Are you trying to find automotive exterior cleaners among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!
We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling automotive exterior cleaners on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 24 hours of research and did 85 automotive exterior cleaners tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!
An overview of our top picks
Table of contents
The best automotive exterior cleaners you can buy today
- PROTECT PAINT: Clear off harmful debris with Meguiar’s ultimate Quik Detailer spray for keeping your paint safe. This high-lubricity car exterior cleaner safely removes contaminants — making it the perfect addition to any car cleaning kit.
- PRESERVE WAX: Our car detailer spray uses a pH-neutral formula to gently clean painted surfaces without degrading your wax, leaving a surface that looks freshly waxed.
- ANYTIME ANYPLACE: The easy-to-use, spray-on/wipe-off process makes this car detail spray the perfect choice for last minute car care and wax enhancement before shows, cruises, and storage.
- MINIMIZES SCRATCHES AND SWIRLS: Our auto detailing spray helps you keep clear coats and single-stage car paint cleaner with confidence by using lubricants that make abrasive dust and debris glide off without leaving scratches and swirls.
- ACT FAST: Keep Meguiar's Quik Detailer close at hand with your other car essentials to instantly take care of light contaminants like fingerprints, freshwater spots, dust, and bird droppings when they happen.
- Details a full-size car in less than 15 minutes
- VERSATILE ALL-PURPOSE CLEANER - All Clean+ is a versatile all-purpose cleaner that cuts through all levels of dirt, grease, and grime with the power of natural citrus inside, outside, or even underneath your vehicle!
- GENTLY CLEANSE JUST ABOUT ANY SURFACE - All Clean+ ships at full strength, and can be diluted to clean any automotive surface inside or out. Now you can clean carpets, tires, plastics, and engine bay parts with one advanced super cleaner
- BLENDED WITH FOAMING TECHNOLOGY -All Clean+ is blended with foaming technology for a deep cleaning on any surface. Foam spreads into cracks and crevices to remove dirt and grime from hard to reach places.
- CITRUS BASED - When used as directed, the high-tech citrus-based cleaning formula removes filth and dirt without changing the surface texture or look on plastics, metals, paints, carpets, cloths, or rubber surfaces.
- THE GO TO BRAND IN CAR CARE - Beginners and professionals alike choose Chemical Guys, not only for the finest car care products, but the world class customer support and vast detailing knowledge Chemical Guys is more than a brand it's a lifestyle with a worldwide following
- Bug Remover for Cleaning the Bug and Insects off your Cars.
- Remover is designed to wipe away bug and insects from the exterior surfaces of your car. The substances within this product will rapidly loosen-up and eliminate bug stains off your vehicle.
- All-purpose interior & exterior cleaner quickly loosens and wipes away bugs, insects and tree sap from plastic, rubber, metal, chrome, aluminum, windows, mirrors, and more
- No need to scrub. Easy spray and rinse application
- Suitable for use on car paint, wax & clear coats
- Excellent choice for cars, RV's, boats, semi-trucks, motorcycles, and home or office use
- Loosens build up to easily wipe away and clean surface
- One 8 fl oz bottle of Armor All Outlast Trim and Plastic Restorer
- Help rejuvenate worn and weathered plastic, vinyl and rubber trim to restore them to like new condition
- UV protectant that helps prevent fading, discoloration, oxidation and damage caused by UV rays
- Long lasting and effective trim restorer protects for over 100 washes
- Car protectant that's fast acting and simple to apply
- Safe for all trim colors
- Ideal addition to your car maintenance products
- EXPERIENCE THE CONVENIENCE - Swift Wipe Waterless Car Wash allows you to clean your car anywhere, anytime without the need for water.
- ONE-STEP CLEANING SOLUTION - Swift Wipe effortlessly removes dirt and grime, providing a comprehensive car wash and shine.
- ENHANCED AESTHETIC APPEAL - Our formula includes advanced gloss enhancers and optical select spray sealants for a glistening finish.
- GENTLE YET EFFECTIVE - Swift Wipe is formulated with slickening agents that prevent swirling or scratching, maintaining your car's paintwork.
- LONG-LASTING PROTECTION - Every application leaves behind a non-stick protective coating, enhancing shine and durability against the elements.
- THE GO TO BRAND IN CAR CARE - Car lovers choose Chemical Guys, not only for the finest car care products, but the world class customer support and vast detailing knowledge Chemical Guys is more than a brand it's a lifestyle with a worldwide following
- TOUGH ON GRIME - Signature Series Glass Cleaner cuts through tough grime, grease, dirt, and filth to restore perfect streak-free clarity to glass inside and outside any automobile without using noxious chemicals.
