Does your child love cars? I bet they will be thrilled to have car wash toys.
A car wash toy gives them the experience of owning a car, riding around town, and taking care of their cars as their parents do. They also teach them the need for washing a car.
This list of car wash toys will help you choose the perfect one that your child will love.
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Our Best Picks
- Melissa And Doug Toy Car Wash – Best For Preschoolers
- Theo Klein-Bosch Car Repair Station Premium Toy – Best For Multiple Play Experience
- Hot Wheels FTB66 City Mega Car Wash Set – Best For Sensory Play
- Lego Garage Center Building Piece – Best For Lego Building
- Vtech Smartwheels Tow And Go Garage – Best For Learning
- Hot Wheels City Car Wash and Gator – Most Impressive
- Let’s Go Cozy Carwash – Best For Toddlers
- Matchbox Hydro Car Wash Vehicle – Best For Space
- Kidkraft Wash And Go 19 Pieces Wooden Car Garage – Best Wooden Car Wash
- Scrub It Kids Car Wash Activity Kit – Best For Real Car Wash Experience
Factors To Consider When Buying A Car Wash Toy
There are some factors that affect the type of car wash toy your child needs. They are:
- Your child’s age
Your child’s age will determine the type of toy they will love. Babies will love toys with overwhelming designs, while older kids will prefer something functional that they can maneuver.
Toddlers on the other end fall somewhere in between. Their toys should not be too functional or lame. They just have to be good enough for them to pretend play.
- The type of toy
Car wash toys are divided into two: playsets and activity centers.
The playset could be small or medium and more manageable for younger children. They may be suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Activity centers on the other hand are usually larger and have more fun activities. They are mostly suitable for outdoor use cause they may need real water which could cause a mess.
Kids love things differently, and you should consider their preferences. Also, consider their age before buying them bigger toys. They should be old enough to know what will happen to them if the toy falls on them.
- The toy material
When buying toys for babies and toddlers, consider the toxicity of the material. Look for BPA and phthalate-free materials that won’t harm your baby if they put the toys in their mouth.
- Does it use real water?
Some toys use real water while others allow kids to use their imagination. Older kids will love car wash toys with real water, while younger kids could make too much mess from real water.
Younger kids can also get too drenched in water that they catch a cold.
- Does it require adult supervision?
Complex toys require adult supervision. However, there are simpler and safer toys that kids can use with little or no supervision from adults.
Consider your availability when buying a car wash toy for your child.
10 Best Car Wash Toys
- Melissa And Doug Toy Car Wash – Best For Preschoolers
Preschoolers have wild imaginations and this play toy will engage your child for hours.
It is a complete service station with a parking garage on the top level. The garage comes with a sliding door for your child to open and close.
The car wash is on the ground floor for your child to drive in and give their cars a thorough wash. When they leave the car wash, they go straight to the gas station at the side of the toy to refuel their vehicle.
The drive-through car wash of this toy looks real because of the roller and strips on it.
We love how this toy improves hand-eye coordination in your child. It also helps them to polish up their fine motor skills and imagination. Kids also get to learn how to plan, set goals, and solve problems.
This toy does not require assembly. It is assembled by the company and your child can use it immediately. It does not also need adult supervision.
It is lightweight, portable, and easy to carry. The toy does not use real water and is suitable for kids between the ages of 3 and 6.
Pros
- It does not require assembly and your child can use it immediately
- It is lightweight and easy to carry
- It has a drive-through car wash and two wooden cars
- It has more play time and your child can use it with other toys
Cons
- It has many equipment and can take a while for your child to get used to the toy
- If the car should get lost, your cant buy replacement cars
- Theo Klein-Bosch Car Repair Station Premium Toy – Best For Multiple Play Experience
Kids that love repairing and assembling will enjoy playing with this toy. They will feel like a real mechanic when they use the screwdriver on their convertible car.
It works both as a car wash and car repair. Hence, it gives your kids twice the fun.
it is fun to play with this toy. Kids between the ages of 3 and 8 will enjoy playing with it more. However, an adult must be around to watch over your kids while they play with this toy.
Pros
- The car wash and car repair features make this toy more engaging for kids
- It lasts long
- Kids will barely lose interest in this game
- It has sounds and light, making children feel like they are working with real cars
- It doesn’t mess up the place
Cons
- An adult must supervise your child playing with this toy
- It may be quite difficult to assemble.
Amy A. Vincent loves this car wash toy
Amy is a mother of three beautiful children and an author of Amy Baby Review. She said:
“My son loves this toy! He loves to pretend he’s fixing cars in his own garage. The TheBosch Car Repair station has been a huge hit in our house. It’s well-made and very realistic looking. My son loves the car wash feature the most. It’s so much fun watching him play with this toy. I would highly recommend it to anyone with a child who loves cars!”
- Hot Wheels FTB66 City Mega Car Wash Set – Best For Sensory Play
Kids aged 4 to 8 will be thrilled by how this car changes color through different aspects of the wash. The first aspect of the wash uses warm water, which will cause the car to change color.
Then the car will pass through this stage to the dunk tank which uses cold water. The cold water will return the car to its original color.
You will appreciate the spill-proof feature of this toy that saves you the stress of scrubbing your floor after every play session.
