The Best Car Wax and Detailing Supplies 2020

May 08, 2023

We added our new hose pick to this guide.

Taking good care of your car is worth it. Regular washing and detailing not only makes the car nicer to drive but can also help your car retain thousands of dollars in value down the road. This guide includes pro tips and recommended supplies for the average do-it-yourselfer who wants to make their car look its best without a lot of time, hassle, or expense.

Before joining Wirecutter as its autos editor, Rik Paul, who wrote the initial version of this guide in 2016, was the automotive editor for Consumer Reports, where he edited car and car-accessory reviews, and the senior feature editor for Motor Trend, where he wrote a monthly car-care column. For this guide, he drew on his 25-plus years of personal experience maintaining and detailing his own vehicles and using many of the supplies included here.

For the latest update, Wirecutter staff writer Thom Dunn built on that work and put in another 25 hours researching the latest supplies, scouring forums, and speaking with detailing pros and avid hobbyists, following that with 35 hours of testing dozens of items on several different cars.

This highly rated soap is designed to clean your car's paint without hurting the protective wax coating.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.

There's no shortage of car wash soaps on store shelves—and, to be honest, not a lot of difference between the top choices. So we looked for a good soap that's also a good value, and Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash is about as safe a bet as you can find. Gold Class is reasonably priced and widely available, and after using it for years, we’ve found that it does a good job of lubricating the surface to help lift off dirt, bird poo, and other crud. The Gold Class wash is also recommended by a number of pro detailers, such as Darren Priest of Best Auto Detailing Tips, who writes that it's a quality product at an economical price. It's also consistently cited as one of the top car wash soaps among enthusiasts, and it gets very high ratings on Amazon and other retailer websites, including Walmart, Advance Auto Parts, and Autogeek.

Some car wash soaps include a wax, but we don't really see the point because the solution won't be on the paint long enough to do much good before you rinse it off. We think it's better to apply a good wax separately to make sure the paint gets real protection.

If you need to conserve water (thinking of you, Californians), Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine produced good results for us, and it's highly rated across more than a thousand Amazon reviews. The company recommends mixing 1 ounce of the soap into 2 gallons of water, and in our experience we’ve found that's just enough to wash a sedan or small SUV. Go around the vehicle, working on one section at a time. First, use a wash mitt dipped in the solution to clean the surface; then, use a microfiber towel to dry it. This method does take longer, and you may have to wash a section more than once or scrub a little harder to get all the gunk off. You can find many spray-on formulas that claim to be "waterless" washes, but we’ve found the Optimum cleaner to be easier to use overall and less likely to cause scratches by rubbing dirt into the paint.

While some pro detailers we talked to said they would use an inexpensive dish detergent, such as Dawn, or an all-purpose cleaner, like La's Totally Awesome, others worried that the grease-removing chemicals of these types of cleaners could be too harsh on a car's finish, possibly stripping off the paint's protective wax like, well, bacon grease off a skillet. We recommend using a dedicated car wash soap, which is formulated to wash the surface dirt and grime off of a vehicle without hurting the protective coating.

This microfiber wash mitt has a thick nap that absorbs lots of sudsy water and helps keep dirt particles away from the paint.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.

After trying several different wash mitts, we recommend the Relentless Drive Ultimate Car Wash Mitt. In contrast to traditional mitts, this Amazon best seller is made of soft, fluffy pile "noodles" that absorb lots of water and provide plenty of nooks and crannies to trap dirt particles. It's also easier to get into tight spaces than a typical lambswool mitt. And like most microfiber mitts, it's machine washable. Although similar mitts are available, the Relentless Drive has earned very high ratings across more than 1,600 Amazon customer reviews, without the many low ratings related to poor-quality construction that some competitors have received.

This tough rubber hose isn't cheap and can be heavy to wrangle, but its strong fittings and durable body can last for years—and there's a lifetime warranty, just in case.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $56.

Wirecutter has tested dozens of different garden hoses since 2015, and the Dramm ColorStorm Premium Rubber Hose (50ft) is the most lightweight, flexible, and kink-resistant one we’ve found. Unlike a hefty hose like the Continental Commercial Grade Rubber Hose (50ft) (our also-great pick), the ColorStorm is elevated into a higher tier of hose thanks to a number of things it does better than the rest, starting with its couplings. With big, flat facets for a wrench to grab, the crush-proof nickel-plated couplings are a stark contrast to the knurled round grip you find on cheaper hoses.

