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7 Best Car Cleaning Kits to Refresh Your Ride

Achieve a showroom shine with these top-rated kits.

By and
cleaning equipment over the bonnet of a black clean car
Luis Cagiao Photography//Getty Images

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Our top picks:

  • 1
    Complete Car Care Kit

    Best Overall

    Meguiar's Complete Car Care Kit

    $119 at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    Premier Car Care Kit

    Best Value

    Armor All Premier Car Care Kit

    Read more
  • 3
    Classic Wash & Wax Kit

    Best Basic

    Meguiar's Classic Wash & Wax Kit

    Read more
  • 4
    16-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit

    Best Premium

    Chemical Guys 16-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit

    Read more
  • 5
    Car Detailing Brush Set

    Best Interior Detailing Kit

    HMPLL Car Detailing Brush Set

    Read more


Regardless of your car's make or model, if you want it to be clean, it will need some regular upkeep. But keeping your car presentable doesn’t have to happen at the car wash or detailing shop. With a good car cleaning kit, you can do all your necessary maintenance cleaning from the comfort of your own garage, driveway or curbside. Whether your ride needs a total top-to-bottom refresh or you just want to wipe away some dirt, smudges and dust, these kits can help get you there.

The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab regularly test and review automotive cleaning products from the best leather cleaners to the best upholstery cleaners. To find the best car cleaning kits, our experts researched reliable brands and considered factors like performance, safety, packaging quality, completeness of the kit and more.

1
Best Overall

Meguiar's Complete Car Care Kit

Complete Car Care Kit
1
Best Overall

Meguiar's Complete Car Care Kit

$119 at Amazon$156 at Walmart
Credit: Meguiar's
Pros
  • Has a wide variety of cleaners and finishes
  • Includes two microfiber cloth options and a foam applicator
Cons
  • Liquid cleaners can be leaky

We have tested Meguiar's products in the past, and we have been impressed with their performance. With several different cleaners, like liquid wax and car shampoo, plus an assortment of tools, this kit can cover the majority of vehicle detailing needs. One online reviewer wrote that the cleaners work well and that the interior detailer provided an effective barrier against dust and smudges. Though most reviewers were impressed with this kit’s cleaning power, some noted that the spray bottles can be leaky.

IncludedCar shampoo, clear plastic cleaner and polish, tire gel, carnauba wax, interior detailing spray, exterior detailing spray, scratch remover, clay bars, foam applicator pad, microfiber mitt and microfiber towel
2
Best Value

Armor All Premier Car Care Kit

On Sale
Premier Car Care Kit
2
Best Value

Armor All Premier Car Care Kit

Now 31% Off
Credit: Armor All
Pros
  • Includes glass cleaner
  • Comes with an air freshener
Cons
  • Only includes one microfiber pad

Offering a handful of cleaning sprays and some basic tools, this Armor All kit strikes a balance between versatility and value. Though this bundle might be missing some of the specialty tools that come with the pricier kits, the included items are all high-quality. One online reviewer mentioned that just a few splashes of the included wash and wax liquid are enough to shine up a dirty car. Another wrote, "The interior cleaner works very well on most surfaces and was able to lift set-in stains." The air freshener is the cherry on top of that professional-looking clean. While it has a full complement of sprays, it only comes with one microfiber pad, so you might want to get some extra cloths and brushes to round out your kit.

IncludedProtectant spray, glass cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner, air freshener, wash and wax, tire shine, wheel and tire cleaner and microfiber pad
3
Best Basic

Meguiar's Classic Wash & Wax Kit

Classic Wash & Wax Kit
3
Best Basic

Meguiar's Classic Wash & Wax Kit

Credit: Meguiar's
Pros
  • High quality cleaners
  • Low price
Cons
  • Doesn't include every tool you may need

This eight-piece classic wash and wax kit has all the basics you’ll need to clean the inside and outside of your vehicle from cleaning the console to shining the wheels. We liked that the included microfiber cloth is oversized, allowing you to flip to another corner of the cloth when one becomes too wet or dirty. We also like that the sprayers can pivot without unscrewing the cap.

