While owning a car cleaning kit is essential to provide your car with the care it deserves, picking out the right items for your kit can often get confusing. But don't worry; we’ve compiled everything you need to know before buying the perfect cleaning kit for your ride.
What To Consider in a Car Cleaning Kit
If you’re looking to purchase a car cleaning kit, you need to know the essentials needed for washing your car effectively. These include, but are not limited to:
Exterior cleaning products
If you want to focus on cleaning your car from the outside, your car cleaning kit must include a car shampoo, washing towels, and a foam gun. Car shampoo is different compared to regular soap; household soap may damage the clear coat or trim pieces. Pair up a car shampoo with a practical washing towel, and you’ll remove any dirt from your can in no time!
Moreover, a foam gun may seem like an unnecessary gadget, but it can go a long way towards keeping your car looking like new. While making a soapy mixture in a bucket may suffice to wash off dirt from your vehicle, this can often lead to particles being suspended in the mixture, which will then scratch the paint as you scrub your car. A foam gun produces a thick layer of lather without requiring you to mix anything manually, so there's no particle contamination to begin with.
Interior cleaning products
To clean the interior of your car, you must have an all-purpose cleaner, a duster, a vacuum, and a couple of specialty cleaning chemicals in your arsenal. All-purpose cleaners paired with a microfiber cloth can quickly bring your seats and dashboard back to life. If your car is equipped with leather seats, look for a quality leather cleaner/conditioner that won't strip layers off the top. A vacuum comes in handy when debris, hair, and dust are scattered around on your car’s floor.
Tire cleaning products
To keep your wheels and tires in top shape, you need a wheel cleaner, a scrubbing brush, and a tire shiner. Spray the wheel cleaner on your wheels and scrub off the grime and brake dust with the help of your brush. You can finish by applying some tire shine to the sidewalls, though some people choose to skip this step.
Window cleaning products
We all know the struggle of trying to see through a window covered in dust and water streaks. Therefore, when picking out a cleaning kit for your car, ensure it includes a window cleaner and a squeegee. You may want to go a step further by applying a water-repellant coating, which will enhance visibility when it's raining.
The squeegee helps you effectively clear off dust and dirt without scratching your windshield or leaving streak marks. You can also top it off with a soft microfiber towel to dry your windows and prevent any water spots from forming.
Car Cleaning Kit FAQ
Q: Can I use microfiber mitts on the exterior of my car?
A: Microfiber mitts are a great tool for cleaning both the interior and exterior of your car. But if you only want to clean your car's body, a microfiber cloth is a cheaper alternative.
Q: Should I buy a high-end cleaning kit even if I do not intend to clean my car from the interior?
A: This is entirely up to you. Some of the more comprehensive cleaning kits come with chemicals and tools to cover every task and surface, so you'll end up with unused products if you choose not to clean the interior of your car. Then again, there's always the possibility that you'll need them in the near future.
Q: Why are microfiber cloths preferred over other materials?
A: Microfiber cloths are much more efficient when it comes to picking up tiny particles, and their construction ensures that you won't scratch the paint or clear coat unless you forget to pick off abrasive debris that gets caught in the fiber.