Far from fancy, this basic hose nozzle is affordable, solidly built, and easy to use, and it has a great spray pattern.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $6.

After testing several nozzle models, we recommend the Gilmour Full Size Zinc Pistol. Cast from solid zinc, this inexpensive nozzle feels solidly built and has a great spray pattern. We easily moderated the spray, depending on what we were doing, by squeezing the trigger harder or softer. Pull the trigger back a lot, and you get a strong, steady stream for blasting off dirt and gunk. Pull it a little, and you get a wide, fine mist. In contrast, other models we tested—most of which were two to three times as expensive—were flawed by too many complicated spray patterns, which means more parts and more chances for failure.

This waffle-weave microfiber towel absorbs lots of water and won't scratch the paint.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $12.

Although you now have several waffle-weave towels from which to choose, we recommend Meguiar's Water Magnet Drying Towel. We’ve gotten good results from it over several years of car washing, and it has earned very high ratings from more than 2,500 Amazon customers. It's also inexpensive and capable of absorbing lots of water—it claims to hold twice as much water as a terry towel. You can also fold this 22-by-30-inch towel into quadrants or eighths to make it easier to use.

Another alternative recommended by Ryan Conde, a detailing hobbyist who moderates several online forums, is The Rag Company's Eagle Edgeless towels. Conde told us, "They’re so soft, you’ll want to wrap your infant child in them."

This glass cleaner is inexpensive, effective, and widely available, and will quickly clear away the grime on any glass surface.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $6.

After testing several glass cleaners, we recommend Sprayway Glass Cleaner, which is inexpensive and widely available. It worked well for cleaning the glass of our cars, leaving behind neither streaks nor smears. One Wirecutter editor has also long used Sprayway for cleaning the glass of picture frames for hanging in an art gallery. We got good results from Stoner's Invisible Glass and Meguiar's Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner, but both of those are more expensive than the Sprayway cleaner. We saw more streaking with Chemical Guys Signature Series Glass Cleaner.

This degreaser will help remove stuck-on debris better than a milder car wash soap.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $11.

For stuck-on grime—such as tar and asphalt, dried bugs, or tree sap—we recommend Stoner Car Care Tarminator, a potent degreaser that's recommended by more pro detailers than other bug-and-tar removers we’ve seen. On some nasty adhered-on gunk on our own cars, we found it quicker and more effective than similar cleaners we tried. We sprayed it on, let it sit for about a minute, wiped it with a microfiber towel, and hosed it off, and it did a good job. The company recommends that you not use it on clear-coat plastic trim like the kind on bumpers, however, as the formula is strong enough to potentially cause the plastic to haze over time.

A good backup is Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover. We’ve used this cleaner a lot over the years and found it to be effective; it also claims to be safe for use on plastic. Ryan Conde, an avid detailing hobbyist who moderates several forums on the subject, also recommended Turtle Wax, although he warned that it could be too abrasive for some paint jobs. Either cleaner could require some extended soaking or a bit of elbow grease for debris that's particularly hard to remove.

This spray-on, wipe-off cleaner makes it easier to spruce up wheels, although some scrubbing is needed with all of these cleaners.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $5.

Of the several wheel cleaners we tested, our favorite is the Eagle One A2Z All Wheel & Tire Cleaner because it offers the best balance of price and performance. After spraying it on the wheels and letting it sit for a few minutes, we could see the dirt and grease running off. Then, we rinsed the wheels with a hose to remove the cleaner and residual grime. We still recommend scrubbing with a brush or wiping with a cloth to finish the job, but this advice holds true for every wheel cleaner we tested. The Eagle One cleaner is typically one of the least expensive options, although prices vary. We also got good results with CarGuys Premium Wheel Cleaner and Griot's Garage Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner, but at the time we tested, both of those cost about twice as much as the Eagle One cleaner.

Spray on this cleaner between full washes to wipe off dirt, dead bugs, bird poop, and other elements that can hurt your car's paint.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $5.

For removing dirt, globs of dead bugs, or bird poo when a hose isn't handy, we’ve found Meguiar's Quik Detailer to be an effective and inexpensive choice. A few sprays of the detailer and a wipe with a microfiber or terry-cloth towel quickly and easily cleans it off, even leaving a nice shine behind. In an interview with Car Talk (PDF), pro detailer Greg Yoke recommends Quik Detailer for exterior detailing. It gets a very high rating from Amazon customers. And back when our autos editor worked for the car-enthusiast magazine Motor Trend, he typically used Quik Detailer to rapidly prep filthy cars for photography on the road. Although you can find several spray-on detailers, we recommend Meguiar's because it's one of the least expensive and most readily available options, yet it gives us consistently good results.

