The Best Car Wash Kit: Spiff Up Your Ride

We love the Chemical Guys car wash kit because it comes with a foam gun that works with a garden hose, so you don't need a pressure washer or additional tools or machinery to get a deep clean. In addition, the kit comes with a bucket, a cyclone dirt trap, Butter wet wax, Honeydew snow foam, Diablo wheel gel, Silk Shine dressing, glass cleaner, a microfiber wash mitt, a short-handle brush, microfiber towels, and a dressing applicator. Collectively, the products are designed to clean your vehicle's exterior by restoring faded trim, removing stuck-on dirt and grime, and producing a deep gloss on the finish. The products smell good, and the results are top notch.

One of the best things about this kit (not to mention, kits in general), is that it's cheaper to purchase than it would be to buy all of the items separately. We also like that the foam gun is easy to use and creates excellent foaming action. One downside is that the foam gun is not designed to work with a pressure washer. Also, the kit may include items that you don't need, and it's a little on the pricey side.

Specs:

• Size: 14 products
• Model: HOL126
• Weight: 12.37 pounds

Pros:

• Produces great results
• Foam gun works with a standard hose
• Easy to use

Cons:

• You may not need every item included
• Foam gun won’t work with a pressure washer
• A little pricey

While this kit from Turtle Wax has fewer items than our best overall pick, it's significantly less expensive, which makes it a great value option. This 10-piece kit comes with tire shine, Odor-X spray, scratch and swirl remover, ZipWax wash and wax, wax and dry spray wax, dashboard and glass interior detailer, inside and out protectant, two large microfiber towels, and a foam applicator pad. It's a great option because it also includes items that clean the interior and eliminate bad smells. 

Turtle Wax's Quick & Easy line of products lets users clean, wax, shine, and protect their vehicles quickly and efficiently. For example, the tire shine dries quickly and provides UV protection while giving your tires a wet look. It's a great kit for new vehicles as well as older ones that you want to maintain. It's also a good bundle for first-time car owners. However, the spray wax is not as effective as a paste or liquid wax. Also, the kit is not a miracle worker and won't remove certain imperfections, such as deep scratches. 

Specs:

• Size: 10 products
• Weight: 8.85 pounds
• Model: 50754

Pros:

• Affordable
• Suitable for interior and exterior surfaces
• Quick and easy to use

Cons:

• Spray wax lacks power of other types of waxes
• Tire shine doesn’t last very long
• Doesn’t remove all surface imperfections

Adam's Arsenal Builder is a robust kit with 21 products that will help you clean your vehicle inside and out. It includes car shampoo, spray wax, tire shine, wheel cleaner, interior detailer, glass cleaner, microfiber towels, a drying towel, a wheel scrubbing mitt, a wash sponge, a foam gun, a 3.5-gallon bucket, a grit guard, and an air freshener. While it's a bit expensive, it's a significant savings when compared to buying all of the items separately. We like that this kit is so versatile: it's equally as effective for the beginner car cleaner as it is for the professional detailer. 

Overall, the products are good quality and easy to use. The foam gun works with a standard garden hose, and it can accommodate most types of car shampoo, even those from competing brands. Unfortunately, the bucket doesn't come with a lid or a dirt filter. Also, while the products work well, sometimes the spray nozzles on the bottles will break prematurely. 

Specs:

• Size: 21 products
• Weight: 15.77 pounds
• Model: VAR_ARS

Pros:

• Cleans vehicle inside and out
• Great for beginners and pros
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Expensive
• Bucket lacks a lid and dirt filter
• Spray nozzles lack quality control

This high-quality car care kit is produced by Meguiar's, which has been in the car care business for over a century. It includes 12 items that are designed to clean your vehicle's interior and exterior, including: car wash shampoo and conditioner, liquid wax, quick detailer, quick interior detailer, ScratchX 2.0, plastic cleaner and polish, a microfiber wash mitt, microfiber towels, and a foam applicator pad. It also comes with a clay bar, which many car wash kits don't. This product removes surface contaminants to provide a smoother finish. 

The wax produces a deep shine, feels slick after application, and beads water easily. The tire shine provides a long-lasting shine, and the interior detailer is not greasy like some competitor brands. One downside is that it can take a lot of time — and wiping — to do a complete detailing job on your vehicle using these products. Also, the foam applicator is not the best quality, and the drying towel is synthetic, not a natural chamois. However, few kits even include this type of product in their bundles.

Specs:

• Size: 12 products
• Weight: 1 pound
• Model: G55032SP

Pros:

• Promotes a deep shine on the vehicle’s finish
• Includes products many kits don’t
• Long-lasting 

Cons:

• Time consuming to use all products in one session
• Foam applicator could be better quality
• Lacks a wheel cleaning product

This car care kit from Armor All has the fewest items in its bundle, but the package is still a great buy and includes plenty of products to get your vehicle clean. The kit includes ultra shine wash and wax, glass cleaner, protectant, multi-purpose cleaner, wheel and tire cleaner, tire shine, a wash pad, and an air freshener spray. The wheel cleaner is suitable for most wheels, is easy to use, and does a good job of removing brake dust. The glass cleaner doesn't leave streaks behind, the protectant provides a satin finish, and the tire shine lasts several days.

Overall, this kit contains most of the items you need to do a traditional car wash. One downside is that the air freshener spray doesn't last very long. Also, the cleaning sponge is not heavy duty, and the bundle doesn't include a bucket or receptacle to contain all the items in one place. 

Specs:

• Size: 8 items
• Weight: 9.2 pounds
• Model: N/A

Pros:

• Affordably priced
• Products are easy to use
• Produces positive results

Cons:

• No bucket
• Air freshener doesn’t last very long
• Cleaning sponge is not heavy duty