With sunny days ahead, here's what you need to spring clean your car

Sunny days are perfect for cleaning the winter dirt and early spring mud off your car. While you'll need a few items from your own garage like a hose and bucket, here's a list of our top recommended products that will help take your vehicle from grimy to shiny!

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Spring cleaning is in the air and your car should be no exception. It’s time to scrub off all that harsh winter salt, so you can get ready for cruising the sweet sunny streets this season! We’ve compiled a list of the most popular products to make your vehicle shine inside and out.

Meguiar’s G7164 Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner

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When you’re handwashing your vehicle, first you’ll want to spray your car to remove the surface dirt. Next, prepare one bucket of water with quality, sudsy soap like Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash, and a second bucket with plain water for rinsing. This wash is designed to both clean and condition paint in one step and features an advanced formula that won't strip the wax. This trusted brand gets a 4.7 out of 5 Amazon rating, with customers saying that you only need a few capfuls to create ample suds, making the product longer lasting for the price.

What we like:

  • Reliable brand in business for more than 115 years

  • Reviews indicate it’s the most sudsy wash on the market, making it glide easily when applying

  • Customers say it smells good and that's a bonus

The Rag Company - Premium Soft Microfiber Chenille Knobby Wash Mitt

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These professional-grade microfibre mitts are super absorbent and made to hold more suds than their competitors. In fact, they absorb up to 10 times their weight in liquid! These towels are manufactured with soft, plush Chenille Split Microfiber that helps to quickly and safely trap dirt and road grime from your vehicle. Reviews say: “worth every penny”, “my favourite wash mitt”, and “recommended without a doubt”.

Why it made the list:

  • Durability with high-quality fibres that will sustain several seasons of washes

  • Excellent customer reviews with a 4.5 out of 5 Amazon rating

  • Easy-to-follow care instructions provided

The Rag Company - Spectrum 420 Dark Pack, Microfibre Auto Detailing Towels (9-Pack)

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Starting at the roof of your car and working your way down, you’ll want to rinse your car clear of all the soap before using these microfibre towels to completely dry your vehicle. These soft yet durable towels have over 360,000 fibres per square inch and a paint-safe satin border. You can use these towels to clean the interior of your car too. Customers indicate they are more costly per towel than other brands, but you get for what you pay for and the quality is worth the price.

What we like:

  • Features an absorbent side and a polishing side for multi-purpose use

  • 9-pack is convenient to reserve some cloths for interior detailing

  • Non-scratch border


Like what you see? Check out our Shop the Weather articles for more must-have product recommendations.


Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax (16 oz)

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After the wash, it’s time to make your vehicle shine! We read about this wax in an auto magazine and after researching its ratings and reviews, it’s definitely worthy of waxing on. With a signature carnauba-based formula, the smooth, liquid wax should melt into the paint. It’s easy to apply by hand, and can also be applied in direct sunlight. This wax receives a 4.6 out of 5 Amazon rating for the overall product and scent as well as the ability to use and remove it effortlessly.

What we like:

  • Provides extra UVA and UVB protection

  • Customer reviews indicate it’s the shiniest they’ve ever seen their car

  • Utilizes the natural cleaning powers of carnauba, a plant from Brazil

Black + Decker dustbuster Handheld Vacuum Cordless

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With over 54,000 Amazon ratings, we are confident you won’t find a speck of dust inside your car once you’ve used this hand vac. It features a rotating, slim nozzle that targets dirt in the toughest spaces and boasts fifty per cent more reach than previous models. The brush and crevice tools are located on-board so there are no accessories to store separately. Most of the low-star reviews indicate dissatisfaction with the battery life, some after multiple years of use. This product still garners a 4.4 out of 5 Amazon rating, indicating it’s worth buying for the affordable price point.

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What we like:

  • Two-year limited warranty

  • Cordless and easy to maneuver

  • The resounding number of highly-ranked ratings on Amazon

Meguiar’s Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner

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This cleaner is a fast way to shine up the interior plastics, leather, rubber, metal, and even LCD navigation screens in your car. It lifts dust, dirt, grime, and stains from spills while restoring the surface’s original appearance. You can use the microfibre towel we shared earlier in this article to ensure the interior of your car is looking as buffed as the exterior. We’re recommending the Meguiar’s brand again because all customer reviews indicate satisfaction with the product being top-quality.

What we like:

  • Includes sun-blocking agents to aid against fading

  • Convenient spray bottle for quick application and easy touch-ups

  • Non-greasy

Swigzy Car Cup Holder for Hydro Flask, Yeti, Nalgene, Large 32/40 oz. Bottles and Big Drinks

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Once your car is looking fresh, it’s time to turn your attention to keeping things organized. If you bring an extra-large coffee in the car every Monday morning, this extended cup holder for large water bottles and thermos’ will keep your drink from spilling all over your sparkling interior. You can also use it in golf carts, boats, trucks, and RVs. The additional pads on the expanding base ensure the adapter stays securely in your existing cup holder. This product has 4.6 out of 5 Amazon rating, based on more than 4,000 reviews.

What we like:

  • Easy to securely install and fits most cup holders

  • Available in a standard length or long base version

  • Hassle-free refunds and one year warranty for satisfaction of product

Tissue or Mask Holder for Car

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Here’s another Amazon #1 Best Seller you’ll be thankful to get. This tissue holder clips easily to the back of your sun visor and makes your car look that extra bit neater. You can also use this product to hold masks as needed. It’s available in black or beige, which allows you to match the interior colour of your car. Customers note that in certain vehicles, the clip covers the mirror from being opened so keep that in mind if you frequently use the mirror or double-check the dimensions before you order.

What we like:

  • Reusable - you can fill with your favourite tissues time and time again

  • Convenient product and saves you the hassle of searching around your car while driving

  • Can be installed on the sun visor, front armrest, front headrest, or front seat body

Compact First Aid Kit

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Driving and safety go hand in hand. We previously recommended this product in an article about what you should include in an emergency kit for your vehicle. If you don’t already keep one in the trunk of your car, this kit provides you with 228 basic pieces for comprehensive first aid treatment, should you need them. From whistles to scissors and emergency blankets to first aid manuals, all items are stowed safely in a waterproof case. Reviews indicate that the kit is good value for the money, and overall it receives a 4.6 out of 5 rating as a best seller on Amazon.ca.

What we like:

  • A lot of items in one kit for a better chance at navigating an emergency situation

  • Sturdy case that also fits in a backpack for outdoor adventures

  • Customer satisfaction is guaranteed or a refund is provided


Like what you see? Check out our Shop the Weather articles for more must-have product recommendations.


Our trusted Product Specialists recommend high-quality items that we think will enhance your experience with Canadian weather conditions. Prices and availability of items are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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