Online reviewers were pleased with the effectiveness of the cleaners and the overall quality of the products. While it may not include every tool needed for an in-depth cleaning — we'd have liked a tire brush — it offers excellent value for those seeking great results without breaking the bank. Plus, the similar Meguiar's Hybrid Wash & Wax System earned itself a place in a past Cleaning Awards.

IncludedCar shampoo, wheel and tire cleaner, cleaner wax, interior detailing spray, exterior detailing spray, foam applicator pad, microfiber towel and sponge
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cleaning sprays inside a car
Carolyn Forté/Good Housekeeping
4
Best Premium

Chemical Guys 16-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit

16-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit
4
Best Premium

Chemical Guys 16-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit

Credit: Chemical Guys
Pros
  • Includes a sturdy bucket
  • Foam cannon quickly distributes suds
Cons
  • Expensive

With this 16-piece kit from Chemical Guys, you'll have no trouble keeping your car in fantastic shape. Unlike some other kits, this one comes with a sturdy plastic bucket so you don't have to supply your own. The included tools and cleaners and high-quality and perform well. According to one online reviewer, "All the products in the kit are easy to use and all performed perfectly." While this kit is on the pricier side, its 4.7-star Amazon rating and over 13,700 reviews attest to its quality. Other reviewers particularly liked the foam cannon that easily sprayed soap all over the car but noted that this kit lacked fine tools that could help with interior detailing.

IncludedWax, foam auto wash, wheel gel, protectant, glass cleaner, detailing spray, bucket, Cyclone Dirt Trap, Torq Foam Cannon, microfiber mitt, brush, four microfiber towels and applicator
5
Best Interior Detailing Kit

HMPLL Car Detailing Brush Set

On Sale
Car Detailing Brush Set
5
Best Interior Detailing Kit

HMPLL Car Detailing Brush Set

Now 38% Off
Credit: HMPLL
Pros
  • Low price
  • Variety of sizes and tool types
Cons
  • Doesn't include any cleaning fluids

If you already have all the cleaning fluids you need, this detailing brush set might be the key to getting your car sparkling clean. Featuring several tools for removing dirt and dust from hard-to-reach places, this kit is designed to give a deep clean to the inside of your vehicle. It can also be used for your engine bay, wheels, rims and exterior. We found that the detailing brushes are great at removing dust in the small crevices around a car's infotainment center, but the air vent brush can be a little tricky to line up with the vents. While it doesn't come with any cleaning fluids, it's a great, budget-friendly addition to any car-lover's kit. This way you can have a set of tools dedicated to cleaning your car instead of borrowing from around the house.

IncludedFive detailing brushes, air vent brush, brass wire brush, nylon wire brush and steel wire brush
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a hand holding a blue object in a car
Carolyn Forté/Good Housekeeping
6
Best All-Inclusive

Adam's Polishes Arsenal Builder 21-Item Car Wash Kit

Amazon’s Choice
Arsenal Builder 21-Item Car Wash Kit
6
Best All-Inclusive

Adam's Polishes Arsenal Builder 21-Item Car Wash Kit

Credit: Adam's Polishes
Pros
  • Includes 21 items and detailed instructions for each
  • Great for both interior and exterior cleaning
Cons
  • Cleaning fluid packaging isn't very durable

With both interior and exterior cleaning fluids and tools, you'll be able to get your car pretty close to that "new car" feeling. Each 21-item kit is packed with an array of cleaning fluids, tools and towels. No matter which part of your car you want to clean, this kit probably has a tool to help you get the job done. It also comes with instructions on how to apply each of the products and where each of the tools is best used. Online reviewers like how thorough the kit is and appreciated that the products felt very high quality, but some mention that the bottles of cleaning fluid aren’t very durable.

