Best-Reviewed DIY Car Detailing Products on Amazon
Updated: Sep. 29, 2022DIY car detailing products come in a wide range of prices and levels of quality. Whether you're looking to build a basic detailing kit or simply want to upgrade an old favorite, this list of 10 of the best-reviewed car detailing productss on Amazon will get you jump-started.
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Few things can top the feeling of seeing your car glistening in the driveway with the summer sun overhead. If you give it a thorough detailing now, it’ll be that much easier to keep clean when you take it out for a long summer road trip or just a cruise down main street. You don’t have to spend big to get your vehicle looking like new. With a few tricks and the right equipment, you can save hundreds by detailing your car yourself. The gear listed here will get you started.
VibraWipe Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
The most basic car detailing tool is also the most widely reviewed. With a staggering 3,000+ reviews, this humble 8-pack of microfiber cloths has an astonishing 4.8 rating on Amazon. Microfiber cloths are a great choice for car care because they don’t capture grit and particles the way larger fiber towels or sponges are prone to do.
If you still have doubts, check out some of the reviews! Especially compelling are the ones with updates reporting on how these cloths are holding up a year or more after the original reviews were posted.
Meguiar’s Grit Guard
Any pro car detailer will tell you that it’s essential to eliminate grit and particles from your cleaning water. After all, it doesn’t do any good to rub grit and grease from filthy water onto your car. At worst, it fails to get your car clean, and it might even cause an annoying swirl effect by adding tiny new scratches to the finished surface.
The Meguiar Grit Guard allows particulate and gunk to fall to the bottom of the wash bucket, keeping it separated from your water. The headline from Amazon reviewer MTC says it all: “Why didn’t I get one of these sooner?”
Takavu Master Detailing Brush Set
A set of automotive brushes is essential for car detailing, and this kit from Takavu is one of the best reviewed on Amazon. With a variety of sizes, these metal-free brushes will let you get into a range of spaces without worrying about marring your finish.
Atlasta Parts Cleaning Brush
This is the second car detailing brush on the list, and it’s used for a very different purpose. The five-star-rated Atlasta bullet-tip brush allows for precision touch-ups, and the bristle material is designed to withstand the demanding nature of automotive cleaners.
Amazon reviewer Ian says, “It was recommended by a dirt bike youtuber I follow, so I bit the bullet and went for it. It has good, stiff bristles and the handle is strong and cleanly molded. I haven’t lost a bristle yet and I’ve put it through the wringer cleaning all sorts of parts on the CRF450R I’ve been working on.”
Adam’s Air Cannon Car Dryer
A car dryer eliminates one more opportunity to add scratches to your finish, and can make drying your vehicle a much less labor-intensive process. Amazon reviewer Steved has a great write-up: “I am a ‘car nut’ and always wash my vehicles. I got sick of all the towels and time to hand dry my vehicles each time they were washed. Had considered the air cannon but didn’t want to spend the money to buy one. I finally broke down and purchased the Adam’s Air Cannon. It is without doubt the best car care product I’ve ever purchased!”
Steved goes on to point out that the air cannon also has heated air, which cuts the dry time even more.
ThisWorx Car Vacuum
Sure, you can lug your shop vacuum to your vehicle, but you’ll still need to invest in accessories to get into your vehicle’s many nooks and crannies. Simplify your life and streamline your workflow with this car detailing vacuum from ThisWorx. With nearly 3,000 positive reviews, it’s clear that this tiny vac has the power and mobility to get the job done.
Bissell SpotClean Portable Carpet Cleaner
Of course, not everything can be vacuumed or brushed clean! Whether your upholstery is stained from axel grease or juice box overflow, it’s time to break out a spot cleaner. Luckily, with more than 4,500 positive reviews, this Bissell spot cleaner is one of the best. It even has inspired one reviewer to declare their love in a poem:
“Yes it would clean in a car.
It would clean in a bar.
It can clean near,
It can clean far.
It would clean jam from a jar,
Though I do not think
It would clean tar.”
Car Guys Wheel and Tire Cleaner
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about brushes and cloths, but the other half of the car detailing equation is the cleaning product itself. There’s a wide variety available, but one of the most popular is the Car Guys Wheel and Tire Cleaner.
This environmentally friendly cleaner is universally safe on all wheels, and comes with a full satisfaction guarantee. As Amazon reviewer John Ryan says, “This just might the best wheel cleaner I’ve used to date.”
Mothers California Gold Clay Bar System
Road dirt and grit often contain tiny metal burrs or other particles that are potentially hazardous to your car’s finish. Use a clay bar to gently pluck any debris from your car’s exterior before cleaning, and you won’t need to worry about dragging these contaminants over your car’s finish. Almost 2,000 reviews prove that it’s effective, and its slightly gentler nature means that it’s a good choice for a variety of vehicles, as well as DIYers new to detailing.
As Amazon reviewer Nigel says, “This is a great kit to get someone that has never done it before because it’s much harder to mar up the paint.”
3D Final Touch Waterless Car Wash with Wax Protection
A waterless car wash is a quick spray-on application for vehicles that simply need a quick touch-up to their finish. It eliminates smudges and fingerprints, and works as a great prep for a deeper wax application. And, judging from the reviews, the bubble gum smell is a popular addition!