There are some unassailable truths ingrained in the minds of most gearheads: the check engine light will illuminate just after you catch up on all your bills, fuel prices will rise before a long weekend, and a clean car runs better.
Ok – maybe the last one is anecdotal. But the Placebo Effect can certainly work wonders in the life of a car nut. If you don’t accept this argument, then please at least permit us the following: a clean car is a happy car. Because cars all have personalities, right? Well, except for a beige Corolla.
With that in mind, we have selected eight different car cleaning products fit for various scrubbing duties on your chariot. Soap, water, and a better-running car await.
Table of Contents
- Editor’s Choice: 12 Pack Microfiber Cloths
- Chemical Guys Mr. Pink Foaming Car Wash Soap
- Sudz Budz Premium Microfiber Car Cleaning Kit
- Carrand Deluxe Car Wash Dip Brush with Extension Pole
- Adam's Arsenal Builder Car Detailing Kit
- Viking Car Care Bucket Insert Grit Trap
- PowerBrush Drill Attachment Set
- Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze
1. Editor’s Choice: 12 Pack Microfiber Cloths
This is certainly not the most expensive item on this list and, by themselves, they have limited value. Nevertheless, no self-respecting gearhead should be without a gross of these colorful microfiber towels. It’s true they’ll tackle any cleaning task with gusto, usually accompanied by some sort of spray product. After they get dirty, simply pop ‘em in the washer.
Even by themselves, however, these towels are worth their weight in Armor All. Quickly brushing them over a carpeted floor mat loosens and removes minor dirt and small stones, perfect for those fast fixes when you’re picking up the significant other but didn’t have time to break out the vacuum before leaving the house. They’re also ideal for a quick flick over the dashboard to scoot away all that dust. How can we confidently assert these claims? Because your author has this exact set in his car cleaning arsenal. Pro tip: keep 10 at home and toss two in the glovebox.
2. Chemical Guys Mr. Pink Foaming Car Wash Soap
This product ranks highly on our list because it’s the same soap your author uses on his mirror-finish Dodge Challenger. Yes, I know there’s a good bit of marketing push put into the Mr. Pink soap – its catchy name sounds a lot better than Max Suds II. But this stuff creates lots of foam, sticks to the car during a wash, and rinses cleanly.
Start with the 16oz size if you’re skeptical. Even that amount will last a decent length of time, thanks to instructions that direct a single capful of the stuff per gallon of water. This product is good for use in either those fancy foam cannons or using the simple two-bucket method of hand-washing.
3. Sudz Budz Premium Microfiber Car Cleaning Kit
Getting all one’s kit and kaboodle in an easy-to-carry plastic case is never a bad thing, which is what this product from the hilariously-named Sudz Budz attempts to provide. Included in the kit are a couple of microfiber towels, a couple of different wash mitts, and a hard-handled brush that looks like the one on your girlfriend’s nightstand. This one’s for the car, though.
The brush is said to be tough on wheel grime but gentle enough on its finish so as not to give them a bad case of curb rash. Keep it below the belt to avoid any accidental Arizona pinstriping. For those duties, pick up one of the cloths or the soft mitts. The mitt that looks like Sideshow Bob on a bad day is actually called a Coral Fleece Mitt, taking its name from the sea creature with which it kinda-sorta shares an appearance.
4. Carrand Deluxe Car Wash Dip Brush with Extension Pole
We’ll concede not everyone has the vertical blessings of your author, who stands a solid 6’6” tall in his size 13 stocking feet. Some folks — most folks, actually — need a hand washing the roof or other hard to reach places on their cars. Even people of similar height to your NBA-sized scribe can benefit from this type of brush, as it puts them further away from the car, lessening the chance of accidental paint scratches from a zipper or Sammy Kershaw belt buckle.
This brush has a 10-inch brush head comprised of soft bristles that shouldn’t scratch the car. From experience, we will say that if you drop this thing on the ground, wash it thoroughly. Rocks and crud can easily hide in all those bristles, wreaking havoc when they work their way back to the surface.
5. Adam's Arsenal Builder Car Detailing Kit
If you’re looking for a kit that covers the vast majority of bases to get you started, this is the unit for you. It contains all manner of cleaners for specific jobs, plus a few mitts and cloths. There is one of those foam guns on board the kit (we’ve profiled these before in a separate post), so go ahead and hook it to a garden hose to create the type of suds usually only found at professional lots.
Also included in the kit is a wax, foam for the blaster, wheel gel, shiny tire dressing, and a quick wipe detailer. Microfiber cloths allow gearheads to get using this assemblage the instant they tear the wrapping off it on Christmas morning. There’s a bucket included in the deal, too.
6. Viking Car Care Bucket Insert Grit Trap
You’re familiar with the two-bucket wash method, right? That’s the one where the detailer uses one bucket in which to dip a soapy wash mitt and another for rinsing purposes. This, in theory, prevents dirt and crud you’ve just cleaned off your vehicle from returning to the very mitt you’re about to apply onto your car’s paintwork.
