Best Car Wash Kits

One of the best ways a car owner can maintain the value of their vehicle is to wash it regularly. It may seem simple, but having the right tools can make the job easier and provide you with the best possible results.

Pre-assembled car wash kits are widely available. Many of these are a grouping of products sold in a bucket with one order number to make gifting simple. We will offer Car Talk’s faithful friends some sage advice from experts. Here is Car Talk’s overview of how to put together a great car wash kit for your own use or for gifting.

Car Talk's Key Takeaway

• Proper drying is a key step to avoid water spots, so include drying cloths in your kit.
• Experts agree that Meguiar's and Griot’s products are top-notch.
• Use a grit strainer in the bottom of your bucket.

Car Talk's Top Recommended Car Wash Kits

The following are recommendations based on interviews with ASE certified mechanics and detailing experts.

• Best All Around Car Wash Kit: Adam's Polishes Car Wash Kit Complete With Bucket & Grit Guard >>

  • This simple kit is all you need to start washing right away. It is highly rated and has a bucket, grit guard, sponge towel, and soap.

• Best Soap and Polish Car Wash Kit: Griot's Garage 11398 Weekend Therapy Kit >>

  • This kit features wash concentrate, waxes, and polishes. You’ll need to add a bucket and grit guard.

• Best Classic Soap and Polish Car Wash Kit: Meguiar's Classic Wash & Wax Kit >>

  • Meguiar's is one of our favorite brands, and this kit has everything you need except a bucket and grit guard.

• Best Starter Car Wash Kit: Grit Guard 5 Gallon Washing System >>

  • This $80 product tops our list because it is a fancy car wash bucket with grit guard and it even has wheels. It comes with a 5-gallon bucket, Grit Guard, Bucket Dolly, and lid. If you are assembling a complete kit, this is a great product to start with.

• Best Accessories Car Wash Kit: SPTA 33Pcs Car Wash Kit >>

  • This kit begins with a quality bucket and is complete with a grit filter. It adds a long list of brushes, sponges, and towels. All you need to add is soap and a wax-and-dry spray, and your kit is ready.

• Best Foam Gun Car Wash Kit: Chemical Guys HOL148 10-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit >>

  • Foam guns are becoming more popular. One of the most highly rated is the Chemical Guys HOL148 10-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit. It features a Foam Gun, bucket, four towels, a wash mitt, and various car cleaning solutions.

• Best Grit Trap for Car Wash Kits: VIKING Automotive Bucket Insert >>

  • This is a pair of Grit Traps for your car wash kit. It works with both three and five-gallon buckets. Add this to any kit that lacks a grit filter.

Car Talk's Top Picks

#1 Adam's Polishes Car Wash Kit Complete With Bucket & Grit Guard: Best all-around car wash kit

About Adam's Polishes Car Wash Kit

Adam’s Polishes products are ones that many of Car Talk’s experts prefer. This particular kit has everything you need to wash a car except the garden hose. It has a bucket and a grit guard along with enough soap for a year or more, and even a washcloth. This is a great kit for yourself or gifting.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 32 oz of wash concentrate
• Bucket with grit guard included
• Price range: $59-$65

#2 Griot's Garage 11398 Weekend Therapy Kit: Best Soap and polish kit

About Griot's Garage Weekend Therapy Kit

Griot’s Garage is a brand every Car Talk expert has used and approved. This kit includes not just wash fluid, but also polish, wheel cleaner, vinyl dressing and speed shine. It even has applicators and brushes. Add a bucket and grit guard to this kit and you have it all.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 7 Fluids/pastes included
• Six applicators/brushes/cloths included
• Price range: $174-$200

#3 Meguiar's Classic Wash & Wax Kit: Best classic wash and wax kit

About Meguiar's Classic Wash & Wax Kit

If you are planning to use a cleaner wax to restore your car’s finish and need all the products to make that project go well, Meguiar's Classic Wash & Wax Kit is a perfect kit for you from a brand that is universally respected. This kit is also very low in cost.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 5 Cleaning products included
• Three applicators/wash cloths
• Price range: $40-$45

#4 Grit Guard 5 Gallon Washing System: Car wash bucket system

About Grit Guard 5 Gallon Washing System

You may have noticed that some of our top picks don't come with a bucket and grit guard. Well, Grit Guard's five-gallon bucket on wheels with included grit guard completes your kit.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 5 Gallon bucket
• Four caster-style wheels
• Price range: $79

#5 SPTA 33Pcs Car Wash Bucket Set: Best car wash accessory kit

About SPTA 33Pcs Car Wash Bucket Set

This collection of accessories from SPTA can elevate any kit with the washing and polishing fluids you favor. It has a wide assortment of brushes and applicators, along with a fantastic bucket system.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 33 Pieces in total
• 20 liter bucket
• Price range: $59-$65

#6 Chemical Guys HOL148 10-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit with Foam Gun: Best foam gun car wash kit

About Chemical Guys 10-Piece Arsenal

Foam guns are the new way to wash cars and have gained in popularity. This kit from Chemical Guys has all you need to join the revolution.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• 10-piece set
• 16 oz snow foam
• 16 oz shine fluid
• 16 oz glass cleaner
• Price range: $99-$130

#7 VIKING Automotive Bucket Insert Grit Traps: Best bucket grit trap set

About VIKING Grit Traps

If all you are missing is a grit guard for your bucket, this is the final step in completing a kit.

