Car cleaning checklist
Order matters more than most people think: dirtiest first, glass last, so a clean panel doesn't end up wiped down with a cloth that's already picked up grit elsewhere.
18 items
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
The items
- Outside, dirtiest first
- Wheels and archesDone first, since they're the dirtiest part and easiest to splash onto a panel you've already cleaned.
- Bug and tar removed from the front bumper and bonnetLeft too long, both etch into the paint rather than sitting on top of it.
- Wax or a paint sealant appliedNot needed every wash — every few months is enough to keep water beading off rather than sitting on the paint.
- Tyres dressedCosmetic rather than essential, but it's also the moment you'll actually look closely enough to spot uneven wear.
- Car shampooNot washing-up liquid, which strips wax and protective coatings far faster than a proper shampoo.
- Two buckets, one for shampoo and one for rinsing the mittRinsing the mitt in clean water before it goes back in the shampoo stops grit being dragged across the paint on the next pass.
- Wash mitt or spongeMicrofibre picks up less grit than a sponge, which matters more than it sounds for avoiding fine scratches.
- Drying towel×2A large microfibre towel, with a spare for anywhere the first one's already soaked through.
- Interior vacuumed, seats, footwells and bootGrit ground into carpet does more damage over time than dirt sitting on top of it.
- Dashboard and door panels wiped downA dry cloth alone just moves dust around — a proper interior cleaner lifts it instead.
- Cup holders and door pockets emptied outWhere the actual rubbish accumulates, well past what a quick tidy ever reaches.
- Mats removed and cleaned separatelyEasier to clean properly out of the car than crouched over them still fitted.
- Glass cleaned last, inside and outDone last so nothing sprayed nearby ends up as streaks across a clean windscreen.
- Wing mirrors cleaned and checked for damageEasy to miss until visibility in the rain reminds you they were never properly clean.
- Door shuts and sills wiped downThe dirtiest part of the car that a quick wash skips entirely, and the first place rust starts.
- Air freshener replacedOne that's been sat in the car for months has usually stopped doing anything except sitting there.
- Boot cleared out and reorganisedThe one part of the car that quietly accumulates everything nobody's got round to taking inside.
Makes your own editable copy. No account needed.
Questions people ask
- What order should a car be cleaned in?
- Wheels and arches first, since they're the dirtiest part and the easiest to splash onto a panel you've already done. Glass and mirrors go last, once nothing else is being sprayed nearby.
- Can I use washing-up liquid to wash a car?
- It strips wax and protective coatings faster than proper car shampoo, so the paint ends up needing protecting again sooner. Worth using the right product even though it costs a little more.
- How often does the inside actually need a proper clean?
- Every month or two for most people, more with children, pets or a regular commute involved. Crumbs and grit ground into carpet do more damage than they look like they're doing.