But what if you only have one bucket? Then picking up this gadget is a good idea. A dirt trap like the one shown here goes inserted into one’s car wash bucket, a few inches from its bottom. The reasoning is, logically, that dirt is heavier than water, so any grime entering the soapy wash water from rinsing a mitt will sink to the bottom and get trapped by this insert.
7. PowerBrush Drill Attachment Set
These are definitely reserved for your car’s wheels, and your car’s wheels only, unless you like introducing a maze of swirl marks on to a vehicle’s formerly pristine paint. These stiff-bristled power scrubbers are designed to clean wheels and rims only. OK — you can press them into service for cleaning the sidewalls of the aggressive KO2 tires on your brodozer if you must.
This product comes with four different brush heads of varying size and function, ranging from an enormous 5-inch diameter donut intended for lifting off hardened deposits such as the crud left over after a day wheeling in the desert. A cone-shaped brush gets into wheel spokes while a tiny 2-inch brush takes care of detail work.
8. Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze
This brand is familiar to anyone who’s ever been near a collector car show or the old Spike TV Powerblock of weekend programming. Its intent is to simply restore a deep shine to the car’s paint; think the ‘wet’ look that’s prized by some gearheads.
At just 16 fluid ounces, this isn’t the biggest bottle of polish in the world but should be more than enough to get you and your car through the summer. The label says it’s safe on all painted surfaces and, most importantly, does not dry white – a common carp about other wax and polish products.
FAQs
What brand of car cleaner(s) is/are the best?
Some of the most trusted brands that produce good-quality car cleaners are:
- Car Wash Soap – Meguiar’s G7101FFP Gold Class (Buy here!)
- Car Window Cleaner – Invisible Glass 91164 (Buy here!)
- Wheel & Tire Cleaner – CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner – Rim and Tire Cleaner
The URLs given above for the specific products are merely for referential purposes. The main idea is to introduce the brand to you so you have some direction to look in while choosing car detailing ingredients.
What cleaner do car detailers use?
Following is a list of cleaners that many professional car detailers use:
- Car Wash Soap – Meguiar’s G17748 Ultimate (Buy here!)
- Car Wax – P21S 12700W Carnauba Wax (Buy here!)
- Tire and Wheel Cleaner – Turtle Wax T-18 All Wheel & Tire Cleaner
What is the best way to clean your car at home?
A couple of steps are involved when it comes to cleaning your car at home. The process is explained as follows:
Cleaning the Body
- Rinse the surface thoroughly, and if possible, with pressure to remove any dust, dirt, and other debris off the car’s body
- Grab a dedicated car cleaning solution and mix it with plain water in the ratio as directed in the instructions that came along with the cleaner. Use a bucket as a container and stir the solution well to produce a sufficient amount of lather
Note: It is imperative to always use a dedicated car wash solution to avoid any harm or damage to the paint.
- Start washing your car from the roof and move your way down to the lower part
- Use a lamb wool mitt to rub clean the washed portions
Note: Make sure not to scrub if debris or dust are present on the body. That’s why it is necessary to rinse the car thoroughly with plain water as explained in the first step before you begin with the cleaning and detailing process.
- After washing, rinse the body again with plain water as thoroughly as you can
Wheels and Tires
- Grab a quality hose with a nozzle and throw pressure water on the wheels
- Pay special attention to the grooves during the process to get rid of debris and other hard elements from them
- Use a dedicated cleaning solution to clean the tires
- Use an acid-free cleaner to the clean metals and chrome of the wheels
- Use a mitt to wipe clean the tires
Note: Do not use the same mitt on the car body as it may damage the paint
- Thoroughly rinse the tires with pressure water
Dry
- Use a microfiber towel to wipe the water off your car
- Repeat this process once or twice until the body and wheels are dry
What’s the best thing to detail your car with?
A couple of tools and other elements are needed for car detailing. Although the professionals at authorized service centers are well-trained and are also equipped with heavy-duty pieces of equipment for extensive uses, if you want to detail your car at home, you may need the following:
For Exterior
- Bucket – Of a specific design to store a sufficient quantity of washing solution
- Car Wash – Get a car wash solution that has been specially manufactured for the job. Make sure to avoid detergents or dishwasher soaps as they might be harsh on the paint
- Wool Mitt or Microfiber Cloth – Such fabrics are soft on the body and are quite capable of absorbing foreign elements like road debris, thus efficiently cleaning the car
- Glass Cleaner – Any ammonia-free glass cleaner that is available at your home should serve the purpose well
- Clay Bar Kit – Get a clay bar kit and use it to clean the body right after washing to remove minute but harmful foreign particles off your car
- Car Wax – To make the car appear glossier and add a protective coating over the body paint. Apply a good quality car wax after using the clay bar kit. The correct sequence of application is: Car Wash > Clay Bar Kit > Car Wax
- Tire and Wheel Cleaner – You should consult your car dealer or check the owner’s manual to see which type of cleaner is marked safe for your stock wheels and tires. Nevertheless, a good-quality acid-free cleaner that has been particularly manufactured for tires can be used to get rid of pitting on the metals and chrome
For Interior
- Microfiber Towels – These are good absorbents and can clean pet hair, edible particles, and other dirt from the interior of your car. To clean cup holders, you can either use a microfiber towel or, for better results, try a clay bar
- Leather Cleaner – Most premium cars have leather interior surfaces that may get damaged if washed with a harsh solution or water. Therefore, you should get a leather cleaner that has been produced for the purpose
- Fabric Cleaner (Spray) – Carpets, floor mats, and upholstery can be cleaned with a branded spray-type fabric cleaner to avoid any damage to those objects
- Soft Toothbrush – You can use a toothbrush with soft bristles to scrub the dust and other minute foreign elements off the interior of your car
From time to time, TTAC will highlight automotive products we think may be of interest to our community. Plus, posts like this help to keep the lights on around here. Learn more about how this works.
