Top 7 Best Detailing Sprays for Your Car in 2022 Review

Fast and effective detailing sprays have become some of the most popular vehicle products on the market. And rightly so. With a good detailer, you have the ability to give your vehicle a quick once over, adding an impressive finish to bodywork and interiors. This allows you to maintain showroom standards in between more demanding washes and waxes.

But can a detailer really make a difference between washes?… Oh yes, it most certainly can!

Firstly, there’s a big difference between a cheap knock-off detailer and finding the best detailing spray for your needs. Taking as little as 10 to 15 minutes, an effective detailing spray will allow you to bring out that perfect paintwork or achieve an instant interior gleam, with very little time and effort required.

So how do you find the right detailer for you? Well… Here’s our breakdown of the best car detailing sprays currently on the market…

Top 7 Best Detailing Sprays You Should Buy 2022 Reviews

Product Reviews

1 Meguiar’s G14422 Ultimate Quik Detailer – Best Detailing Spray for Black Cars

A leading brand in the car care market, it was almost impossible not to start with a Meguiar detailing spray. They have been producing quality auto products for over 115 years and have a cult-like following. Their Ultimate Quick Detailer stands out as their premium fast clean product.

Say no to poop!

Super quick and easy to apply, the Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Detailer attacks and removes that unwanted light dust and smudges (and even those nasty bird poops!). In minutes, this product can take you back to that last big wash and prolonging existing wax layers. It even promises to hide those swirl marks and double up as an interior clear when you are really pushed for time.

There’s no need for any elbow grease; let the product do the work. Best applied using a gentle mist and wipe technique, its hydrophobic polymer technology easily disperses any water from the body, minimizing water spots.

Back in black!

We have listed this detailer as being the best for black cars due to the notable positive feedback it gets from owners of black and dark-colored cars, but that doesn’t mean it’s limited by tone or tint. In fact, it should prove equally as safe and efficient on light vehicles and interiors.

The reason it works particularly well on black vehicles is due to its high-lubricity, which brings out that uber-slick dark gloss. This brings out great depth and shine in all car colors but can be extra effective and visible when applied to darker coats.

2 Meguiar’s G3626 Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax – Best Long Lasting Detailing Spray

Following up with another great detailer from Mequiar is their Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax Detailer. The reason we had to get this one on our list is there in the name. No bucket? No hose? No water to rinse off at all? No problem!

Why would you want a waterless detailer???

Being a waterless product, this is the perfect companion for anyone who likes to keep up their car care during long journeys or when away from home (or away from an easy water supply). It’s also the perfect partner for anyone wanting that last-minute touch-up before hitting a show or car event.

One of Mequiar’s newer products to hit the shelves, this super quick and easy detailer is effective at removing everyday surface-level blemishes with ease. As well as making light dust and watermarks vanish, it also adds a hydrophobic protective wax layer to improve shine.

You’ll be surprised at how long it lasts!

One typical query from buyers is how long a detailing spray will last. Ultimately, this depends on how big and how dirty your vehicle is. But this was definitely one of the longest-lasting products we have come across.

When applied correctly with some high-quality microfiber towels, this should easily be able to last four to five washes of a mid-sized family car.

3 Chemical Guys WAC_808_16 Hybrid V7 Optical Select High Gloss Spray Sealant and Quick Detailer – Best Hybrid Detailing Spray

While the Chemical Guys are fairly new to automotive products, they certainly don’t lack experience when it comes to quality detailing products. Initially starting out in the aerospace market, creating optical grade detailing solutions, they have some unique expertise and insight.

What exactly is a hybrid detailer?

Billed as the world’s first hybrid detailing spray, this product has a bit of explaining to do! Using their aerospace knowledge, Chemical Guys have released a detailer that promises to quickly remove everyday smears and smudges while also leaving a unique protective coating of transparent polymers.

They believe this coating protects from within the paintwork, leaving a high gloss shine suitable for all colors. Moreover, they trust it in some of the harshest climates and environments you are likely to face, able to see you through to the next big wash.

