Use
If you aren’t a professional car detailer, you’re likely looking for user-friendly cleaning products. There are certain tools and supplies that take a little extra elbow grease and finesse to get them to work properly. Others are designed for the everyday vehicle owner and are easier to use. Consider where you’ll be cleaning your car when purchasing car cleaning supplies. Tools like vacuums use electricity for power. If there’s not an outlet near where you’ll be cleaning your car, consider getting a battery-operated one or one with a long power cord. New car owners may be better off with a car cleaning kit rather than purchasing individual items. This will make the process of keeping your car clean easy because you’ll have everything you need right off the bat.
Cost
It’s no surprise that cost is a major factor when deciding which car cleaning supplies to purchase. Product prices vary widely, so you’re bound to find something within your budget. Before clicking the buy button, make sure you have a plan so you don’t spend too much money on a product that you will only need once a year.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in home improvement, recreation, and lifestyle content. For this article, she interviewed Chad Zani, auto-detailing expert of Detail Garage for their product suggestions and insight into the importance of regularly cleaning your car. After compiling expert recommendations, Theresa considered a variety of cleaning solutions and tools, selecting those that stood out in terms of effectiveness, price, durability, versatility, and overall value. You can find more of her work on MyDomaine and Verywell Health. Katie Berry, a cleaning expert and member of The Spruce Cleaning and Organization Review Board, also provided her insight on the best cleaning cloths to use for detailing cars. Depending on the material, use either leather or upholstery cleaner to keep your seats and other components in excellent condition. For hard surfaces, rubbing alcohol on a microfiber cloth can remove dirt and grime. Don’t forget to clean the windows. Some people swear by a combination of vinegar and alcohol to leave a streak-free shine. Expiration dates can also vary depending on the quality of the product, the type of product, and the storage temperature. As a general rule, if you notice a change in the product’s appearance or performance (or a rancid smell), throw it away. Emma Phelps, an updates writer for The Spruce, later updated this roundup to include new products based on our latest testing and product research. She has over two years of experience researching products and recommending the best designs to consumers.
