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If you want an at-home experience that can compete with what you’d get at a professional car washing service, this car cleaning kit fits the bill. Read More

If you don’t need a foam cannon, Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit has everything else you need to clean your car like a professional. Read More

The Armor All Premium Car Care Kit is economically priced, but it includes everything you need to clean your car. Read More

This kit is another economically priced option that includes everything you need to clean your car inside and out and it’s designed to save time. Read More

You won’t get more products for your money than this 20-piece Relentless Drive Car Wash Kit. Read More

Americans are keeping their vehicles for an average of 12.1 years, according to a 2021 report. This is the first time ever that U.S. consumers have held onto the same vehicle for that long.

Regular maintenance—including oil changes, tune-ups, and tire rotations—can play a major role in a vehicle’s lifespan. However, taking care of the outside of your car, SUV, or truck can also help it look brand new, which plays a role in determining the car’s resale value.

And here’s a tip for those of you who may not be accustomed to washing your vehicle: My father, who used to build cars for General Motors, taught me to always use two buckets of water. The first bucket contains soapy water, and the second bucket contains clear water. Every time you dip the wash mitt into the soap water and wash a section of the car, you should then place it into the clean water. Otherwise, you’re just recirculating dirty water.

With that out of the way, here are some of the best car cleaning kits you can get online right now, whatever your budget.

The recommendations in this guide are based on thorough product and market research by our team of expert product reviewers. The picks are based on examining user reviews, product specifications, and, in some limited cases, our experience with the specific products named.

If you want an at-home experience that can compete with what you’d get at a professional car washing service, the Chemical Guys 16-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit fits the bill. It includes Honeydew Snow Foam and a Torq Foam Cannon that works with a pressure washer to provide an abundance of thick suds (you can also get the kit that works with a garden hose).

In addition, the Diablo Gel Wheel and Rim Cleaner and short handle brush make it easy to remove dirt from your wheels and tires. If you’re in a hurry, the wax-free Speed Wipe Quick Detailer cleans the paintwork and makes it shine. The kit also includes Butter Wet Wax that you just wipe on, leave for a few minutes, and then wipe off—and a bottle of silk shine protectant for cleaning your vehicle’s trim. In addition, there’s a glass cleaner, applicator, microfiber wash mitt, four microfiber towels, and a detailing bucket with a cyclone dirt trap inside that’s designed to trap dirty water so it stays off the wash mitt.

Need a washer or hose for best results

If you don’t need a foam cannon, Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit has everything else you need to clean your car like a professional. The kit includes Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner, which cleans the vehicle without stripping off the wax. And there’s also a bottle of Gold Class Liquid Wax for when you do need to apply a layer of protection to the vehicle. The Quick Detailer along with the clay bars also remove dirt without affecting the wax job, and the Quik Interior Detailer cleans your car’s interior.

For scratches and stains, Meguiar’s Scratch 2.0 uses micro-abrasives to remove these blemishes without affecting the paint. There’s also a cleaner and polish (PlastX) for clear plastic surfaces like headlights, tail lights and instrument panels. In addition, the kit includes tire gel, microfiber mitt, microfiber towels, and foam applicator pads.

Cleaner for headlights and tail lights

Clay bars and tire gel

The Armor All Premium Car Care Kit is economically priced, but it includes everything you need to clean your car. The Ultra Shine Wash and Wax formula removes dirt, helps water beading, and reduces the shine in your vehicle’s paint in one step. The multi-purpose car interior cleaner can also be used on practically everything inside of the car, including on the dashboard, console, vinyl or fabric seats, and carpet. The protectant can be used on both the interior and exterior to prevent cracking and discoloration from UV rays on vinyl, plastic, and rubber parts.

For tires, there’s both a tire and wheel cleaner to provide deep cleaning, and also a bottle of tire shine for a glossy look that protects against cracking and fading. In addition, the kit includes a glass cleaner, a car wash pad, and even an air freshener.

Tire cleaner and tire shine

Turtle Wax Ultimate Car Care Kit is another economically priced option that includes everything you need to clean your car inside and out and it’s designed to save time. The Zip Wax Car Wash & Wax lathers well to remove dirt from your vehicle while also releasing a layer of carnauba wax that provides protection, so you can wash and wax in one step. However, you can also use the Wax & Dry Spray Wax—just spray it on the car while it’s wet and then let it dry to a shine that prevents water spots and repels rain.

The dash and glass interior detailer can be used on glass, as well as your dashboard and tech screen, and the inside and out protectant can be used on the dashboard, door panels, trim/molding, and tires to protect against UV rays. In addition, the wet and dry tire shine cleans and dries quickly, while providing a glossy finish, and the scratch and swirl remover can minimize the appearance of blemishes. The kit also includes an odor eliminator spray, applicator pad, and one microfiber towel.

You won’t get more products for your money than this 20-piece Relentless Drive Car Wash Kit. It includes a bottle of car wash soap that can also be used in foaming cannons, as well as ceramic spray wax, detail spray to protect paint and produce a glossy sheen, wheel cleaner spray, glass cleaner spray for windows and glass, and interior cleaner spray that safe to use on most interior surfaces, including leather.

However, that’s not even half of the kit’s contents. You also get a large microfiber car wash mitt, two wax applicators, a tire brush with nylon bristles as well as an 18-inch wheel and rim brush, in addition to an air condition vent brush. Plus, the kit contains a mini duster, car dust cleaning gel to pick up debris from nooks and crannies, microfiber towel, quick-drying towel, window squeegee, car refresher, storage bag, and a collapsible bucket that holds 3.5 gallons of water.

Glass cleaner and window squeegee

Interior cleaner safe for leather

Collapsible bucket may not be stable

Terri Williams is a valued contributor to the Reviewed.com family of sites.

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