(Editor’s note: This post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our ‘90s sedan shopping habits operating expenses. Some of you don’t find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Piston Slaps, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)
[Main photo credit: Bhakpong / ShutterStock.com. Product images provided by the manufacturer.]
Funny you should use the name Spic’N’Span. My aunt swore by it on her 1957 Ford Fsirlane. She’d hose off the grime, Dissolve Spic’N’Span in hot water in a bucket, add a stream of hose water to make suds, and clean her car with it.
She’d use a big sponge to rub the suds in, hose it off and then dry it with a clean towel. She claimed she got the best shine on the chrome and the paint sparkled. She never used wax, just gave it the S&S weekly, and kept it garaged.
Hey! This is my comment from the last time you went over car wash/wax options! I’m happy to see you updated it with the newest formulations!
I tried my aunt’s Spic’N’Span on a couple older cars I owned, but like my Aunt’s Ford, they had enamel paint. I tried it on my old 1995 Altima, and within six months, I needed a new paint job.
I haven’t tried it on my current car’s clear coat, and I’m not going to (once burned, etc.). I’d recommend whatever is best for clear coat finishes, but like other finishes, the best thing is to keep it clean with regular washing.
Oh, for the old days when all you needed was soap, water, and some Simoniz paste (and elbow grease).
Is the car that greasy? There’s no reason for soap and it does no favors to the paint (or wax). It comes out just as clean without soap.
I hardly use soap or car wash cleaner on my vehicles unless they are really caked with dirt or salt from the winter roads. I mostly use either a California car duster or Rain X Waterless Car Wash which contains some wax and you just spray it on and wipe it with a microfiber cloth. Twice a year I put poly sealant on my vehicles paint and buff them with a microfiber cloth. I have used the Rain X Waterless Car Wash on the windows and it keeps them cleaner and I don’t have to use the windshield wipers as much. The Rain X works great on shower glass and tile and keeps the soap scum from building up. Also it works on mirrors and using it on house windows keeps them cleaner longer.
That’s a great tip! But I don’t trust the “waterless”, knowing there’s no Free Lunch. Otherwise I need wax maybe every 10 years, believing it’s from no soap.
I have been using the Polymer Sealant for over 20 years and the Rain X Waterless for 14 years now. My 99 S-10 which I had for 21 years was outside for over 9 years after I bought the Isuzu I-370 and it still looked like new with its original paint (pewter). My nephew still has the S-10 and it still looks like new. Years before that I used poly sealant on my other cars with just canned car wax like Turtle Wax. I use the Rain X like you would use a spray on detailer but there are others like Lucas that are basically the same. I even tried Jay Leno’s spray on detailer. The most important thing is to use the poly sealant which adds an extra layer of protection to your clear coat which I have just sealed the Maverick and my Wife’s 2013 CRV which looks brand new. Today’s paint sealants and waxes provide better protection than those in the past and the micro fiber cloths are much better because they don’t scratch the paint.
I use RainX on the windshield like anyone else, but I keep it simple otherwise. I know I’ve saved at least $25K on car care products so far, they don’t give that stuff away. Just a wash mit in the bucket of water, hit the tires and wheels too. I’ll dry with bath towels before they go in the wash. Probably the body oils help the paint, or at least the water beads more.
@DenverMike–Nothing wrong with keeping it simple the main thing is to keep the paint clean. I use a squeegee and a leaf blower to dry with then use a microfiber towel to dry any remaining spots. Got the idea to use the leaf blower from the dryers at the car wash it gets most of the water off and it is easy. Less detergent is better. I took care of my parents cars growing up learning how to clean and wax from my middle brother who is a perfectionist. I had an agreement with my father that I would take care of the family cars and mow the lawn and he would let me use his car to drive to and from high school and anywhere I wanted to go. Saved me from having to buy a car until later and my parents always had clean and well maintained cars.
These advertisements cloaked as articles are simply amazing.
Anyone use that wipe-on/wipe-off stuff instead of an old-fashioned water/soap wash? I’ve been hesitant to try those products.
Yes I use the waterless car wash and wax for a quick clean and detail.