15 Best Car Cleaning Products to Stock Up on in 2024
Updated: Feb. 01, 2024
Does keeping your car tidy seem impossible? With the best car cleaning products, you can turn that dream into a reality.
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Whether you spend hours in the car commuting each day or just take a few leisurely rides each week, knowing how to clean a car’s interior is one of the most useful skills a driver can have off the road. Loading up your arsenal of the best car cleaning products doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming either. You’ll want to invest in one of the best car vacuums, stain and odor removers and a few helpful gadgets that are typically the best-kept cleaning secrets from car detailers.
We found all the best cleaning tools and products for every type of auto interior. They’re all budget-friendly and easy to use, and some are things you should always keep in your car to cut down on cleaning time. The best part? You’ll get that new car smell back!
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Waterproof Car Trash Can with Lid
Adding a waterproof car trash can between your seats prevents wrappers, cups and other messes from ending up strewn about your car’s interior. “People often end up having messy, smelly cars because food bowls, wrappers and debris start to pile up,” says Dena Sanowicz, a New York–based professional organizer and the brains behind Instagram’s best-kept secret for organizing tutorials.
“If you’re late for a meeting, or you’re running somewhere, it’s easy to let these things pile up,” she says. “Solve that issue by always keeping car-specific garbage bags on hand and emptying them daily.”
Car Guys Detailing Super Cleaner
If you hate cleaning and only want to commit to one product, let this do-it-all Car Guys Detailing Super Cleaner be it. It’s one of the best car cleaning products because it covers so many surfaces, and gently-yet-effectively makes dashboards, leather seats, vinyl trim, steering wheels and more look fresh off the dealer’s lot.
The 18-ounce bottle comes with a lint-free microfiber cloth, and over 15,000 five-star Amazon reviewers agree it “makes cars smell brand new.” Here’s how to wash microfiber cloths to make their cleaning power last longer than ever.
Extendable Windshield Cleaner
It’s time to break out your favorite window cleaning products, because this nifty Xindell windshield cleaner makes a crystal-clear windshield more within reach than ever before—literally. The extendable handle and rotating microfiber head reach far-off corners with minimal effort. The best part? You can use it, wash the head, and reuse it hundreds of times.
ThisWorx Car Vacuum
“Carpools, long rides and other drives are always off to a better start with a clean space, which is why I always try to take my hand vacuum,” explains Sanowicz. “Clean out the car seats, cup holders and other areas so that you start off fresh and not feeling cramped.” One user-friendly option to consider is the ThisWorx car vacuum, a popular Amazon pick with over 248,000 reviews, thanks to its handy 16-foot cord, washable filter and dashboard charging.
Meguiar’s New Car Scent Protectant Wipes
These non-greasy interior protectant wipes offer shine and UV-blocking technology for durable protection. Each package of Meguiar’s new car scent protectant wipes comes with 30 large car wipes for all your car’s vinyl, rubber and plastic surfaces. Plus, they leave your ride smelling fresh-off-the-lot. Plus, the UV protection helps keep your car in better shape for longer.
TriNova Leather Cleaner
If you’re wondering how to clean leather seats and interiors, the key is to have a rich, hydrating leather cleaner that seals in moisture. A bottle of TriNova leather cleaner requires little more than a lint-free cloth and a few good spritzes to remove dirt and grime while offering a supple finish and weeks of added protection from stains.
Brush Hero Wheel Brush
The Brush Hero wheel brush is so fun to use, you may even forget you’re cleaning! It’s easily one of the best car cleaning products for those who love clean, shiny wheels, because it gets into the toughest spots and weird hubcap angles to remove dirt and debris. Dirty wheels can make even the best tires look dingy, so it’s worth the few minutes it takes to work on this often-overlooked detail.
Car Cleaning Gel
Have you seen the viral TikTok videos about car cleaning putty yet? If not, you’re in for a treat! This genius Ticarve car cleaning gel feels like a squishy stress ball blob in your hand, but is actually one of your most valuable cleaning helpers. It shape shifts to get dust and dirt out of air conditioning vents and cup holders, and can be reused dozens of times. Plus, its fun to use, making it one of the best car cleaning products for kids to help you with. Did we mention it’s super cheap, too?