Add some sparkle to your life…

The Hybrid V7 doesn’t just polish and protect, but it aims to boost that wax sparkle. Whereas some detailers struggle to keep the optical clarity of your previous wax, this product works to produce a true high gloss touch-up.

Additionally, their unique formula works efficiently on glass and rubber and adds extra UV protection to almost every exterior surface of your vehicle. It even claims to restore some of those aging plastics back to their original OEM look.

4 Adam’s Wheel Cleaner – Best Wheel Detailing Spray

We’ve put a lot of attention on bodywork detailing so far, but we feel it’s important to also include a wheel detailer because no part of your car takes more of a pounding than your wheels! And there’s no point going for that showroom quality shine if your wheels and treads will let you down.

This is why wheel detailers are a bit different…

Now, with wheel detailers, there’s a bit more work to be done. Even after brushing off the visible dirt and grime from your wheels, you’re going to find some really stubborn brake dust working against you. That’s why you’ll find Adam’s Wheel Cleaner a much thicker, almost gloopy, liquid.

This is a stronger formula than a body detailer, and it works to dissolve and disperse all that unwanted contamination. At the same time, this acid-free, PH-neutral liquid is light and delicate enough to prevent damage or agitation to the compounds of your wheel and tire.

Does this wheelie work?

Not only does it bring great results, but it also does so with speed and ease. As with any of the best detailing sprays, the hard work is done by the formula. It really doesn’t demand much time and effort to get impressive results, despite the difficult nature of wheel dirt.

It is important to note that while this detailing chemical is safe on the vast majority of wheel finishes, it is not the best option for anodized raw or polished aluminum. It should also be tested before applying to bare metallic wheels.

5 Adam’s Polishes Leather & Interior Cleaner – Best Interior Detailing Spray

To give you the full breadth of detailers, it’s important we also pick out an interior detailer. And the Adam’s Polishes Leather & Interior Cleaner is one we really like.

It’s very hard to find the best all in one detailing spray. Many of the bodywork detailers we’ve reviewed are more than worthy of being on this best spray for detailing list, but they typically fall short when it comes to the interior. The best interior detailing sprays are specifically formulated to target leather, vinyl, and upholstery plastics.

Does it pass the leather test?

They say the best way to judge an interior detailer is through how well it handles leather. Leather can be the trickiest material to keep in shape. It has a nasty habit of building up dirt and taking wear and tear with everyday friction. So how well does this dedicated Leather & Interior Cleaner do? Very well indeed.

This leather cleaner works fantastically in conditioning leather, bringing back some of the lost smoothness. It’s important to use a product like this as regularly as possible and even include it in your big cleans, as leather can quickly build up irreversible damage, but this detailer can bring back some of the texture and reverse some minor imperfections.

Hold your horses!

It works equally well on vinyl and interior plastics, removing micro dust and unwanted dirt build-up while also adding protection against UV rays and pollutants. But due to the strength of this product, it’s important not to dive straight in on your first wash.

On first use, we highly recommend testing it on a small area and checking if anything other than dirt and dust comes up. In most cases, you will actually find you can water it down. We found the product to be safer and just as effective when diluted with ⅓ water. In fact, it is said to remain at top performance when diluted with 50% water, which can certainly help make it last.

6 Griot’s Garage 11146 Speed Shine – Best Speed Shine Detailing Spray

For those really tight for time, there is a line of super-quick detailers that promise the same results as others at lightning speed. Even with the best quality detailing spray out there, a good job can be done on a midsize car in as little as 15 minutes, but then you’ve Griot’s Garage Speed Shine. Griot’s claim this detailer can be effectively applied in under five minutes!

But can a detailer really be applied in just five minutes??

Well, it’s certainly very quick and easy to apply, but to answer the question of if we believe it’s possible to give your car the once over in just five minutes? Well, yes, it probably is, but why would you?

