Best Car Shampoo

The washing phase is one of the most important steps in any type of auto cleaning or detailing procedure. As such, it is always best to arm yourself with the right tools for the job. It starts by choosing the best car shampoo.

I’ve been able to test a huge range of car shampoos over the last few years and I’ve found that a lot of them do a very similar job. However, like all aspects of car detailing, there are some that are just better than others.

Below you will see a list of my best car shampoos and you will notice that each fits a certain brief. For example, I’ve gone with Bilt Hamber as my best overall, but if I were to be looking for a car shampoo that contained some sort of protection built-in, I’d go for Meguiars Ultimate Wash and Wax.

The Best Car Shampoos – Top 7

Here is a list of what I think are the best car shampoos on the market right now:

  1. Bilt Hamber Auto Wash
  2. Gyeon Q2M Bathe Shampoo
  3. CarPro Reset Intensive Car Shampoo
  4. Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash and Wax
  5. Valet Pro Advanced Poseidon Car Wash
  6. Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
  7. Adam’s Car Shampoo
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Top Choice
Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Car Shampoo 500ml
Gyeon Q2M Bathe Shampoo 400ml
CarPro Reset intensive car shampoo, 500 ml
Meguiar's G17748EU Ultimate Car Wash & Wax 1.4L, Shampoo that leaves a deep, glossy, just-waxed shine
ValetPRO Advanced Poseidon Car Wash - Removes dirt, grime and leaves a protective gloss - 1L
Dodo Juice DJBM500 Born To Be Mild (500ml), purple
Name
Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Car Shampoo 500ml
Gyeon Q2M Bathe Shampoo 400ml
CarPro Reset intensive car shampoo, 500 ml
Meguiar's G17748EU Ultimate Car Wash & Wax 1.4L, Shampoo that leaves a deep, glossy, just-waxed shine
ValetPRO Advanced Poseidon Car Wash - Removes dirt, grime and leaves a protective gloss - 1L
Dodo Juice DJBM500 Born To Be Mild (500ml), purple
Prepmycar Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
Price
Price not available
£13.50
£17.00
£18.80
£13.00
£15.74
Top Choice
Image
Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Car Shampoo 500ml
Name
Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Car Shampoo 500ml
Prepmycar Rank
1
Price
Price not available
Image
Gyeon Q2M Bathe Shampoo 400ml
Name
Gyeon Q2M Bathe Shampoo 400ml
Prepmycar Rank
2
Price
£13.50
Image
CarPro Reset intensive car shampoo, 500 ml
Name
CarPro Reset intensive car shampoo, 500 ml
Prepmycar Rank
3
Price
£17.00
Image
Meguiar's G17748EU Ultimate Car Wash & Wax 1.4L, Shampoo that leaves a deep, glossy, just-waxed shine
Name
Meguiar's G17748EU Ultimate Car Wash & Wax 1.4L, Shampoo that leaves a deep, glossy, just-waxed shine
Prepmycar Rank
4
Price
£18.80
Image
ValetPRO Advanced Poseidon Car Wash - Removes dirt, grime and leaves a protective gloss - 1L
Name
ValetPRO Advanced Poseidon Car Wash - Removes dirt, grime and leaves a protective gloss - 1L
Prepmycar Rank
5
Price
£13.00
Image
Dodo Juice DJBM500 Born To Be Mild (500ml), purple
Name
Dodo Juice DJBM500 Born To Be Mild (500ml), purple
Prepmycar Rank
6
Price
£15.74

1) Bilt Hamber Auto Wash

Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Car Shampoo 500ml
  • Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Car Shampoo 500ml
  • product type: CLEANING AGENT
  • Size: 500 ml (Pack of 1)

There are concentrated car shampoos, and there is the Bilt Hamber Auto Wash. In terms of cleaning power, this car shampoo is one of the best. But the highly-concentrated formula is simply amazing. How so? You only need 5 millilitres of the Bilt Hamber Auto Wash to fill a medium-sized bucket of water with smooth and rich foam.

Now, speaking about the foam. The other car shampoos in this list produced thicker bunches of foam compared to the Bilt Hamber. I even tried increasing the concentration of shampoo, but to be honest, it didn’t have a huge effect on the overall outcome.

