Last Updated on June 11, 2023 by Chase Manhattan
The joy of washing a newly bought car is one of the most fulfilling things. A car wash kit just makes the experience better. Scraping things from here and there makes things more difficult. More so, you can’t clean a car properly that way.
That’s why a car wash kit is a must for drivers that like to wash the car by themselves. Buying any car wash kit is not enough though, you need something effective with good quality. So, I thought it’s a good idea to list the 5 best car wash kits for new cars. Any of you just bought a new car? If so, then this review will come in handy.
As usual, I’ll offer the absolute best, a budget option. This time, I’ll include wash kits for black cars and Tesla cars. Go through the list, if you see anything you like, don’t wait, just get it. Also, I’ll leave a buying guide at the end. Just so people that have a hard time deciding can understand these wash kits better. Keep in mind though, a high quality car wash kit is key in avoiding scratches as dirty and low-quality materials are a common cause of car scratches.
| Product | Features | Check Out The Price |
|---|---|---|
  | - 16-Piece Car Wash Kit - Bucket & Foam Gun - Applicator & 3 Towels - Shampoo & Car Wax | Chemical Guys HOL148 Car Care Kit |
  | - 8 Items - Shampoo & Wax - Wheel Kit - Air Freshener | Armor All Premier Car Care Kit |
  | - 12 Items - Gold Glass Car Wash & Wax - Quik Detailer - Microfiber Wash Mit | Meguiar's Complete Car Care Kit |
  | - Black & Colored Paint - Black Light Finish - Gloss Car Wash Soap - Applicator Pads | Chemical Guys Black Car Care Kit |
  | - 6 Items - Neutral Car Wash - 4 Microfiber Towels - 1 Gallon Wash & Wax | Aero Cosmetics Tesla Car Wash Kit |
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Best Overall
Chemical Guys HOL148 Car Care Kit
Highlighted Features
- 16-Piece Car Wash Kit
- Bucket & Foam Gun
- Applicator & 3 Towels
- Shampoo & Car Wax
- Glass Cleaner
The best item on this list, a 16-piece car care kit that both professionals and amateurs use. It makes sense that Chemical Guys hold the first position here, one of the best manufacturers for car cleaning products. It’s relatively expensive but it’s an investment. It would be a pleasure cleaning a new car with this, hope you like it.
Featuring the TORQ Foam Gun, one of the best things about this kit. Applying the foam without a gun is where some people go wrong, scrubbing that hard dirt against the paint. With a foam gun, you can get rid of the abrasive dirt without damaging the paint.
Also included, reinforced thermoplastic wash bucket, 4.5 gallons. No plastic particles in your water. Comes with a cyclone dirt-trap. This allows for cleaning the towels without getting dirt on them, extremely useful, especially for new cars.
Various cleaning solutions are included in the kit, something for everyone. You don’t have to use everything every time, of course. The Honeydew Car Wash Soap, one of the best in the market, the soap you put in the foam gun. Designed specifically for sensitive paint.
Butter Wet Wax, in case you want to add a coat of wax, also one of the best in the market, works with all kinds of paint jobs. Rubber and plastic restorative product, Silk Shine Sprayable. And, a wheel cleaner. Check out the link to see each product included.
High-quality wiping and scrubbing equipment as well. Everything you need for a proper wash. The Chenille Microfiber Premium Scratch-Free Wash Mitt, high-quality microfiber rag. Three microfiber cloths for multiple purposes, use them accordingly. One big microfiber towel. A Hex-Logic applicator pad, adds coating with ease. A soft handle brush for the wheels and the engine bay. Every item here is top grade.
Professional-grade car wash kit if you ask me. These are the things that car wash places use, and I mean the expensive ones. I highly recommend this kit, especially to new car owners. Take your car wash to the next level. Your car will stay shiny, the paint will stay healthy. Believe it or not, the kit can be upgraded with more items for a higher price.
Pros
- Includes a bucket and a foam gun.
- High-quality products.
- Has everything you will ever need.
- Works with a garden hose.
Cons
- A bit expensive.
[How To Remove Scratches On Your Car]
Best Budget
Armor All Premier Car Care Kit
Highlighted Features
- 8 Items
- Shampoo & Wax
- Wheel Kit
- Air Freshener
- Wash Pad
Here, we have our budget option. It’s not as good as the best item on this list, it’s understandable though, it’s way cheaper. Not for everyone, not if you need absolutely everything. But those that already have equipment but they need cleaning products only will like this. The products are of good quality though, so make no mistake, this is not the average car wash kit. Let’s take a look at it.
