The best car shampoo for weekly upkeep is a pH-neutral shampoo: it cleans the paint and leaves wax, sealant and coating intact. If your car is coated, choose a pH-neutral shampoo or an SiO2 shampoo. If you want to prepare the paint for polishing or coating, use a strip shampoo. Below are seven car shampoos from our workshop, with what we reach for each one for.
What to look for in a car shampoo
Start with your protection layer. A shampoo for coating should clean gently so the layer lasts. Detailers agree on this: pH-neutral for upkeep, stronger products only as an occasional deep clean or as preparation.
Then look at concentration. A concentrated car shampoo is dosed per 10 litres of water, so one bottle lasts a long time. Finally the extras: gloss boosters, wax or SiO2 add a little shine or protection with every wash.
Pay attention to how you wash as well. Work in the shade on cool paint, so the shampoo does not dry on and the finish stays streak-free. Rinse the car first, so the coarse dirt is gone before the wash mitt touches the paint. Use a clean wash mitt and rinse it out after every panel. Then dry with a soft drying towel, and the shine stays bright and free of water spots.
A good shampoo works best with a good wash method. Read our guide which car shampoo to choose and learn the two-bucket method. You can find every shampoo in the shampoo and car wash category. If your car is coated, also see our paint coatings.
The best car shampoo compared
Product | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
pH-neutral | Weekly upkeep of paint with wax, sealant or coating | |
SiO2 shampoo, pH 6.0 | Shampoo for coating with extra water repellency | |
pH-neutral with gloss booster | Deep shine on paint with or without coating | |
Concentrate, pH 7 to 8.5 | Many washes from one 5 litre pack | |
Shampoo with wax | Washing and light shine in one step | |
Acidic reactivation shampoo | Coated car with limescale or salt residue | |
Strip shampoo | Preparing paint for clay, polish or coating |
The shampoos one by one
Koch Chemie Finisher Magic is our pick for regular upkeep. The pH-neutral formula foams richly and stably, which improves lubrication, and rinses off without residue. It works on paint, plastic, glass and rubber.
Koch Chemie CES is the shampoo for coating when you want more than a clean. At pH 6 it suits coated and protected paint, and it adds a fresh SiO2 film with every wash. That builds water repellency step by step. The manufacturer recommends 50 ml in 10 litres of water (1:200).
D-CON Mint Splash is pH-neutral and has a gloss booster. The result is clear and deep, also on coated paint. The fresh mint scent makes washing more pleasant.
ProElite Maxi is the economical choice. You dose 50 to 100 ml per 10 litres of water, so a 5 litre bottle lasts a long time. The shampoo foams generously and leaves no streaks or spots.
ProElite Brillant contains a wax component that leaves a subtle layer of shine during the wash. You dose 50 ml per 10 litres of water, good for 20 washes from a 1 litre bottle.
Koch Chemie RS is an acidic, strongly foaming shampoo for ceramic coated cars. It removes limescale and salt residue that dull water repellency, so the coating beads again. The manufacturer recommends 50 ml in 10 litres of water (1:200). We use it as a reset wash between regular washes.
Chemical Guys Clean Slate is a strip shampoo. It dissolves existing wax and sealant, so clay, polish, coating or wrap work directly on clean paint. Lubricants keep the scratch risk low.
Which car shampoo suits you?
Weekly upkeep: Finisher Magic or D-CON Mint Splash.
Coated car with extra water repellency: CES Ceramic Effect Shampoo.
Washing often, dosing economically: ProElite Maxi.
Wash and shine in one step: ProElite Brillant with wax.
Getting the coating to bead again: RS Reactivation Shampoo.
Preparing paint for polishing or coating: Clean Slate.