While there are plenty of car cleaning products and tools to choose from, your results will often only be as good as the products you’re using – and how you use them.
To help you get that perfect finish, we’ve teamed up with Autoglym to walk you through our top tips for gleaming results every time.
Best car shampoo for your exterior
When choosing a car shampoo, you’ll need to decide between high foaming or low foaming formulas. Both have their own benefits, and the choice is down to personal preference, but they each bring different qualities.
High foaming shampoo
High foaming shampoos are the traditional option most drivers recognise. When mixed with water in a bucket, they create thick foam that helps your wash mitt glide smoothly across the vehicle’s surface.
Benefits:
- Provides a slick surface for easier washing
- Helps reduce friction during cleaning
- Creates a rich foam for effective dirt removal
Autoglym has two great options for high foaming shampoos: the Foaming Car Wash and the Ultra High Definition Shampoo.
Low foaming shampoo
Low foaming shampoos provide a different cleaning experience. Many create a sheeting effect, where water flows smoothly off the vehicle surface, helping the car dry faster.
Some low foaming shampoos also contain ingredients that add protective layers to paintwork, helping maintain wax or sealant coatings.
Benefits:
- Faster drying due to water sheeting
- Can enhance paint protection
- Helps maintain wax or sealant layers
Autoglym also has two variants of low foaming car washes. There’s the classic Bodywork Shampoo & Conditioner. This dual-action shampoo both cleans and adds a water-repellent finish, so the water sheets off the car to make drying quicker & easier after your wash.
If you’re looking for a ceramic car shampoo, Autoglym’s Ceramic Wash & Protect is perfect. This 3-in-1 car wash cuts through grime, repels water for faster drying, and adds a layer of protection, topping up existing waxes and sealants or adding a thin new layer to your paintwork. This gives you a beautiful high gloss finish. And thanks to the concentrated formula, you’ll get great value for money with up to 33 washes in every 1l bottle.
What’s the Best Way to Shampoo a Car?
Using the right washing technique is just as important as choosing the right car shampoo. Following a few simple best practices can help protect your paintwork and deliver a cleaner, streak-free finish.
1. Rinse Your Car First
Before applying shampoo, thoroughly rinse your car with a hose or pressure washer. This helps remove loose dirt, dust, and larger debris from the surface.
Rinsing first reduces the risk of scratching your paintwork. If contaminants like small stones or grit get trapped in your sponge or wash mitt during washing, they can create small scratches as you clean.
For even better results, you can start with a pre-wash or all-purpose cleaner to loosen stubborn grime before your contact wash.
2. Avoid Washing in Direct Heat
Washing your car in very hot weather or direct sunlight can cause shampoo and water to dry too quickly, leaving marks or streaks on the paintwork.
For the best results:
- Wash your car when the paintwork is cool to the touch
- Clean the vehicle in the shade whenever possible
- If washing in warm conditions, wash, rinse, and dry the car section by section
This helps prevent water spots and ensures a more even, professional-looking finish.
Useful Car Shampoo Accessories
Using the right accessories can significantly improve your results.
Recommended tools include:
- Bucket with a grid guard to trap dirt and prevent it returning to your wash mitt
- Microfibre wash mitts designed to lift and remove grime safely
- Highly absorbent drying towels for faster and easier drying
These accessories help protect your vehicle’s paint while making the cleaning process more efficient.
For even better results, you can use Autoglym’s specially developed accessories, designed as the perfect partner to their shampoos.
