12 Best Cleaning Products for Your Car
Updated: Mar. 11, 2020Here 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
Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash does the trick, The Car Coach Lauren Fix says, and a gallon of the concentrate should last a year. A capful in a bucket of water will clean the car from roof to wheels.
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Best Car Wax
Meguiar’s tops lists in the wax category, too. Their liquid wax is as easy to use as it is effective, says Michael Lowe, owner of car review site Car Passionate. “It really gives that protective barrier as well as the best shine,” he says. Thousands of Amazon reviewers agree.
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Best Car Glass Cleaner
3M Glass Cleaner is a foaming spray that cleans off dirt, bugs and tree sap, says Greg Kopf, automotive expert for car supply website CARiD.com. This cleaner won’t leave streaks, and it’s also safe to use on vinyl and plastic inside your car. Here’s a clever streak-free glass hack.
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. It has more than 2,000 five-star reviews on Amazon!
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, Kopf says. Armor All is easy to use, too. Apply, let the cleaner sit, then wipe it off.
Another All-Around Great Car Cleaner
Turtle Wax also makes a car wash product that Fix likes. Mix one ounce with one gallon of water to wash away dirt and make your car shine. Reviewers praise this product for the mirror-like finish, with one saying their black car looked like patent leather.
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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