IncludedCar shampoo, glass cleaner, CS3, wheel and Tire cleaner, tire shine, interior cleaner, tire brush, wheel brush, foam gun, bucket, grit guard, drying towel, three towels, sponge, three air fresheners and two tire dressing applicators
7
Best Car Cleaning Kit for Leather

Furniture Clinic Leather Complete Restoration Kit

GH Seal
Leather Complete Restoration Kit
7
Best Car Cleaning Kit for Leather

Furniture Clinic Leather Complete Restoration Kit

Credit: Furniture Clinic
Pros
  • Available in 16 different colors
  • Good Housekeeping Seal-holder
Cons
  • Finding the right color match can be tricky

Car owners who have leather seats in their vehicles will find Furniture Clinic's complete restoration kit to be a game-changer. This product not only cleans but also protects and restores your car's leather, leaving it looking almost brand new. Plus, it holds the Good Housekeeping Seal. During our testing, we were impressed by its ability to effectively remove built-up dirt and grime, including stubborn blue dye stains from jeans. Additionally, the Re-Coloring Balm seamlessly restored color to faded and worn leather, blending flawlessly with the rest of the seat.

IncludedLeather cleaner, leather protection cream, leather re-coloring balm, sponge and cloth
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hand using leather cleaner inside a car
Carolyn Forté/Good Housekeeping

How we choose the best car cleaning kits

line break

The cleaning and auto experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute vet, review and test a variety of products to help keep your vehicles in great shape, including car cleaning kits. We also reviewed the best products to clean your car and the best car accessories, and we have tested dozens of cleaners and furniture polishes in the past few years. Regarding how we evaluate leather cleaners, Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté says, "We look for not only how well [each product] cleans but how safely it cleans without any damage or color loss."

To choose the best car cleaning kits, our experts researched reliable brands, scoured through reviews and considered factors like product performance, price and the usefulness of the included items. Other important factors we consider are the safety of ingredients, packaging and the clarity of labeling and instructions. This list is comprised of products from trusted brands with favorable reviews.

What to consider when shopping for a car cleaning kit

a hand wiping a steering wheel with a cloth
Carolyn Forté/Good Housekeeping

✔️ Use: Exactly which kit is best for you will depend on your particular cleaning needs. Most of these kits include tools for cleaning both the exterior and interior of your vehicle. However, some options include specialized tools such as wheel, rim and paint cleaners while others include more items for interior detailing.

✔️ Application: We recommend kits that come with specialty tools for each task along with some general applicators like dusters and microfiber cloths. "You can keep these tools dedicated to your car cleaning and not use the same ones you use to clean inside the house," explains Forté. If you are looking to restock your cleaning essentials, a kit without all of the extra tools might be more appropriate.

✔️ Special features: Some of the more comprehensive cleaning kits have unique tools and cleaners that can be very useful. While casual motorists may not need extra items like foam guns, a grit guard or air fresheners, these things can help be a huge plus for enthusiasts.

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Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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Former GH Institute analyst Jamie Spain worked closely with Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director Carolyn Forté to research the best car cleaning kits currently available. Jamie has vetted and reviewed a variety of auto products for GH, including car leather cleaners and car organizers.

Noah Pinsonnault is a reviews analyst and works closely with Forté in the Home Care & Cleaning Lab where they research and test a variety of cleaning products for both the interior and exterior of your car.

Headshot of Jamie Spain
Jamie Spain
Parenting & Pets Reviews Analyst

Jamie (she/her) is a parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she spends her time testing, researching and writing about pet and family products. Prior to starting at GH in 2021, she worked at BuzzFeed and People, covering a combination of product reviews and lifestyle content. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.

Lettermark
Noah Pinsonnault
Home Care & Cleaning Reviews Analyst

Noah works as a product reviews analyst in the Home Care & Cleaning Lab where he helps design and perform tests on various product categories. He draws on scientific expertise garnered during his time as an environmental researcher, where he managed environmental monitoring equipment, analyzed water samples in a lab and developed protocols for restoration projects. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental science from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. 

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