As a professional detailer, I often get asked “What’s the best car soap?” Truth be told, there is no one answer - it depends on your situation. Picking the right soap for you and your car is important if you want to preserve the condition of your car. Below I have outlined a few of my favorite soaps.
The Best Overall - Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss
The Chemical Guys soap is my number one pick for general use due to its flexibility to be used as a car shampoo or a strip wash. It comes concentrated in a gallon bottle and can be diluted 1 oz of soap per 5 gallons of water for a shampoo, or oz per 5 gallons of water for a strip wash. The soap is extremely slick allowing your wash mitt to glide over the surface without introducing scratches. The slick citrus-based soap is designed to outshine most waxes with its built in gloss enhancers - ensuring your vehicle will look like-new. Overall, this is the best choice for anyone looking for a safe and effective car shampoo that is versatile and eco-friendly. If I could only use one soap for my car, this would be it.
My Premium Choice - Adam’s Car Shampoo
Well known for their premium products, Adam’s Polishes has created one of the best car soaps the auto industry has ever seen. Adam’s Ultra Foam Shampoo is an amazing addition to any detailers arsenal of tools and chemicals. As the name suggests, this shampoo has unreal suds and foam, perfect for a foam cannon, that creates a thick lather in order to deeply cleanse your car’s paint. The soap comes concentrated in a gallon bottle and you only need a cap full to clean an entire car. Additionally, the formula is pH neutral, as to not strip wax, and environmentally friendly. It’s worth noting, the Ultra Foam Shampoo is formulated using polymers and cleaners for a lubricated feel that will help reduce water spots and encapsulate and suspend dirt for a scratch-free wash. However, this premium product comes with a premium price at $60.00 per gallon. If you have the money to spend, you will not be disappointed with this car shampoo.
The Best Budget Wash - Armor All Wash & Wax
Armor All Wash & Wax is a classic car soap that’s dirt cheap - $3.89 for a half gallon. There is nothing special here, just a basic car soap that will aid in cleaning the vehicle. The old idiom “you get what you pay for” seems to ring true here. This soap is not really concentrated, it works below average, and smells pretty good. However, this soap is a great value at $4.00 and I would recommend it for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money in order to keep their car looking good.
These are some of my favorite car soaps and shampoos, but there are many more on the market that preform great. If you have a suggestion or a personal favorite, make sure to let me know in the comments. All of these are fine for most applications, so no matter which one you choose, you can’t go wrong.