Top 10 Best Car Shampoos for a Squeaky Clean Vehicle
With plenty of options on the market, you can choose the right car shampoo to keep your car fresh and clean.
Written by Payton Ternus
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
You’ll need a specialized soap to protect the paint and wax as you wash your car. From foaming soap to degreasers, many kinds are available on the market, and you’ll need to decide which will work best for your car.
Cars are like kids: no matter how much you baby them, they will still get dirty and need a bath! You can’t use just any soap on your car—you’ll need a specific car shampoo to protect your car’s paint job, wax, and any other protective surfaces.
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What to look for in a best car shampoo
To choose the shampoo that’s right for your car, you should look at three things: formulation, pH level, and how easy it is for you to use regularly.
Formulation
Car shampoos come in a multitude of formulas and textures. Depending on what’s right for your car, you’ll be able to choose from the following:
- Conventional shampoos
- Wash-and-wax
- Super foaming
- Vinyl treatments
- Ceramic shampoo
- Wheel cleaning/iron removal
- Specialized shampoos for different parts of your car
Some car shampoos are scented too, so your car washing could smell like bubblegum, berries, or any other available scent of your choosing.
pH level
When you’re shopping for a car shampoo, pH level is a very important factor to take into consideration. Higher pH levels can provide a more aggressive cleaning, but that may not be what you need.
If the pH level in your car shampoo is too high or too low, the wash can ruin your car’s paint job. You’ll want to look for a formula that is pH-neutral or specialty car shampoos that are pH-specific.
Ease of use
Another thing to think about is a car washing routine. What car shampoo will make it the easiest for you to routinely wash your car?
Conventional car shampoos or wash-and-wax formulas are great if you have access to a car wash or garage. If you aren’t able to get to one nearby, you can look for no-rinse car shampoos to clean your car in one easy step.
Key Takeaway When choosing your car shampoo, make sure the formula is gentle but effective, safe for your paint, and easy to use routinely.
Top 10 best car shampoos
Since there are so many options available for car shampoos, it can be difficult trying to narrow down your options. If you’re having trouble deciding which kind to try, take a look at this list of the top ten car shampoos for inspiration.
Chemical Guys Mr. Pink Super Suds Car Wash
Mr. Pink Super Suds Car Wash by Chemical Guys is a super foamy car shampoo with a slick formula, so it rinses cleanly off your car without leaving behind any residue or water spots. The formula ensures scratches or swirl marks won’t appear during your wash.
This shampoo is designed to be used weekly and is gentle on your car’s wax coatings and sealants. It’s pH balanced as well, so it won’t scratch or ruin materials like rubber, vinyl, glass, plastic trim, or polished metals. Users say it smells great too!
Armor All Car Wash
Armor All is famous for their products meant for interior detailing, but they also offer an excellent car shampoo. This is a powerful wash formulated for car finishes, so it cuts through tough grime and dirt without ruining the wax on your car.
Armor All’s car shampoo is another thick foamy option that rinses off cleanly without leaving any streaks or spots behind. It’s a cost-efficient and affordable option.
Mothers California Gold Car Wash
The California Gold shampoo by Mothers is a slightly less sudsy option that still results in a clean, slick finish. It resists water spotting for an even, glossy shine on your car.
As another ph-balanced car shampoo, this formula provides added safety to your car’s paint and wax. When it is properly used, this car shampoo will not dull the paint or strip the wax.
Griot’s Garage Brilliant Finish Car Wash
Griot’s Garage provides a high-end car shampoo with the promise of delivering plenty of suds to clean your car. This is another pH-balanced shampoo that is safe to use on all paint finishes and lifts the dirt off the surface.
This wash is made from premium, concentrated ingredients, including special brighteners that enhance the color of your car after cleansing. You can safely use Griot’s Garage Brilliant Finish Car Wash on any paint, including matte paints and vinyl wraps.
Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash
Meguiar’s produces one of the most popular car shampoos, which isn’t surprising since it’s a popular, trustworthy brand of car care. The soap has a very sudsy formula and a nice scent to enjoy while you wash.
What sets Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash apart from other car shampoos is that it is non-detergent, so it lubricates the surface of your car to slide off the dirt. It is also marketed as a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner—the formula contains a rich conditioner designed to make paint shine and keep wax intact.
MORE: How to use a Ryko, LaserWash, or self-service car wash
Duragloss Car Wash
Want your car to smell like cherries after a fresh washing? Duragloss is the car shampoo for you. It’s a highly concentrated blend of cleaners and mild surfactants, but does not contain any alkali or acids. If your car has any polishes, they’ll be safe from harm with this pH-balanced shampoo.
Duragloss car shampoo shines your car as it cleans, leaving a spot and streak free finish. This formula is unique: it encourages a sheeting effect that helps leave your car mostly dry after washing.
Adam’s Car Wash Shampoo
This is one of the highest priced car shampoos on the market. Its formula contains a mix of advanced cleaners and polymers that create rich, foamy suds for your car washing.
It’s another pH-balanced car shampoo, so it’s safe to use on all kinds of materials. It effectively removes grime and buildup, but is gentle enough to preserve wax, sealants, trim, or plastic parts on your car.
Optimum No-Rinse Wash and Shine
Need a no-rinse option for your car shampoo? Look to Optimum for a great wash experience. One ounce of this formula in a 2-gallon bucket will wash your entire car!
The abrasion-resistant polymers in Optimum No-Rinse Wash and Shine break down any dirt and debris on your car without needing to be rinsed off. Remember to wash your car one section at a time for best results.
Rain-X Wash and Wax
The Rain-X company specializes in, well, rain protection. By using their research and knowledge in repelling weather, they developed this high-foaming car shampoo.
This car shampoo is a 2-in-1: the foam cleans any dirt from your car, and Carnauba Wax beads smooth and protect the finish of your car. It is pH-balanced, biodegradable, and great for anyone who does not wash and wax their car on a regular schedule.
Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Wash and Wax
Ceramic coating has grown popular as a long-lasting method of protecting car finishes. Whether your car has a ceramic coating, Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Wash and Wax contains SiO2 polymers to create a strong barrier.
Using this wash makes your car’s surface hydrophobic, or water-repellent, to keep the finish clean. It allows for scratch-free cleaning while adding a layer of resistance to chemicals that lasts for months. For an easier car wash, you can use this car shampoo with a foam cannon.
How to save on car insurance
Your car will be clean and sparkling with the best car shampoo, and it needs the right car insurance policy to match. Luckily, finding car insurance has never been easier thanks to Jerry.
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MORE: How to do a thorough car interior cleaning
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What makes a good car shampoo?
A good car shampoo is gentle on your car’s paint and wax, but tough on dirt and grime. If it cleans your car, fits in your budget, and is easy to use, you’re good to go!
How much does car shampoo cost?
Depending on the brand, bottle size, and additional tools, car shampoo can cost anywhere between $4 and $50.
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