- PROFESSIONAL STRENGTH FORMULA - With a few sprays of Signature Series Glass Cleaner, dirt and debris simply disappear; the advanced glass cleaner decontaminates the area fast, and reduces static cling to help repel future dirt and dust.
- STREAK FREE - While generic window cleaners leave streaks and harm window tint, the advanced Signature Series formula restores streak-free clarity without staining or damaging tint films or clear plastics.
- SAFE FOR ALL GLASS SURFACES - The unique formula works on any glass surface, window tint film, computer screens, LCD televisions, household windows, and even plastic windows and windscreens like plexiglas parts.
- IMPROVE CLARITY - There are enough distractions while driving; take any dirt, grime, or debris out of the equation, and use Signature Series Glass Cleaner for improved clarity and safety when driving out on the road!
- Results That Last! – Are you tired of wasting time and money on plastic restorers that claim to last long? They always look great in the beginning.. only to fade after a few days, or maybe a month if it’s decent! Our product will renew, seal and protect any interior/exterior surface and WILL LAST.. for several MONTHS!
- Survives Rain! – Does this sound familiar? You spent all that time perfectly applying a new product and it looks great! Wow, you finally found the one! BUT… after the first rain-fall you look in disgust at yet another product that left ugly streaks down the side of your beautiful vehicle... STOP THE MADNESS! Our product repels water and stays looking good for several months!
- No More Oily Mess! – Do you hate all the oily, greasy gel dressing products that stay wet and never fully dry? That describes about 90% of the plastic and trim restorers on the market today! Well lucky you! We made a product that will restore and leave a great finish, but more importantly, it will completely dry to the touch! No more ruining your detailing towels and supplies with cheap oil based products!
- Why choose CAR GUYS? – We Care About Quality! Our products are made with the latest advancements in science, using the best equipment available. This helps us make consistently high quality products that always work great! Every formula we make is mixed and bottled, in the USA, by hard working Americans!
- We Care About Customer Satisfaction! – We're Not Happy, If You're Not Happy! If you're not happy with our product, for ANY REASON at all, get in contact with CAR GUYS anytime after your purchase, and we’ll make it right.
- One 24 fl oz bottle of Armor All Heavy Duty Multi Purpose Cleaner
- Cuts through dirt, grease, oil and more to wipe away spills
- Powerful cleaning action loosens difficult soils and spills
- For interior and exterior use on automotive surfaces
- Safely cleans plastics, vinyl and metals for versatile use
- Great under the hood and on tools, small engine parts and lawn equipment
- VERSATILE CLEANING POWER: Clean is specially formulated to tackle a wide range of surfaces, both inside and outside your vehicle. From dashboards and upholstery to exterior trims and wheels, this versatile solution effortlessly lifts dirt, grime, and stains, leaving every inch of your car looking refreshed and revitalized.
- READY-TO-USE CONVENIENCE: Skip the guesswork and hassle of dilution – our cleaner comes pre-diluted and ready for action. The convenient spray bottle ensures a straightforward application process, making it easier than ever to maintain the cleanliness of your vehicle without the need for additional mixing.
- EFFICIENT INTERIOR CLEANING: Enjoy a clean and inviting interior with our gentle yet effective formula. Safely use it on plastic, vinyl, fabric, and leather surfaces to remove stains, spills, and daily wear, leaving your car's interior looking and feeling like new.
- POWERFUL EXTERIOR CLEANING: From mud-splattered wheel wells to grimy exterior trims, our cleaner excels in cutting through tough outdoor grime. Restore the luster to your vehicle's exterior surfaces, ensuring it maintains a brilliant shine on the road..
- CONVENIENT APPLICATION: The easy-to-use spray nozzle allows for precise and controlled application, ensuring efficient coverage with minimal effort. Keep your car looking its best with a cleaner that is as convenient as it is effective.
- Heavy-duty car bug cleaner effectively removes bugs and tar from your paint finish
- Professional-strength clear coat safe technology is tough on bugs but easy on paint and all exterior surfaces
- This bug cleaner features powerful foaming action to loosen stuck bugs
- Specialized Xtreme Cling foam chemistry extends active foam time to rehydrate bugs and soften tar for easier removal
- Use before washing or as needed in between washes
- ✅ The Hype is Real! – Are you tired of using cleaners that work, but not as good as you expected?! You won’t experience that here! Our newly formulated multisurface cleaner is made with the newest advancements in nano-technology to effectively lift away dirt and grime at the molecular level. No more wasting time and energy with nonsense products made with old science and technology!
- ✅ Replace your Cabinet of Chemicals! – Do you get confused by all the different types of cleaning supplies that are available? It gets frustrating fast! Just cleaning your vehicle requires some special deep stain remover, a chemical solvent to get rid of bug and tar, a separate floor mat and inner dash cleaner.. and the list goes on and on! Keep it simple with one multipurpose product, CarGuys Super Cleaner... the KING OF ALL CLEANERS !