In addition to washing your car regularly, you should apply a good protectant to the paint to help protect it from dirt, bird poo, dead bugs, tree sap, and similar harmful things. You can find a world of waxes, sealants, protectants, and other detailing supplies out there, but getting good results depends on knowing which ones to use and in what circumstances—especially if you’re also trying to restore your car to like-new condition. For how-to advice, check out our guide to how to wash and detail a car. Below, we cover the supplies we recommend based on our hours of research, testing, and personal experience.

This highly rated liquid polish is durable, easy to use, and inexpensive.

For weekend DIYers who want an inexpensive, easy-to-apply paint protectant, our first choice is Nu Finish Car Polish (Liquid). It's popular among hobbyists and pros alike, and we think its durability, ease of use, and low price make it worth looking for. Although Nu Finish is called a "polish" (which is a term traditionally used for a substance with light abrasives), it's actually a non-abrasive synthetic polymer that's formulated to protect the paint but not to remove scratches or other defects. Because Nu Finish doesn't contain any wax, it doesn't require hard buffing. We applied it with a microfiber cloth, let it dry to a haze, and then wiped it off. It left behind a nice gloss that lasted for weeks, with rain drops beading up on the surface for easy wiping.

Let's be realistic, though. The label claims that Nu Finish is "The Once A Year Car Polish." But that's pretty optimistic. Although many people who have used it favorably cite its durability, even many positive reviews advise using it every few months. Some negative reviewers say that they had difficulty wiping off the haze, especially if they let it sit for too long. While we’ve found the liquid version to be easier to apply, if you prefer a paste we like Nu Finish Car Polish (Soft Paste) for the same reasons as we do the liquid version.

Some of the detailers we spoke with also recommended Jescar Power Lock Plus Polymer Sealant. We found that it produced a richer, deeper finish, looking like a wet gloss, but at the time of our testing, it cost about four times as much as the Nu Finish polish.

This is a good overall cleaner wax for removing light scratches, oxidation, and other small defects.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $17.

If your car's paint is looking a little dull, we recommend Meguiar's 3-in-1 Wax to help bring back the shine. Meguiar's 3-in-1 Wax is a cleaner wax that includes a light abrasive polish for smoothing out the finish and eliminating rough paint and very light scratches. We like it because it's more affordable than some competitors and readily available, and because it's from a well-respected company in the detailing world. Meguiar's 3-in-1 Wax is the replacement for the company's NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0, which was our previous pick for this application but is being phased out. In our testing, 3-in-1 Wax restored a very smooth finish to the slightly faded paint on one of our test cars, and it removed light scratches from other vehicles, leaving a more reflective, mirror-like finish. It can't handle deeper scratches, though; see below for options.

This kit was effective at smoothing out both light and deep scratches in our car's paint.

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $11.

If you’re tackling a variety of light scratches and you don't want to mess with a power buffer, we recommend Quixx Paint Scratch Remover. Using this simple and affordable kit involves a two-step process. First, you go over the scratches with a piece of very fine, 2,500-grit sandpaper, which helps you remove moderate scratches such as those you can feel with a fingernail. Then you use a polish to smooth the final finish. Of the five scratch removers we tried, the Quixx kit coupled some of the best results we saw with a budget-friendly price. It's also the best-selling "touch-up paint" on Amazon.

That said, the Quixx kit is not a cure for all scratches. if the scratch goes through the car's clear-coat layer and you can see white or metal in the scratch, this kit won't be enough; you’ll also need to use touch-up paint or some other paint before using this kit. In fact, that misunderstanding lies at the root of a common complaint among Amazon customers, who have given the Quixx kit a relatively mediocre rating.

In our tests, the Quixx kit worked better on moderate scratches than Chemical Guys Scratch and Swirl Remover and TriNova Scratch and Swirl Remover, both of which are formulated for lighter scratches and don't come with sandpaper. We also tried the Turtle Wax Premium Scratch Repair Pen, which fills in a deep scratch with paint to keep rust from forming, but we found that it didn't hide the scratches very well.