Pure-Sky Window Cleaning Cloth
Keeping a Pure-Sky window cleaning cloth on hand is one of the easiest ways to keep your car’s glass clean at all times. You don’t even need any special cleaning products or fluids—just add a little water and it goes to work, leaving a streak-free shine that rivals your best bottle of Windex or homemade cleaning products. It’s reusable and eliminates the need for wasted paper towels and potentially toxic cleaning chemicals.
Car Wash Cannon
Splish-splash! Give your take a bath with this incredibly fun-to-use car wash cannon foam blaster that turns an ordinary garden hose into a professional-grade car washing accessory. Just attach it to your hose and start blasting with any one of the cannon’s five settings. It infuses massive amounts of air into the soap and water to create a blanket of thick foam, just like an expensive professional car wash.
Clorox Disinfecting Mist
Keeping a bottle of Clorox disinfecting mist on hand is ideal for instantly cleaning surfaces and air after you or a passenger has been sick. It kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses, and easily covers large areas with a continuous non-aerosol sprayer. It’s safe for upholstery, leather, plastic, rubber and wood-grain interior finishes. The bleach-free formula means it won’t discolor or damage your car. It even has a spa-like eucalyptus and peppermint scent.
Car Pole Cleaning Kit
Whether you’re a beginner-level cleaner or ready to star in your own competitive cleaning mini series, this car pole cleaning kit offers all the tools you need to scrub and polish your car’s every surface. It comes with a DocaPole extension pole that offers from 5 to 12 feet of reach, a five-sided soft bristle scrub brush, a car window squeegee and washer, a microfiber cleaning head and two car wash mitts that make cleaning your entire vehicle surprisingly enjoyable. All that’s missing? Some soap and good tunes to dance to as you wash.
Tire Brush
This hard-bristled tire scrub brush is ideal for scrubbing gunk, grime and debris from your car’s wheels and tires. It can even extend the life of your brakes if you use it to routinely remove brake dust, and the ergonomic handle makes it a quick task. It works well for most cars, trucks, motorcycles and RVs. You’ll never run out of places or ways to use it, and it’s easily one of the most affordable and best car cleaning products for tight budgets. Just make sure you don’t use it on your car’s delicate paint, because the hard bristles could leave damage behind.
Giant Lint Rollers
If you think they’re just for clothes, think again! Giant lint rollers can easily pick up pet hair, coat fuzzies and random gunk from car upholstery and other surfaces. Opt for a long-handled version, like this Smart Care Design lint roller, that can access hard-to-reach areas. While you’re at it, check out these other things you can clean with a lint roller that you probably never thought of.
Meguiar’s Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax
If you’re low on time and want high shine, this one-step Meguiar’s Ultimate Finish Waterless Wash & Wax is the spritz bottle you’ve been waiting for. It gently washes and adds wax protection in a single swipe, and requires absolutely no hoses, buckets or rinsing. It also protects against swirling and scratching as it cleans, and is safe to use on all glossy paints, clear coats, glass, chrome and other metal finishes.
FAQ
What is the best brand of car cleaning products?
There are so many top-rated brands out there that picking the best car cleaning products really boils down to the specific task you’re looking to tackle. For interior car detailing, we like Meguiar’s and Clorox, whereas brands like Brush Hero impress us for exterior-focused jobs, like cleaning the tires. Overall, the best brands of car cleaning products are the ones that offer easy-to-use products with plenty of positive user ratings.
What products should I use to wash my car?
Sticking to mild soapy water is best, according to Sanowicz. As long as you find a mild detergent you like without abrasive particles, your car should end up sparkling like a star. It’s also important to use lint-free, soft microfiber or foam scrub brushes and pads to remove dirt and debris from a car’s exterior. Hard-bristle brushes can be used on tires, wheels and under-carriage areas only.
What is the best thing to use to clean the interior of your car?
Car interiors have so many types of surfaces and textures that you’ll either want to opt for a do-it-all one-step product, like this Car Guys Detailing Super Cleaner, or individual products that focus on materials like leather, rubber or vinyl. No matter which you choose, make sure they are free of harsh solvents that can discolor your car’s upholstery and synthetic surfaces, and that any cleaning products you use are applied with a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth or sponge.
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