- ✅ Super Clean any Surface! – This multi surface product works on absolutely every interior or exterior surface except glass and delicate instrument panel screens! That means this ONE PRODUCT will clean upholstery , fabric , canvas , leather , vinyl , plastic , rubber , bird poop , grease , tree sap , metals , wood trim and so much more! This is the most versatile multi-purpose cleaner on the market!
- ✅ Why choose CAR GUYS? – We Care About Quality! Our products are made with the latest advancements in science, using the best equipment available. This helps us make consistently high quality products that always work great! Every formula we make is mixed and bottled, in the USA, by hard working Americans!
- ✅ We Care About Customer Satisfaction! – We're Not Happy, If You're Not Happy! If you're not happy with our product, for ANY REASON at all, get in contact with CAR GUYS anytime after your purchase, and we’ll make it right.
- Multipurpose -clean you're dashboard, headliner, steering wheel, car seats, mats, engine bay, and many others with ease
- Effectively breaks down grease, grime, dirt and more
- Spray the affected area and wipe away the residue with a cloth
- Works great on surfaces like leather, plastic, rubber, paint, carpet, vinyl, and many others
- Professional Strength Formula: SB3 Destroy car water spot remover offers a powerful solution to tackle the toughest water spots and calcium deposits, protecting and restoring your vehicle.
- Gel-Based Application: The unique gel formula ensures ease of use by staying in place, allowing for targeted application and minimizing waste. It is an ideal water stain remover for detailed work.
- Fast-Acting Remover: Efficient, SB3 Destroy is a hard water stain remover that quickly dissolves water spots and calcium, preventing further damage and maintaining your vehicle's appearance.
- Safe for Car Surfaces: For use on various vehicle surfaces, this watermark remover and cleaner is safe and effective, ensuring your car's finish remains unharmed (Note: Do not use on windshields, raw metals, or aluminum).
- User-Friendly: Apply SB3 Destroy water spot remover with a microfiber towel or applicator, rub until the deposit is removed, and wipe off any residue for a clean, spot-free finish.
- Wash Your Ride Without Water! 🚗 🧼 - Don't have access to water at your residence? We got you covered! Hydro Wash is a safe and effective waterless wash car spray that safely cleans any surface or panel on your ride. Making this the perfect home car wash kit!
- Save Your Time & Effort! ⏰ ✅ - With our no rinse car wash, you will not need to fill a bucket with water or set up your pressure washer or even have a hose at home! Our waterless wash car spray allows you to clean your ride with absolutely no water, no buckets, or even car soap.
- Cleans Every Surface of Your Vehicle! 🚗 👍 - This waterless car cleaner will give your amazing results on any exterior panel you want to clean on your vehicle. This product works for all vehicles including cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, golf cars, aircrafts, and more!
- Clean Without The Worry of Scratching (Extra Lubricant Formulation)! 😎🛡️ - This waterless car wash was created with an advanced blend of lubricants to safely remove light to medium contaminants safely from the surface of your vehicle.
- Everything You Need All-In-One Kit! 💖 🤝 - Within this cleaning kit, you will find two 16 fl oz waterless wash and three green microfiber cleaning towels to give you the ability to wash you entire ride without the need of a water source!
- All-Purpose Cleaner: For plastic, engines, wheels, and tires
- Heavy-Duty Cleaner: This cleaner serves to remove stubborn stains and spots
- VOC-Compliant Formula: Safe to use on boats, RV’s, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles
- Automotive Premium Supplier: We are recognized as a premium supplier for automotive products
- Professional Car Care: Auto Magic offers premium car detailing products for your vehicle
- THE ULTIMATE PROTECTION - VRP is an easy-to-use protectant that restores a deep black look, enhances shine, and protects vinyl, rubber, and plastic surfaces against harmful weather conditions and extreme heat..Fit Type: Universal Fit
- IT'S ALL ABOUT RESULTS - Vinyl, rubber, and plastic trim are sensitive to fading and staining caused by harmful weather conditions; VRP helps restore a like-new appearance to exterior and interior surfaces; The premium water-based cream dressing nourishes and protects to restore a deep-black shine.
- NON GREASY WATER BASED FORMULA - Achieve a non greasy deep wet look on both interior and exterior vinyl, rubber, plastic and tires with this water based dressing. Quick and easy application with no sling and no mess.
- DRY-TO-THE-TOUCH FORMULA: Premium sprayable VRP Super Shine Dressing finishes dry-to-the-touch and will not attract dirt or dust. Easy to use premium spray keeps exterior rubber and plastic looking great in all weather conditions.