We were also impressed with the Ultimate Car Scratch Remover System, although it costs much more than the Quixx kit. This comprehensive package includes four microfiber cloths, 3,000-grit sandpaper and a sanding pad, five different formulas of polish, and a pamphlet of detailed instructions. For a novice, it might seem overwhelming, but if you go step by step, you can make major improvements to some nasty scratches. In our tests, we were able to revitalize a bumper that had started to resemble hamburger meat—an overly ambitious task, to be sure, but the Ultimate Car Scratch Remover System did a remarkable job removing most of the damage. The company also has an extensive YouTube catalog, and the founder follows up with every buyer over email to answer any questions.

This treatment helps make plastic trim of any color look good again.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $10.

Today's vehicles are generously dressed in plastic trim, which can fade over time. Of the several trim restorers we tested, the Mothers Back-to-Black Trim & Plastic Restorer offered the best combination of improved appearance, safety, and long-lasting protection. A dime-sized drop of the Mothers formula made a clear difference as soon as we applied it to the faded black trim on one of our cars (it can work on any color trim). At first, it produced a wet, glossy look, but once it dried, it left the trim with a natural richness that lasted a month or more. While other trim restorers we tested—including the Rust-Oleum Wipe New Trim Kit and Meguiar's PlastX Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish—left the plastic looking shinier right away, they all faded much too quickly or left some sticky residue behind. For an even deeper-looking finish, you can also try Mothers Back-to-Black Heavy Duty Trim Cleaner, but it wasn't as easy to apply in our tests; we recommend buffing out the thick paste after it dries.

This kit has everything you need to clean up hazy headlight lenses and help you see better while driving at night.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $34.

The lenses of many headlights can oxidize over time and become cloudy, which reduces their illumination. Thankfully, several things can help you remove that oxidation and clear them up again. After testing two popular kits, we recommend the Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit, which gave us the best overall results. It involves a multistep process, which took us about 30 minutes, but the result was a dramatic improvement in the clarity of our car's headlights. By contrast, another kit we tried made the job quicker but didn't provide the same crystal-clear results. We explain how these kits generally work in our guide to how to wash and detail a car.

This cordless, lithium-powered handheld vacuum is strong and versatile enough to reach into tight spots.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $240.

After spending more than 100 hours researching and testing 72 different handheld vacuums, we found that the Dyson V7 Car+Boat is by far the strongest handheld vacuum we’ve ever tested. It also comes with a variety of attachments, including a crevice tool, a combo brush, a stiff-bristle brush for stubborn dirt, a soft dusting brush, and a mini motorized brush roll. With 30 minutes of battery life, this Dyson model has enough power to cover a 15-seat van on a single charge. If you have a Dyson V7 (or if you own or plan to buy any other cordless Dyson vac), you may already have a crevice tool and combo brush—consider adding the extension hose to your collection to reach nooks and crannies, or grabbing the car charger as a handy backup option for the vac's battery life.

This spray-on cleaner works on all solid interior surfaces, including an in-dash display, and provides some UV protection without leaving a sticky film or glare.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $6.

Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner is a spray-on cleaner that works well on any interior surface, including in-dash displays and touchscreens. Compared with many sprays that leave a shiny but greasy coating, Quik Interior Detailer leaves a natural-looking finish with no slick residue and helps protect the vinyl from the sun's UV radiation. It has earned high ratings from more than 600 Amazon customers, and pro detailers recommend it too. In a review on Detailed Image, Todd Cooperider of Esoteric Auto Detail in Columbus, Ohio, writes that it's one of his favorite detailing products. "I have been using Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer for years now, and use it every single time I clean my own cars as well as every vehicle that passes through the Esoteric garage." Some people complain that it has a strong vinegar-like smell, but that's, well, in the nose of the beholder, as it didn't offend us.

If you have a sensitive nose, you might prefer Griot's Garage Interior Detailer, which has a more floral scent. But it typically costs a bit more for roughly similar performance, so we prefer the Meguiar's cleaner.

After you’ve cleaned the trim, if you want to apply a mild dressing to give it a richer look, we (and several detailers) recommend using 303 Aerospace Protectant. On Detailed Image, pro detailer Ivan Rajic of Lustr Detail in Palatine, Illinois, writes that it provides a nice matte finish and makes the vinyl slightly darker and richer, "with no sign of oily or dirty residue." He notes that the protectant makes it easier to wipe off dust and is relatively long-lasting, protecting the dash for six to eight weeks. It also has a very high rating on Amazon, across thousands of reviews.

This is great for regular cleaning of carpet, cloth upholstery, and other interior car fabrics.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $16.