Pros and Cons

Specs

• Fits 5 or 3 gallon buckets
• Price range: $17

What is a car wash kit, and what does it do?

A car wash kit is simply a bundle of products that provides everything you need to wash a car properly. You can either assemble the needed items piecemeal or buy a kit already pre-packaged with the things you need to do the job right.

What to consider when selecting a car wash kit

When you select a car wash kit for yourself or as a gift, think ahead to what you will need. The first item is a garden hose and spray nozzle. We’ll leave those out since most folks already have them. Next, you need a quality bucket with a grit trap at the bottom. The grit trap helps keep the dirt that comes off the car from going back on during the washing process. Our expert, Jr. Damato says this is the most often forgotten part of a good kit and one that he finds very important. You need soap to make suds, a wash mitt/rag/sponge, and some towels. We also suggest a rinse wax to go along with your kit. Here’s your bill of materials:

• Bucket with grit trap
• Soap to make suds
• Mitt, rag, or sponge designed for car washing
• Towels

If you have a back that is not fond of bending and twisting, a long-handled brush specifically designed for cars is also handy but not a must.

What costs are associated with a quality car wash kit?

A car wash kit, which will have all the needed items, can be assembled for around $50. However, that’s your starter kit with the bare minimum. If you wish to wow a car person with a gift, budget around $100 to $300. Why so much? Well, the best bucket on the market is $80 itself. The soap in any decent brand’s container will last years, so this is a gift that will last and a kit that will have staying power.

Car Talk experts weigh in on car wash kits

Summary of what we learned from talking to Car Talk's detailing experts.

Straight from our Car Talk Experts:

John Paul, AAA’s Car Doctor * When it comes to complete kits, I'm a Meguiar's and Griot’s fan. * Use a bucket with a strainer or grit blocker.

Jr. Damato, Junior’s Automotive Sales and Service

• The most important part of your car wash kit is a bucket with a grit blocker on the bottom. Don't drag all that road dirt back onto the paint with your sponge.
• Drying is the most important step. To avoid water spots, use a leaf blower or use a wax and dry product.
• Griot’s and Meguiar's are my go-to wash product manufacturers.

John Goreham, Car Talk Staff Writer

• Like Junior and John, I like Meguiar's and Griot’s products. I like to use a long-handle brush with a brush head specifically intended for automotive washing. It keeps my back happier.

Can I DIY car washing?

You can absolutely wash your car at home. Don’t be afraid. Just put the dishwashing detergent back in the kitchen. It can strip your car’s protective wax off. Don’t use any household cleaners at all. They are too harsh. Here are the simple steps:

1. Find a shady spot. Don't wash in direct sunlight if you have a choice.
2. Soak the whole car thoroughly with your hose on firm spray. Don’t forget the wheels and wheel wells.
3. Add soap to your car wash bucket. A grit guard is a wise investment. It goes into the bottom of the bucket. Follow the directions, but you don’t need much soap. Fill up the bucket with water.
4. Using a proper car wash mitt, brush, or sponge, clean the car from the top to the bottom. Never, ever let your wash mitt touch the ground, and avoid the tread of the tires. If your mitt becomes fouled with sand or dirt, completely clean it with the hose. We suggest cleaning one panel of the vehicle at a time for the best results. Do your wheels last.
5. Don't let the soapy water dry on the paint. Rinse any time you need to, and then rinse the entire car at the end of your wash.
6. Never quit at this point. You must remove any water from the paint and glass with soft cotton towels, microfiber cloths, or a shammy (chamois cloth.) Some folks like to use a leaf blower to remove most of the beaded-up water. Leaving hose water on a car to dry can result in hard-to-remove water spots, especially if you happen to have hard water where you live. Always dry the car manually.
7. A wax and dry product can add a final shine to your finish. It is used after rinsing but before drying.

Conclusion

Putting together a great car wash kit is easy and need not be expensive. Car wash soap goes a long way, so your kit can last many years. A good bucket with a grit strainer is a starting point. There are many great kits available that will provide most of what you will need. Whether for gifting or your own use, a car wash kit should be a regular part of car ownership.

Read more on the topic of Owning a Car here.