5 Best Car Wash Kits for Interior and Exterior Cleaning
Updated: Mar. 01, 2023Love a clean car? The best car wash kits help you achieve that showroom-like sparkle and shine.
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It doesn’t take long for a car to get dirty—especially if kids and pets are involved. Sure, you can drive to the nearest carwash when your vehicle gets unbearably messy for a professional detail, but costs can add up quickly. Let’s face it: It’s more convenient (and cost-efficient) to have your own car cleaning kit ready to go.
For the best clean, you’ll need a few car detailing products: Microfiber towels, automotive cleaner, a wash mitt, tire cleaner and wax. You might also want to pick up a few car detailing tools, too. Costs add up quickly when you buy everything separately, which is why car cleaning kits are such a cost-effective solution for the average person.
Want to learn more? Check out our picks below for the best car wash kits for exterior and interior cleaning.
Best Overall Car Wash Kit
Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit
Meguair’s Complete Car Care Kit ticks about every box in terms of performance and versatility. Inside, you’ll find premium car cleaning products like a microfiber towel, wash mitt and foam applicator pad. The kit even includes a set of clay bars for removing blemishes from your car’s exterior surface.
The kit comes with 12 different products that tackle your car’s interior, exterior, and even tires. Buyers rave about the interior plastic cleaner and polish in this kit, saying it even works to remove yellowing and stains. Here, find out the benefits of an eco-friendly car wash.
Pros
- Wide range of versatile products
- High-quality
- Value price
Cons
- No glass cleaner included
Best Budget Car Wash Kit
Armor All Complete Car Care Kit
This basic car wash kit from Amor All costs around $15, making it a great option for the budget-conscious washer. This car interior and exterior cleaning kit includes 10 ounces of Original Protectant interior cleaner, 25 glass wipes, 20 ounces of tire foam protectant and 16 ounces of Ultra Shine Wash and Wax. It’ll have you cleaning your car like a professional detailer before you know it!
Pros
- Affordable
- Includes all the basics
- Dries fast
- Smells good
Cons
- Not suited for deep cleans and detailing
Best Exterior Car Wash Kit
Jax Wax Extreme Professional Wash and Wax Kit
Along with a 3.5 gallon resealable bucket for easy grab-and-go washing, the Jax Wax Kit contains eight ounces of liquid carnauba paste wax, 16 ounces of body shine showroom spray wax, a wash and wax soap, two microfiber towels, a wash mitt and an applicator sponge. These high-quality tools make DIY car detailing easy.
Pros
- Bucket, wash mitt, microfiber towels and applicator sponges included
- Professional-grade products
- Includes bug zapper
Cons
- Does not include products for interior cleaning
Best Detailing Car Wash Kit
Chemical Guys The Best Detailing Kit
As a brand, Chemical Guys is known for their quality cleaning products. While their full-service car detailing kit will cost you around $100, you can bet it’s going to get the job done. When washing a car at home, many people focus on the exterior shine, but a car interior cleaning kit is just as important. This full package contains products for both so you can get stains out of your car seats and grime off your windshield.
Pros
- Comprehensive detailing kit
- Restores deep-black look to vinyl, rubber and plastic
- Protects leather, wheels and paint
Cons
- May need to purchase detailing tools separately
Best Waterless Car Wash Kit
Chemical Guys Waterless Car Wash & Wax Kit
This car wash and wax kit from Chemical Guys isn’t your average waterless option, as it involves mixing the included concentrate with distilled water in a spray bottle. The concentrate is made with a mix of carnauba wax, clay, surfactants and lubricating agents.
As with all waterless car wash kits, this works better for DIY car upkeep than after a long road trip where bugs and mud cover every inch of your vehicle. The kit contains 16 ounces of a waterless car wash concentrate and a spray bottle, which makes it an uncomplicated solution to getting your vehicle clean.
Pros
- Wash, wax and protect in one step
- Can be used on paint, wheels, windows and more
- Sprayer and towels included
Cons
- Some reviewers mention receiving kits with missing parts
FAQ
How often should you wash your car?
Experts say you should wash the exterior of your vehicle about every two weeks if the weather permits. However, applying a coat of wax after each clean can extend results, which may lead to you having to wash less often. Some even suggest that cleaning your car regularly can improve overall fuel economy, as dirt buildup can increase drag.
As far as interior car cleaning goes, how often you clean really depends on your lifestyle. Using things like a “carbage” (car trash can) and car-cleaning putty on a daily basis can help keep the inside of your vehicle from getting messy.
Can I use dish soap to wash my car?
Short answer: No. Dish soap isn’t formulated to safely use on car paint. Dish soap is an abrasive cleaner that can chip away at your car’s protective topcoat.
Where can I buy a car cleaning kit?
If you’re looking to shop in person, Walmart and Target offer a variety of car cleaning products and kits. If you are interested in shopping online, Amazon offers a wide selection of car wash kits, and Chemical Guys also offers reliable, top-quality kits.
How We Found the Best Car Wash Kits
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
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