This definitely isn’t the foamiest car shampoo to be quite honest. But what puzzles me is how the product manages to deliver a higher level of lubricity and cleaning power despite the absence of thicker foam.

This car shampoo contains no colourants, perfumes, thickeners, or waxes. What you get is a pure concentrate of powerful surfactants that can gently lift away dirt and contaminants without stripping off wax and sealant.



Would I use for my maintenance wash? Maybe not, but if you’re looking for your first wash in a few weeks or months and especially over winter, the Bilt Hamber Auto Wash really starts to come into its own.

Read in Full: Bilt Hamber Auto Wash Review

2) Gyeon Q2M Bathe Shampoo

Gyeon Q2M Bathe Shampoo 400ml
  • ULTIMATE CAR CARE – GYEON Q²M Bathe is a highly concentrated shampoo that dissolves dirt and grime easily, but is also gentle on all coated, sealed…
  • SAFE & SLICK – This water-soluble shampoo boosts the smooth gliding of your wash mitt or pad over the surface of your car’s paint when washing. The…
  • PH-NEUTRAL VERSATILITY- Q²M Bathe is a pure shampoo, formulated for all vehicles and surfaces. The pH-neutral formula ensures that delicate finishes…

Next up is the Gyeon Q2M Bathe Shampoo.

Second place doesn’t necessarily mean second best since the Gyeon Q2M Bathe is a different type of car shampoo. It may also cost a bit more than the Adam’s Car Shampoo, but there’s a reason for that.

The Gyeon Q2M Bathe is a highly-concentrated pH-balanced formula. It is safe to use on all types of waxed or sealed finishes. However, it is especially good for ceramic-coated finishes.

This car shampoo is best dissolved in a bucket of warm water. This allows the cleaning solution to effortlessly remove dirt, grime, and contaminants without harming the wax, sealant, or quartz coating on the finish.

But, what I really like about the Gyeon Q2M Bathe Car shampoo is the lubrication. It can also produce a thick batch of foam for efficient cleaning and another product that I wouldn’t hesitate to use as a clay lubricant.

3) CarPro Reset Intensive Car Shampoo

Sale
CarPro Reset intensive car shampoo, 500 ml
  • 500 ml.
  • Fragrance: aquamarine!
  • Without gloss enhancer!

For tougher cleaning jobs, the CarPro Reset Intensive Car Shampoo shines the brightest. Based on the name of the product itself, this car shampoo has a stronger and more intense cleaning formula. The product contains no wax, polymers, or gloss enhancers. It is as pure as car shampoos can get!



But despite the intensive cleaning power, the CarPro Reset is still a pH-neutral car shampoo that is safe and gentle on rubber, vinyl, and glass surfaces. It is specifically formulated for vehicles treated with Nano sealants or ceramic coatings.

The concentrate is derived from organic and biodegradable ingredients to provide excellent cleaning power without stripping off the wax or ceramic coating on delicate paint.

What I really liked about this product is a little can go a long way. In most cases, less an ounce (29 millilitres) of this shampoo is enough for 18 litres of water. It produces a strong foaming action that removes dirt quickly and easily, even from a relatively low dilution amount.

Looking for a snow foam agent? Look no further as the CarPro Reset is also great for snow foaming your vehicle as well!

4) Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash and Wax

Sale
Meguiar’s G17748EU Ultimate Car Wash & Wax 1.4L, Shampoo that leaves a deep, glossy, just-waxed shine
  • Clear coat safe Carnauba and synthetic polymer technology gently cleans the paint while leaving additional wax protection behind
  • A car wash & wax that leaves a deep, gloss, just-waxed shine in one easy step
  • The wash & wax incredible sudsing action lifts dirt and grime

The Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash and Wax is one of my all-time favourites. It comes with a formula that is engineered to provide a slick and thorough clean while leaving a light layer of wax on the surface. This car shampoo is designed to work well with other Meguiar’s waxes but is also safe to use on sealed or ceramic-coated surfaces.

Meguiar’s utilises a proprietary blend of good old carnauba wax and synthetic polymers. The result is a thick lubricating foam that can also be used as a clay lubricant.

