One of the most off-putting aspects of car cleaning is the price of some of the products, something that the best spray bottles can help reduce. Obviously, you’ll pay more for better quality car shampoos and snow foams, but when you’re looking at nearly £20 for a one-litre bottle of shampoo, it can feel almost unjustifiable.
Most car cleaning products are available in large five-litre bottles that work out cheaper than a smaller bottle of product. The problem is, unless you’re The Rock, holding up five litres of product for an extended period isn’t very comfortable, and these large bottles have no spray nozzle. That’s why a good spray bottle can help you save cash.
We’ve selected our favourites so you, too, can save some money when it comes to car cleaning.
The best spray bottles for car cleaning at a glance:
Editor’s choice: Car Gods 1L Professional Decanting Spray Bottle – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best budget spray bottles: Clay Roberts Water Spray Bottles – Buy now from Amazon UK
Best spray bottle for foaming: Gloria Foammaster FM 10 – Buy now from Amazon UK
The best spray bottles for car cleaning:
Editor's choice
Pros
- Sturdy design
- Good capacity
Cons
- No included label
Best budget spray bottles
Pros
- Measuring guide
- Coloured heads
Cons
- Not as sturdy as some others
Best spray bottle for foaming
Pros
- Pressurised spray
- No power source required
Cons
- Pressure could last longer
Best spray bottle set
Pros
- Marking label
- Measuring marks
Cons
- Spray strength could be a little stronger
Best spray bottle for speedy results
Pros
- Double spray function
- Larger capacity
Cons
- Spray can be difficult to adjust
What to look for in a spray bottle:
A transparent bottle will make diluting the products easier and allow you to keep your eyes on how much product you have left.
An adjustable nozzle lets you choose between a jet and mist spray, helping you get the most from your cleaning products.
Labels will help prevent cross-contamination and allow you to easily identify a chosen product easier, good for when you have several similar-looking products in identical bottles.
Essential accessories:
Best clear mesuring jug
Pros
- Easier to fill bottles
- Accurate measures
Cons
- None for the price
Best for different sized containers
Pros
- Easier to fill bottles
- Less spillage
Cons
- A bit small for other car uses
Why is it better to use smaller spray bottles?
Portability: Smaller spray bottles are easier to carry and handle compared to large and bulky containers. This is particularly useful if you need to clean your car while on the go or if you’re working in tight spaces.
Precise Application: Decanting liquids into spray bottles allows for more precise and targeted application. This is especially important when applying cleaning solutions to specific areas of your car, like glass cleaners, such as hard-to-reach spots or delicate surfaces.
Reduced Waste: Spray bottles enable you to control the amount of liquid dispensed, which can help minimize wastage. You’re less likely to pour excess product onto surfaces, leading to cost savings over time.
Efficient Usage: With spray bottles, you can distribute the cleaning solution more evenly across the surface you’re working on. This can result in a more efficient cleaning process, as the solution is spread more uniformly, potentially reducing the need for reapplication.
Custom Mixtures: Decanting allows you to create custom cleaning mixtures by diluting concentrated solutions according to your needs. You can adjust the ratio of cleaning solution to water to achieve the desired cleaning strength. Several bulk-buy cleaning products are dilutable for different tasks, like all purpose cleaners, a spray bottle makes this possible.
Labelling and Identification: Decanted spray bottles can be labelled with the specific type of cleaning solution and its purpose, making it easy to identify the right product for the task at hand. Best not to mistake your fallout remover for an interior air freshener.
Ryan Gilmore is the Deputy Autos and Tools Editor for Parkers and CAR, specialising in car cleaning and hand tools. With an MA in Automotive Journalism, when he’s not testing buckets he can be found looking at old Porsches.
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