If you need a good general-purpose cleaner, Meguiar's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner is a solid choice. You apply this cleaner as a foam, so it's harder to use too much than with a liquid. It dries quickly, and the sprayer can work in a wide pattern for a general cleaning or a narrow pattern for spot cleaning. Scott Race, a former professional detailer in Boonsboro, Maryland, said he regularly used it in his customers’ cars. "It tends to work when other weaker or APC (all-purpose) type cleaners will not work," he said. This version also includes an odor eliminator.

If you tend to use a general cleaner a lot, both the pro detailers and hobbyists we spoke with recommended Meguiar's All Purpose Cleaner. It comes only in gallon containers, but for its current price of about $20, it's a good value; you can also dilute it and use it for other cleaning jobs. Ryan Conde, a hobbyist who moderates several online detailing forums, said he dilutes the cleaner with water in a ratio of 10-to-1 and then sprays it into a boar's hair brush. "I use the brush to agitate and foam up the spot I’m cleaning," he added, "then wipe it down with a microfiber."

This is a popular cleaner for regularly maintaining a car's leather upholstery and trim.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $23.

To spruce up leather seats and trim, we recommend Lexol Leather Deep Cleaner. Lexol is a brand that has been in the leather-care business for decades, and we’ve had good results with this cleaner for years. It cleans dirt, oil, and—yeah—those "leftover perspiration salts" in your leather seats. You can use Lexol on all smooth leather surfaces (but not on suede). Plus, it gets a high rating from Amazon customers. You can also use Meguiar's All Purpose Cleaner for heavily soiled seats—but be careful, because it is a stronger formula.

This granulated charcoal air purifier is nontoxic and chemical- and fragrance-free.

For eliminating odors, we recommend the Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag. Filled with granulated bamboo charcoal, this bag, the company says, removes "odors, allergens and harmful pollutants from the air," and it can absorb excess moisture to help prevent mold and mildew.

A 200-gram bag can handle an area up to 90 square feet, which is plenty for most cars. The company also says that the Moso bag is reusable for up to two years—just place it in the sun once a month for an hour to reboot. And once it's past its prime, the charcoal is fully biodegradable. The Moso bag also gets a high rating from thousands of Amazon customers, many of whom say they use it in their cars and give it a five- or four-star rating. A couple of customers sum it up this way: "It does not make [your] car smell good. It just removes all the bad smell."

This spacious organizer has lots of nooks and crannies for keeping your detailing gear handy.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $60.

Of the many bags we’ve seen, the versatile Griot's Garage Car Care Organizer Bag II provides the best balance of size and storage. Measuring an ample 17 by 9 by 14 inches, the bag was roomy enough to hold our entire collection of car-detailing picks, plus an electric buffer. It ships flat but assembles easily with snaps and Velcro closures to form a sturdy bag with two levels and plenty of nooks and crannies for your various items.

It's made of water-resistant 600-denier nylon, and the metal handle is attached with four supplied screws (requiring a Phillips-head screwdriver and a 10-millimeter wrench to assemble). With the handle, shoulder strap, and detachable cover, it's not especially light, weighing 5½ pounds. But it is well designed, and it makes the most of its space, with mesh pockets, elastic straps, and a roomy interior to hold bottles, pads, and various wiping cloths.

It has earned a high rating on Amazon, with many of the negative comments related to a lack of assembly instructions, missing screws and nuts for attaching the handle, or the mesh pockets’ inability to hold larger bottles.

If you can't get the Griot's Garage bag, the similarly priced Pinnacle Detailers Bag, Autogeek Detailer's Bag, Wolfgang Detailer's Tool Bag, and Autopia Detailer's Bag appear to be almost identical except for the colors and minor details. Less-expensive bags are also available, such as Griot's smaller Concours Bag. You could instead spend more on a pro-level organizer, but we don't see the need unless you’re a serious detailer with a larger collection of tools and supplies.

Ryan Conde, Facebook and Reddit car-detailing forum moderator, phone interview, May 15, 2019

Vince Louisi, owner, Bruce's Finish Line, Ithaca, New York, in-person interview, May 13, 2019

Thom Dunn

Thom Dunn is an associate staff writer at Wirecutter reporting on HVAC and other home improvement topics. Sometimes his curiosity gets the best of him, such as when he plugged a space heater and a Marshall guitar amp into the same power strip. Pro tip: Don't do that.

Rik Paul

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