While I still find the Adam’s Car Shampoo as the best when it comes to the thickness of the foam, the Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash and Wax is not far behind. The label recommends mixing up to 4 capfuls of the concentrated solution in 3.5-litres of water, however, I only use two or three capfuls of the concentrate to produce equally as good results, saving a bit of money.

In terms of lubricity, I think the Meguiar’s Ultimate Wash and Wax is one of the best. You can feel it as you wipe the wash mitt on the surface of the vehicle. It also leaves behind a smooth and hydrophobic finish that further helps in preventing water spots as you wipe the vehicle dry.



5) Valet Pro Advanced Poseidon Car Wash

ValetPRO Advanced Poseidon Car Wash – Removes dirt, grime and leaves a protective gloss – 1L
  • ValetPRO advanced poseidon car wash is a powerful, gentle shampoo that rinses off easily
  • The advanced poseidon car wash prolongs waxes and paint sealant by adding a sacrificial high gloss coating
  • With a dilution ratio of 30 ml to 5L of water, it’s simply a quick and efficient cleaner of great value

The Valet Pro Advanced is not an ordinary car wash concentrate. While lesser variants may strip off the wax after repeated washings, this car shampoo is gifted with a powerful cleaning formula that leaves a sacrificial layer of water-repelling coating.

I did find this product to be more powerful than the Meguiar’s Wash and Wax or Adam’s Car Shampoo, but the difference is in the finish as you dry the vehicle, especially over freshly waxed or treated paint.

After rinsing the vehicle, the Valet Pro will leave behind a slick and hydrophobic finish similar to the Meguiar’s Wash and Wax. This makes drying the vehicle a bit faster and less tedious. The lubricating properties of this car shampoo are also top notch.

And while the powerful cleaning action of this car shampoo is renowned for removing stubborn traces of dirt, grime, and bird poo, it remains gentle enough to be used as a maintenance wash in between waxing or polishing.

6) Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild

Dodo Juice DJBM500 Born To Be Mild (500ml), purple
  • Super-slick – water sheets away
  • pH-neutral, biodegradable formula
  • High-foaming – lifts dirt away from paintwork

The Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild is a maintenance car shampoo derived from premium-grade surfactants. The concentrate contains no gloss enhancers, foam additives, or bulking agents.

It is highly concentrated and is extremely economical to use. In fact, you can wash more vehicles with a 250 ml bottle of this car shampoo compared to most other products.

Since the Dodo Juice BTBM is pH neutral, it will not strip off the wax or sealant on the paint. The formula even contains limescale inhibitors to prevent water-spotting if the product is mixed with hard water. This prevents ugly stains and water spots when drying the vehicle.

This high-foaming and super-slick car shampoo are also great as clay lubricant and snow foam. But perhaps the most endearing part about the Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild car shampoo is the fantastic smell. Some people say it smells like freshly-harvested peaches. But in my mind, this car shampoo makes me feel like washing my car on a tropical island.



7) Adam’s Car Shampoo

I’ve been in the detailing for a long time now. I’ve used car shampoos of all shapes and sizes but none came close to the gentle cleaning power of Adam’s Car Shampoo. This is a pH-balanced car shampoo that is safe to use on all exposed surfaces including rubber, plastic, chrome, aluminium, alloys, vinyl, and glass.

What’s striking about the Adam’s Car Shampoo is the thick and luxurious foam. The foam has a milkshake-like consistency that won’t dry or evaporate as easily even when exposed to hot weather. If you’re based in particularly hot countries where it’s hard to not wash your car in direct sunlight, then this is the shampoo for you.

I usually mix 30 to 50 millilitres of the product with 12 to 15 litres of clean water to get the desired foamy constancy. In the world of car shampoos, the greatness of the product is measured by the thickness of the foam (at least it is for me). This means the shampoo can lift more dirt and grime on the surface without scratching the paint.

Adam’s Car Shampoo is formulated using an advanced blend of natural cleaners and polymers. The lubricating properties of this car shampoo are simply off the charts. In fact, I’ve even used it as clay bar lubricant to remove embedded contaminants on the paint.