There is no bucket included nor a foam gun. These, you may have to buy separately, it works great if you already have them. There is one wash pad included, designed to apply the soap and foam. It’s a really soft, high-quality, microfiber wash mitt.
An array of cleaning solutions, this is the whole kit basically. But it’s worth it if you just need these and nothing else. A car wash soap mixed with wax, Ultra Shine Wash & Wax. 22 fl. oz. glass cleaner for a spotless windshield.
Interior cleaning products are also included an Original Protectant and a Multi-Purpose cleaner. This restores the shiny look of your interior. A wheels cleaner, and a wheels and tire shine spray. It cleans the wheels and gives that extra nice look.
Lastly, there is the air freshener. Nothing special, I know, but it’s one of the best, long-lasting air fresheners. I know that those store-bought fresheners either smell too strong or last only for a few days. So, if you have been looking for a good one, now is the chance to get it.
That’s it for the budget option. Compared to the first one it looks bad but those that need these products will like this kit. It comes highly recommended for people that need high-quality cleaning solutions. If you don’t have any equipment, there is the added cost of getting the actual cleaning equipment.
Pros
- Restores interior to its original look.
- Gives the wheels and tires a shiny look.
- High-quality wash pad.
- Cheap
Cons
- No applicator pads and a bucket.
- Only 1 wash pad.
- Only 8 items.
[Guide for Homemade Car Wash Soap with Household Supplies]
Best Runner-Up
Meguiar’s Complete Car Care Kit
Highlighted Features
12 Items
- Gold Glass Car Wash & Wax
- Quik Detailer
- Microfiber Wash Mit
- Applicator Pad
Let me present our runner-up, another top-grade manufacturer for car cleaning products. This Meguiar’s wash kit has high-quality products that even professionals use. There’s no foam gun nor a wash bucket but it still has everything you need for car washing and car detailing.
It includes the basic items of a wash kit, a car wash, and a car wax. These are no ordinary products though. The Gold Glass Car Wash is one of the best shampoos you will find. It dissolves hard dirt but more importantly, it produces that shiny look. The Gold Glass Carnauba Plus Liquid Wax is the preferred choice among professionals.
The cleaning solutions don’t end there though. There is an endurance tire gel that keeps the tires shiny. Clay Bars and Quik Detailer are also included, these will ensure that you have a smooth and clean surface before adding protection. Quik Interior Detailer for car interior cleaning, plastic cleaner, and polish as well. Lastly, there’s the scratch and swirls remover.
As for the equipment, in terms of quantity, it’s nothing special but the quality is superior. Microfiber wash mitt, an applicator pad, the clay bars, and one big microfiber cloth. You may have to buy some equipment separately but the items in the box make sure you reach that shiny look without damaging the paint.
Now, I know the wash bucket and the foam gun is a deal-breaker for some people. That’s the reason why this is a runner-up. It’s still highly recommended for those that don’t need a bucket or already have one. You can’t find better cleaning solutions.
Pros
- Superb cleaning solutions.
- Includes a scratch and swirl remover.
- Has everything for car detailing.
Cons
- No wash bucket
- No foam gun
Best Car Wash Kit For Black Cars
Chemical Guys Black Car Care Kit
Highlighted Features
- Black & Colored Paint
- Black Light Finish
- Gloss Car Wash Soap
- Applicator Pads
- 3 Microfiber Towels
Washing a black car is a bit different. Spots and swirls are more recognizable. If you are washing with a low-quality colored towel, cloth pieces will be present on the paint. So, I think a wash kit for black cars needs a place on this list. I chose the best, the Chemical Guys Black Car Care Kit.
Premium cleaning solutions for black paint. Featuring the Hybrid V7 High Gloss Car Wash Soap removes abrasive dirt to prevent scratches. The Butter Wet Wax, best wax in the market, for all paint colors.
The best part about this kit is the Black Light Hybrid Radiant Finish. This restores the gloss, making your black car extra shiny. You know that reflection you can see from quality black paint, well, that’s what this is for.
Lastly, there’s the Quick Detail Spray, it removes all handprints, scratches swirls. Black cars are extremely sensitive to these.
High-quality cleaning equipment, made specifically for black cars. 2 applicator pads and 3 microfiber cloths, all black. To avoid spots and swirls you need these.
That’s it for the black paint wash kit. Although it does not include a wash bucket and a foam gun, Chemical Guys allows for upgrading the kit. So, you can select the bucket and the gun to be included in the kit, you will have to pay more though. This is a really good choice for that new black car you have.
