Car Cleaning Gel: Actually Helpful or All Hype?

The recent rise in popularity of car cleaning gel has been interesting to follow. As someone who has spent nearly a decade following the best sellers list in the automotive category on a giant e-commerce website, it's been entertaining to watch this random little product constantly hover at the top of the list. Is it because it's cheap? Are people actually finding car cleaning gel helpful? Is it because everyone on social media nowadays is an aspiring car detailer?

To determine if car cleaning gel is all hype or actually helpful, Chemical Guys offered to send me their new Sticky Icky for testing. It's a new product category for a brand that seemingly already had everything needed for detailing a car.

The rise of car cleaning gel is interesting to me because I remember using a similar product many years ago for cleaning a keyboard. In fact, some of the car cleaning gels on Amazon are marketed for use on electronics or around the home, and Chemical Guys does the same with their Sticky Icky. The product comes in a four-pack, each with its own container. If you're still unsure what car cleaning gel is, it's basically like that childhood slime you may have played with. It's easily shaped to reach all sorts of areas, with an exterior sticky enough to pick up dust and other debris. A quality one won't leave any residue, nor will it leave your hands and fingers feeling sticky.

Using it is rather simple. Just put it in your hand and start pressing it around your car's interior, picking up all the dust you want. You can press it into cracks and other surfaces, and since it's easily moldable, it gets into areas that you would normally need a small brush to clean. Some people will find it easier and more convenient to use, as it can shorten the time it takes to spot clean your interior. Car cleaning gel can reach some areas that aren't easily accessible with a fine brush. I liked the green apple scent of Chemical Guys' Sticky Icky, although it's not powerful enough to leave any lingering smells in the car.

How much use you get out of each of these cleaning gels depends on how dirty your interior is. I recommend using a car vacuum and interior cleaner first, then using the gel as a finishing touch to achieve that spotless appearance inside your cabin. You can even tear off smaller pieces to get into really tight areas. I found it very pliable and effective, and I'm happy to keep a jar or two around. Of course, I couldn't help but use it to clean my keyboard as well.

Ultimately, I think the usefulness of car cleaning gels comes down to each individual. I completely understand if someone doesn't find the product helpful at all, while others will love how easy it is to use to get that spotless interior look. It's similar to how some people don't care that their car goes weeks without a wash, while others wash their car every week—even if it spent five of those days inside a garage.