As if that’s not enough, this product can also be used as snow foam due to the thick suds. It is hard to find a better all-around car shampoo.


Different Types of Car Shampoo

There is quite the range of car shampoos on the market right now. You will need to match the shampoo to the type of results that you want to achieve. Here is a range of different tyes of car shampoos that you need to consider.

Soft Wash Maintenance Car Shampoo

This type is the pH neutral variety of car shampoo and will not strip off wax or sealant. This is the perfect car shampoo for freshly-detailed vehicles or those that were previously treated to remove the dirt from the car and maintain the protection already applied.

Wax-based Shampoo

In most cases, these shampoos are marketed as wash-and-wax products. This means the shampoo is formulated to leave a light coat of wax as you wash, which will further enhance the gloss and colour of the paint.



Heavy Duty Car Shampoo

While the soft wash is pH neutral, preparation shampoos have a stronger and more acidic formula. It provides superior cleaning by breaking down dirt and grime while removing the wax or sealant on the paint. As such, this type of car shampoo should be applied with care as it can cause staining or etching if left to dry. This is the ideal car shampoo if your vehicle will undergo polishing, waxing, or paint correction afterwards.

Snow Foam Shampoo

There are car shampoos that can be used as snow foam agents. The goal is to use a snow foam lance to spray a thick layer of foam all over the exterior surface of the vehicle. Allow the foam to dwell for about a minute or two and rinse well. You can learn more about how to snow foam a car here.

Ceramic Coating Maintenance Shampoo

If your vehicle has been previously treated with quartz or ceramic coating, the protection will last longer if you wash the paint with coating maintenance shampoo. This type of car shampoo is fairly new to the industry. It is formulated to clean the vehicle and protect the ceramic coating that is already on your paint.

FAQ

Does it really matter which car shampoo to use?

Yes! Different formulas of car shampoo can do different things for your vehicle.

If your vehicle has been previously treated with a ceramic coating, it is always best to wash the vehicle using a car shampoo for ceramic or Nano-coated finishes (Car Pro Reload works great for this). Using a harsher blend will only strip off the protective layer in the paint.

Can I use washing up liquid or fairy liquid?

Not for anything other than completely stripping your paint back prior to a full detail. You see, Fairy Liquid is not as highly concentrated as car shampoo and it’s designed to cut through things like grease, which isn’t necessary on your car.

It’s also designed to clean products such as china plates and stainless steel cutlery, products that are easily able to handle this abrasive cleaning agent. Your cars paint is much more fragile, so if you do decide to use it, approach with caution.

Is it best to use a wash-and-wax car shampoo?

Not exactly. I guess it depends on the condition of the paint and what you’re looking for from your wash process.



If you bought a wash-and-wax car shampoo as a one-stop solution that will clean and wax your car, I have bad news for you. Such products are only great for freshly-waxed paint. If your car needs to be waxed, no amount of car shampoo can provide the necessary gloss and protection than a proper wax and it will fade much quicker than properly applied car wax.

How can I avoid water spots?

There are two things you can do to prevent water spots when washing your vehicle: never wash the car in direct sunlight (or when the surfaces are hot to the touch) and use a water filter.

Water spots will occur with hard water and then this, in turn, dries on your paint. You can also get marks from car shampoo also, as the suds dry and harden on your paint.

The key is to quickly rinse your car and then quickly dry the car. Alternatively, you can use things such as a water filter that will remove any contaminants from your water and mean that you never get water marks again. Dedicated car shampoo, such as Adams Car shampoo has been designed to not dry out on cars, which helps in hot or particularly sunny climates.

Do I need to use a wash mitt?

Yes, specifically microfiber or lamb’s wool wash mitts. When used in conjunction with car shampoo, these wash mitts will gently lift and pull away dust and dirt to prevent scratching or marring the finish. If you’re a stickler in producing a scratch-free and cleaner finish, always use a wash mitt when washing your vehicle.

How often should I wash my car?

As a general rule, it is good practice to wash your car at least once a week or once every couple of weeks. You should also take the time to polish the paint at least every six months and to apply a coat of wax at least every three months to further protect then paint against contaminants and UV damage.

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