Even if you are just doing the exterior, we recommend taking at least 15-20 minutes to make sure you do a thorough and even job. At the end of the day, these products only work if you cover every spot.

Forget the speed, here’s the real benefit…

Aside from the focus on speed, this is actually a nice product with very good versatility. It’s not as thick or strong as some of the other products we’ve reviewed, but that can be a plus. It’s safe on just about every surface and paint finish and can achieve similarly impressive results on bodywork, bumpers, and even wheels, as well as leather, vinyl, and hard plastic interiors.

So while we would say ignore the marketing claims of a five-minute full detail, we’d still recommend this product as one of the best interior and exterior detailers on the market. It’s ideal for those who want a single, long-lasting detailer rather than specifically dedicated detailing sprays for each surface.

7 Shine Armour Fortify Quick Coat – Best Ceramic Coating Detailing Spray

Many of those who prefer ceramic coated wax, look for a dedicated detailer to match. If that is the case, we would recommend the Shine Armour Fortify Quick Coat. This best 3 in 1 waterless detailer was specifically designed for ceramic coating.

Let it shine!

A carefully calculated mix of surfactants and SiO2 ceramic-coating technology, this detailer goes a step beyond bringing back that waxy shine. It’s almost a wax job in itself, and the level of protection against watermarking is impressive. The results are so good that you may find yourself delaying your more detailed wax jobs while you continue to admire the results of this quick coat.

It’s also a pretty versatile product. While the focus is clearly on bodywork, it can be effectively used on just about all interior types, with no risk of damage as well. It also does a particularly good job on wheels and glass, especially on the latter, where it removes any hint of streaking or smudges.

Is it worth the extra money?

Even if your vehicle doesn’t have a ceramic wax coating, you can still get some wonderful benefits from using this kind of detailer. In fact, some users have told us that it completely fades away many light scratches and blemishes.

However, this is going to be at the upper end of most people’s budget, or at least test what they are willing to pay for a detailing product. This is a premium product and will do a good job, but you could argue that the results are comparable to products at a fraction of the cost.

Best Detailing Spray Buyers Guide

When trying to figure out which is the best detailer you can buy, the first decision you have is whether to go for the best dedicated detailing spray or choose separate interior and exterior detailers. In fact, you may even find you want a third detailer for your wheels!

There really is no right or wrong answer. Yes, you can get slightly better results by having dedicated detailers for the different surfaces and materials, but some would argue that these differences are minute. In fact, some think that the results are more down to the time and effort you invest, and most imperfections come through rushing jobs and impatience.

Who needs water?!

Another important factor is whether to go with a waterless detailer. We don’t think going waterless means compromising on end finishes, and most of today’s best waterless detailers are as good as any. In fact, with some States limiting water use, and the ethical dilemma of regular washing, going waterless is a very good choice.

One thing we don’t think you should put too much focus on is speed. A lot of detailers claim to be super fast and easy to use, but pretty much all detailers work the same way. No matter which product you go for, the speed will ultimately come down to how much care, detail, and time you invest.

Looking for more superb cleaning products for your car?

Then check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Wheel and Tire Cleaners, the Best Dashboard Cleaners for Cars, the Best Car Upholstery Cleaners, the Best Bug Tar Removers, the Best Car Vacuum Cleaners, and the Best Buffing Pads you can buy in 2022.

Or, how about the Best Carburetor Cleaners or our Best 10 Fuel Infector Cleaners Review?

You may also enjoy checking out the latest drive technology in our reviews of the Best Car Compasses, the Best Bluetooth Headsets for Drivers, and the Best Double Din Head Units currently on the market.

Back to quality detailing…

So, what is the Best Detailing Spray?

It really is a tough choice, but if we had to choose one, we’d go for the…

Griot’s Garage 11146 Speed Shine

As we mentioned, it’s not actually the speed that impressed us, and we would still suggest taking your time when applying this product. But what we really like is the value and versatility of this product and its ability to do such a fine job on all surfaces.

Happy car detailing!