- THE #1 BRAND IN CAR CARE - Beginners and professionals alike choose Chemical Guys, not only for the finest car care products, but the world class customer support and vast detailing knowledge; Chemical Guys is more than a brand - it's a lifestyle with a worldwide following
- All Around Spot Cleaner - The multi-surface cleaner uses intelligent technology to neutralize acids, gently penetrate and remove grease, dry bug splatter, and grime, while preserving essential elements like wax, paint, polish, and leather, and is versatile for car cleaning.
- Ease Of Use - This car interior cleaner and exterior grime remover softens stains, splatter, and gunk in 60 seconds, cleaning surfaces with ease. It comes with a free empty spray bottle and is easy to mix, apply, and remove.
- No Harsh Chemicals - A non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-corrosive cleaner that provides spotless finishes without the use of polishes or waxes. It keeps bugs from damaging the paint and saves time. It removes bugs quickly and easily, including baked-on ones, making it suitable for automotive paint.
- Save More Get More - Our concentrated car bug splatter remover formula requires dilution into a ready-to-use cleaning soap. The product offers a low cost per quart of high concentration, suitable for various vehicles, including pickups, automobiles, motorcycles, airplanes, campers, RVs, boats, ATVs, and more.
- Risk-Free Guarantee! - We firmly believe this is the absolute best all-around car cleaner exterior bug splatter remover spray for cars on the market! If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with ProSol Works multi-surface cleaner, simply return any unused portion for a full no hassle, 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee Refund! It’s a Win, Win for you.
- WE MEAN BUSINESS, NO NONSENSE - A powerful, versatile solution for all your cleaning needs. Removes dirt, grime, and stains effortlessly, leaving surfaces looking brand new without leaving colors, odor, or residue!
- CLEAN ANY SURFACE IN SECONDS - Say goodbye to stubborn stains Chemical Guys Nonsense Cleaner. Its advanced formula tackles grease, oil, and dirt, restoring surfaces to their original shine.
- TRANSPARENT CLEANING TECHNOLOGY - Nonsense Invinsible Super Cleaner's fast-acting formula works on various surfaces, from upholstery to engine bays, delivering professional-grade results every time.
- EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE CLEANING POWER - With Chemical Guys Nonsense Invinsible Super Cleaner; Its gentle yet effective formula is safe for all surfaces, making it a must-have for auto enthusiasts and detailing professionals.
- THE GO TO BRAND IN CAR CARE - Car lovers choose Chemical Guys, not only for the finest car care products, but the world class customer support and vast detailing knowledge Chemical Guys is more than a brand it's a lifestyle with a worldwide following
- Car Cleaning Supplies: One 9-piece Armor All Extreme Shield plus Ceramic Car Protectant Kit
- All-in-One Car Care Kit: Provides everything you need to everyday proof your vehicle, including a car wash pad, car wash towels, Armor All Original Protectant Spray and Armor All Extreme Shield plus Ceramic glass cleaner, car wash, wheel and tire cleaner
- Dirt-Repelling Technology: Armor All Extreme Shield plus Ceramic products create a barrier that helps extend the time between cleanings
- Clean and Protect: Car kit makes it fast and easy to keep your car looking like new both inside and out
- For over 50 years, Armor All has provided premium, easy-to-use car care for every driver
- Concentrated blend of emulsifiers, detergents, and solvents that erode dirt and stains almost instantly. Follow mixing instructions according to the label but can be mixed as strong as 50/50 to tackle the tougher grease.
- Cleans and deodorizes a wide variety of surfaces like exterior/interior for vehicles, carpets, engine bays, tires, wheels, and more.
- Safe to use at full strength even on delicate plastic/vinyl. Going any stronger will pull the oils from painted surfaces and start fading certain plastics so please follow all instructions for maximum results and satisfaction.
- Safe to use on polished aluminum and chrome (when used as directed. Do not let dry on aluminum).
- Does not contain caustics, acids, petroleum, or APE/NPE/OPE surfactants and is biodegradable.
How to choose a good automotive exterior cleaners
Does the idea of finding a fantastic automotive exterior cleaners make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!
Your presence here indicates that you are interested in automotive exterior cleaners. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top automotive exterior cleaners products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?
First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top automotive exterior cleaners on the market right now!
The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:
Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top automotive exterior cleaners brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.
Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top automotive exterior cleaners based on those.
Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.
Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.
Customer ratings: Would it be accurate to suggest that the automotive exterior cleaners were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.
Customer Reviews: Like ratings, provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.
Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good automotive exterior cleaners, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.
Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your automotive exterior cleaners.
Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting automotive exterior cleaners for months and years to come.
Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.
Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.
These are the standards by which we selected our automotive exterior cleaners. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.
Why should you believe us?
There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what automotive exterior cleaners should you purchase in 2022?
This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on automotive exterior cleaners.