Pros
- Allows for a car wash without swirls.
- Enhances gloss and reflection.
- Towels and applicator pads for black paint.
Cons
- A bit expensive, more so with the bucket and the foam gun.
Best Car Wash Kit For Tesla Cars
Aero Cosmetics Car Wash Kit
Highlighted Features
- 6 Items
- Neutral Car Wash
4 Microfiber Towels
- 1 Gallon Wash & Wax
- Water-Based
Tesla owners will not like the items on this list so far. I know the usual car wash kit is no recommended for Teslas. So, the last item is a car wash that you can use on a Tesla, a kit from Aero Cosmetics.
The thing with Tesla models is that the paint can be sensitive. A basic car wash shampoo may be too strong for the paint. You need something neutral, and this car wash kit is exactly it.
A simple kit includes 1 big bottle of Car + Wax and 1 spray bottle of Car + Wax. These products are alcohol and ammonia-free, that’s why I chose them. You can use these on boats, RVs, aircraft, etc. Most importantly, you can use them on your Tesla without damaging it.
It’s really good for condo and apartment owners because this a waterless car wash too. You can use the spray bottle and a microfiber towel without water. I know that there is a lot of electrical components in a Tesla, so a waterless car wash is a good way to go.
We can end this list here. I highly recommend this Aero Cosmetics car care kit for Tesla owners. You can wash your car anywhere, no need for a big working area. It’s inexpensive as well.
Pros
- Waterless Car Wash.
- 1 Gallon Soap & Wax.
- Water-based, alcohol-free, ammonia-free.
Cons
- Only for sensitive paint, not that good against hard dirt.
Car Wash Kits – Buying Guide
Although I left some remarks, it’s hard to decide which of these kits is best suited for you. I guess some of you want to look for kits elsewhere. In both cases, a buying guide will help. So, let’s see what makes a car wash kit good.
Number Of Items
First of all, you have to look at how many items are included. A wash kit should have at least 6-8 items, otherwise, it’s not worth it. It really depends on what you already have but more is always better.
The plurality of the items is also important. For instance, a kit can have 8 items but 6 of those may be the same things. You want wash soaps, wax, detailer, glass cleaner, wheel cleaner, etc… So, keep that in mind too.
Product Quality
Another really important thing is the quality of the items included. When you are buying a car care kit, everything included must be of top-grade quality. It doesn’t make sense to buy a low-quality kit, you will end up with damaged paint or swirls.
Also, if you are looking for the average product, you can buy things separately then. If you are not looking for quality, just buy everything separately, don’t buy a kit.
Microfiber Towels & Wash Mitts
The cleaning equipment included must be of high quality. Quantity matter too here. You want to be able to switch through multiple rags while washing. Cheap towels and mitts get ruined after one wash. All of the kits on this list have top-notch equipment.
Applicator pads are a nice thing to have, especially if you want to add a protective coating.
Wash Bucket & Foam Gun
These items are not a necessity but having them makes things a lot easier. For instance, the buckets included in these kits are usually the best ones you can find. The thing is, ordinary buckets dissolve some plastic into the water. These are reinforced buckets with a dirt-trap.
A foam gun is a good thing to have too. The abrasive dirt may scratch the paint surface, no matter the quality of the wash mitt. With a foam gun, you avoid this.
What Do You Need
Once you know all of these things, you need to ask yourself one question: What do I need? The answer to this will tell you which kit to get. My point is, you don’t need to buy something you already have.
If you already have a reinforced bucket and a foam gun, you don’t need a kit that has these items. Buy a kit that has everything you need. Of course, more items will never hurt you but you decide in the end.
Related Questions And Other FAQs
Is It Cheaper To Wash Your Car At Home
It depends on the car wash place you go to and the cleaning products you will buy. Either way, in the long run, washing the car at home is cheaper. Also, washing your car at home is safer. You control how the process goes, plus, you can do it better.
What Do I Need For A DIY Car Wash
For a DIY car wash, you will need a bucket, soap, wax, glass cleaner, wheels cleaner, interior cleaner, detailer, wash mitts, microfiber towels, and applicator pads. You can get this all at once by buying a car wash kit.
How Often Should A Car Be Washed
It depends on how much you drive and where you live. Typically, a car should be washed once every two or three weeks. If you have a coating, wash your car every two weeks. If you live in a cold area, wash your car once every two weeks.
What Is In A Car Detailing Kit
A car detailing kit is for a finish after washing. This includes waxing, shines, swirl removers, tire shines, clay bars, and microfiber cloths.
