12 Best Cleaning Products for Your Car
Updated: Mar. 24, 2021Here are 12 of the best cleaning products for your car, according to both experts and product reviewers. These products will make your car shine from top to bottom, inside and out.
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Best Car Shampoo and Conditioner
One of the most popular car cleaning products out there, Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash cleans and conditions at the same time. Rich suds get rid of a winter’s worth of dirt and chemicals and all the other grime that accumulates on your ride. The conditioner leaves a slick, shiny surface, and it won’t strip the wax or risk damaging the finish like a commercial car wash can. A gallon of the concentrate should last a year; all you need is a capful in a bucket of water to clean the car from top to bottom.
Best Wash Mitt
You can use old rags to wash your car, but it’ll take longer, won’t do as good of a job, and is kind of pain in general. The Chemical Guys Chenille Microfiber wash mitt is extra absorbent, so it holds plenty of soap to get every square inch of your vehicle lathered up. Plus, the microfiber material doesn’t hold grit like a towel can, so it won’t scratch the paint. And when you’re done, just toss it in the washing machine
Best Car Wax
Meguiar’s liquid wax is easy to use and super effective. With one easy step, it gives your car a long-lasting protective barrier along with a brilliant shine. It’s safe for all paints and clear coat. One application will leave your car looking better than it did the day you bought it.
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Best Car Glass Cleaner
Invisible Glass is Amazon’s top-selling glass cleaner for a reason: it works! The foam cleanser removes bugs, grease, road salt, and anything else that makes it hard to see out of your windshield and windows. It goes on without streak or drips and doesn’t leave behind any residue. It’s safe for tinted windows too, and it works on the inside of your windows too.
Best Car-Drying Towels
Half the battle when washing your car can be drying it fast enough to avoid water spots. With a name like The Absorber, this towel should do the trick. It’s chamois, which absorbs water faster than a terry cloth or microfiber towel.
Best Trim Cleaner
Armor All Trim and Plastic Restorer fights wear and tear on exterior plastic, which is prone to sun fading and wax stains. Armor All is easy to use, too. Apply, let the cleaner sit, then wipe it off.
Best Car Interior Cleaner
With more than 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, Car Guys Super Cleaner works on all interior surfaces—plastic, rubber, vinyl, leather and fabric. Reviewers love its stain-busting power that restores interiors to their original color and leaves a matte finish.
Best Tire Cleaner
Armor All Wheel and Tire Cleaner gets Lowe’s vote for wheels and tires. The foaming spray dissolves brake dust as well as dirt and makes tires glossy black. Just be sure to protect yourself from brake dust and wear rubber gloves while cleaning. Check out these tips for making your tires last longer.
Best Leather Cleaner
Lexol Leather Conditioner “is the best, period,” The Car Coach Fix says. “It’s made of natural products and truly does the job. It absorbs well and doesn’t leave a film behind.” The two-step cleaner and conditioner combo is also used to clean saddles!
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Best Car Cleaning Set
Lowe is a fan of the Trinova car wash kit for pro results at home. It includes shampoo, wax and tire shine spray; a trim restorer for rubber and plastic around the doors, windows and front grill; and an interior cleaner that’s good for your dashboard and seats. It also comes with a quick detailer for taking care of dust and dirt in between washings.
Best Auto Carpet Protector
Fix likes Scotchgard protecting carpets and fabric. Car carpet has different materials underneath than the carpet in your house, which is why she says to avoid home carpet cleaners. And, she adds, don’t skip vacuuming the carpet.
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Best Car-Cleaning Splurge
Steam cleaners use distilled water instead of soap or chemicals. Lowe likes the AutoRight Steam Machine for its heat control, portability and varied brushes. It comes with 11 attachments in all!
This steam cleaner heats up to 290° to kill bacteria and promises to run for 45 minutes at a time, per battery charge. It’s a splurge ($72), but you can also use it in your home to remove wallpaper and clean tile grout.
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