Name something more therapeutic than getting your car absolutely caked in mud and grime. OK, easy one, washing it all off again and having a sparkling clean car. CAR has written up a long list of car cleaning products which will get your car gleaming from roof to wheel, but if you’re after a quick hit, then a wash and wax car shampoo will be everything you need.
Car shampoo has come on leaps and bounds over the years, with technology playing a more pivotal role in how grime, dirt and water are kept off your car’s paintwork and surfaces. But what is a wash and wax car shampoo, and how does it work? In simple form, it’s what it says on the tin a concentrate which contains both car shampoo and wax to give you a nice clean and protective shine at the end. It works like car shampoo; add it to some warm water, and you go away.
Yes, you can wash your car with shampoo and then wax it after. However, time can be short, and a wash and wax, while less effective than a proper wax, will still give your car some added paint protection.
The best wash and wax car shampoos
The best wash and wax car shampoo
Meguiar’s is a respected brand that brings its synthetic polymer technology and carnauba wax know-how to the world of car shampoo. It’s pH neutral, so it won’t strip away any previous wax you have on the car and protects your paintwork while cleaning your vehicle.
Pros
- Respected brand
- Smart technology
Cons
- Cheaper options available
The best simple wash & wax car shampoo
Two and a half litres of wax and shampoo from the recognised brand Turtle wax. Again, using the famed carnauba wax for boosted protection and shine. The high foam formula will lubricate the car’s paintwork, meaning you’ll remove dirt instead of dissolving it.
Pros
- Recognised brand
- Good sized bottle
Cons
- Not great with soft-tops
The best budget wash & wax car shampoo
Small in price, small in bottle size with only 500ml. However, it provides the water-beading protection of carnauba wax and works at dissolving dirt and road grime. It's also safe for all automotive surfaces and it should leave an excellent deep gloss on your paintwork.
Pros
- Contains Carnauba Wax
- Dissolves dirt and grime
Cons
- A small bottle will have you coming back for more, more often.
The best ceramic wash and wax car shampoo
This ceramic-infused wash and wax shampoo breaks up road dirt and grime and will leave behind a layer of super-hydrophobic car wax, quickly drying and adding maximum protection. The hidden secret of this, though, is its sweet, fruity mango tropical scent which it leaves behind.
Pros
- Smells nice
- Super-hydrophobic
Cons
- Small bottle for the price
Best value for money wash and wax
This apple fragrance big bottle of Pro-Kleen wash and wax is a favourite of ours – its pH-neutral formula means it won’t be harsh to your paintwork while still lifting dirt and grime up and off of your car.
Pros
- Big bottle at a low price
- Nice fragrance
Cons
- Not many at this price