Washing My Car – What Cleaning Products Should I Buy? The Needs, The Wants, and The Overhyped

If you’re looking to add resale value to your car before you sell it, washing your car is an essential step when selling privately.

Wondering which car cleaning products are essential and which ones are just hype? This guide covers must-haves, nice-to-haves, and what to skip, so you can keep your car clean without wasting money.

We’ve all seen those super-satisfying car cleaning videos on TikTok. The ones where people use foam cannons, dozens of fancy sprays, and spend hours getting every last detail perfect. They’re like car cleaning ASMR, and they make you want to recreate that same shine at home. But here’s the thing: you don’t need all that to keep your car looking great. With just a few good products and a bit of elbow grease, you can get your car clean and fresh without spending a fortune.

Must-Haves (The Needs)

Pressure Washer
A pressure washer makes light work of dirt, mud, and grime. It’s the best way to get rid of the worst of it before you start scrubbing. Choosing a pressure washer isn’t as simple as it looks, though. Make sure you choose one that has a variable pressure setting.

If your car has softer paint (which is often the case with Japanese vehicles), use your pressure washer on its gentlest setting, or choose a nozzle that spreads the spray wide to reduce impact.

Pre-Wash Spray
The pre-wash stage is where 90% of the external wash really gets done. This helps loosen dirt and road grime so you can wash your car without scratching the paint. You don’t want to be grinding week-old dirt into the paintwork. Just spray it on, give it five minutes to soak, and let it do its thing. Then spray it off with your pressure washer before you grab the sponge.

Car Shampoo (Wash and Wax)
A good car shampoo is important for paint safety. Choose one with wax built in so you don’t have to worry about separate waxing later.

Bucket and Sponge or Mitt
These are the absolute basics. A bucket and a soft sponge or mitt will do the job. If you want to be extra careful, you can try the two-bucket method—one for soapy water and one for rinsing your sponge in.

Microfibre Cloth
These are brilliant for drying your car without leaving scratches. They also work wonders inside the car with a bit of dusting spray, so there’s no need for any fancy interior cleaner. We recommend you get the giant ones, as they hold more water. The bigger, the better. And buy them in bulk. You’ll thank us later!

Basic Household Dusting Spray
Grab whatever you’d use around the house. It’s perfect for wiping down your dashboard and trim. No need to splash out on specialist car sprays.

Vacuum Cleaner
Every car interior gets a bit messy. A vacuum cleaner is essential for keeping seats and carpets clean. When cleaning your car's interior, a cylinder vacuum cleaner (the type with a separate canister and flexible hose) is much more practical than an upright vacuum. Its design makes it easier to reach under seats and into tight corners.

Toothbrush
An old, soft toothbrush is your secret weapon for getting into small spots around wheels, trims, and badges. Everyone should have one in their kit.

Nice-to-Haves (The Wants)

Wheel Cleaner
A good quality wheel cleaner helps lift brake dust and grime that clings to your wheels. Handy, but you can get by without it. Just do a double dose of the pre-wash.

Tyre Shine
Gives your tyres that glossy, just-finished look. Not essential, but a nice finishing touch.

Upholstery or Leather Cleaner
This is perhaps a must-have if you’re a bit messy inside the car, or if you have kids. But if you don’t eat or drink in there too much, you can skip it for now.

Detailing Brushes
Great for getting into tight spots. An old toothbrush can do a decent job, so no rush to buy these, but it’s nice to have an interior brush and an exterior brush.

Fallout Remover
Helps lift iron deposits and brake dust from paintwork. Definitely handy if you live in an area with lots of industrial fallout, but most people won’t need it every wash.

Glass Cleaner
No need to buy a special car one. Household glass cleaner works just as well for windows and mirrors.

Grit Guard
If you’re feeling extra fancy, you can buy yourself a grit guard for your bucket – it isn’t 100% necessary if you’re careful with your sponges, but might be useful in the long run.

Skip It (The Overhyped)

Foam Cannon
Looks impressive but isn’t essential. A pre-wash spray does the job just as well.

Expensive Ceramic Sprays
These are hugely overhyped for everyday washing. Save your cash unless you’re really into detailing.

Dedicated Bug Remover
Most car shampoos will remove bugs without any extra help.

Car Wax
A dedicated wax isn’t essential if you’re using a wash and wax shampoo. it gives you protection and shine in one step.

Dashboard and Trim Cleaner
Stick with a household dusting spray like Mr Muscle. It works just fine.

Final Tip: Keep it Simple

Keeping your car clean doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. Focus on the basics and don’t get sucked in by clever marketing. A few good products are all you need to keep your car looking its best.

If you’re thinking about selling your car privately, a clean and shiny car is always more appealing. When you’re ready to move on, check out Cash For Cars for a quick and easy sale.