This cat wash toy is easy to use and does not require batteries to operate.
Pros
- It is spill-proof and reduces the mess that reaches your floor
- It is suitable for indoor play
- It changes color when washed
- You can connect it with other tracks from the hot wheel for extended play
Cons
- The lift can jam up after your child plays with it excessively
- According to some parents, their package didn’t contain the car
- Lego Garage Center Building Piece– Best For Lego Building
This car wash toy is a banger for kids that love to build and assemble. They will assemble this toy into a busy garage with a car wash and gas station.
The toy also has a mechanic station, harl hubs, an elevator, a garage, a gas station worker, 3 cars and 5 LEGO figures.
Your car will be so busy taking care of different vehicles that they won’t realize how many hours have slid by. If they don’t wash cars, they can use the elevator to move the cars or visit the mechanic workshop for repairs.
This toy does not use real water and your child can play without your supervision. It is suitable for older kids, between ages 6 and 12.
Pros
- It doesn’t create a mess
- Kids will enjoy long hours of engaging play because of the many accessories
- You can pair this toy with other lego sets for more fun
- It is excellent for children who love to build and fix things
- It has detailed and easy-to-follow instructions for your child to assemble
Cons
- It is a bit pricey
- Younger children may not understand the toy because it has about 234 pieces
- Your child can easily misplace a piece
- Vtech Smartwheels Tow And Go Garage – Best For Learning
This toy has a tow truck that responds to sounds and phrases at nine SmartPoint locations. Your child will tow this truck to the when you place them correctly.
There is a garage, elevator, car wash, and other features on the second floor. It also has six melodies and three sing-aloud songs.
Your child can spend their day in the garage, fixing cars, and later use the elevator to move to the upper floor to explore the features there.
After that, they can choose to rest or enjoy some tunes from the toy. Then, they can race their vehicle down the ramps and clean it up in the car wash.
This toy has lights and sound for imaginative play and going back and forth improves motor skills. The response from the toy and sing-aloud songs strengthens your child’s language skills.
Pros
- It is fun and engaging for kids
- The sing-aloud songs and response to phrases improve language skills
- It improves motor skills
- You can connect this toy with other toys to extend your child’s playtime
- It is easy to assemble
Cons
- Kids can easily diassemble this toy
- The plastic looks flimsy
- Hot Wheels City Car Wash and Gator – Most Impressive
Your boy will be thrilled to have this huge playset. It has an elevator, a water tank, a water tower, and other interesting features.
Your child will use the elevator to send the car to the top and make it more around the track before getting to the car wash. The color of this car will change in the car wash if you use ice-cold water.
After washing the car, your kid will make their car to escape the mouth of an alligator so that they don’t end up in its mouth. This will boost their adrenaline, and make them love the toy more.
This toy is suitable for kids between the ages of 4 and 8 years. You can use it indoors and outdoors, and it does not require adult supervision.
Pros
- It has a huge impressive stature which doesn’t take up much space
- It has many fun features, including an alligator
- The car color changes when exposed to cold water
- It doesn’t require a battery
Cons
- It is a pain to assemble and disassemble
- Some parts can be lost
- It can be messy to play with
- Let’s Go Cozy Carwash – Best For toddlers
Toddlers don’t need a serious car wash toy, that is why they will enjoy playing with this one. You only need to put cold water on the top of the toy and push the truck through it. the truck will move from dirty to clean when the water touches it.
Your child doesn’t need to dirty the car of this toy before washing it off. This car comes with spots which will magically disappear when cold water touches it. These spots reappear again for your child to continue playing.
It is a suitable option for kids age 2 and above. However, older kids will consider it lame.
Pros
- It is easy for toddlers to enjoy
- It is durable
- The plastic material used is safe for children
- It doesn’t require high maintenance
Cons
- A customer complained that it is a bit too pricey for its functions.
Sharon loves this car wash toy
Sharon Senders is the Co-Founder of Philadelphia Weekly. She said:
“My kids loved the Let’s Go Cozy Coupe™ Color Change Carwash with Push and Play Vehicle when they were young. The set includes a toy truck that has spots that should be removed by washing the car. So all you have to do is to fill the toy with water so it can wash the car once it is inside the carwash. The cold water makes the spots in the truck disappear, making it look cleaner.. Hence, this is really a very good carwash toy.”
- Matchbox Hydro Car Wash Vehicle – Best For Space
Your child will experience more real-life activities with this toy. It uses water to make them feel like they are washing a car for real.
This toy is small and comes with a toy truck and a small color-changing car. This toy utility truck also comes with a mud pit accessory for your child to dump the small car in and rescue.
In the pit, dust, slime, dirt, and mud will cover the car. Your child will then roll the car to the hydro car wash to clean and get it ready for the road.
Pros
- It is small and offers a valuable play experience
- The car changes color, depending on the temperature of the water you use
- It is durable
- It is suitable for indoor play
Cons
- It creates a mess
- It only has one small car
- The lift may not work everytime
- Kidkraft Wash And Go 19 pieces Wooden Car Garage – Best Wooden Car Wash
This wooden car wash is crafted with many toys to keep your child engaged for many hours. It has 19 accessories, interactive areas, and different play levels.
Your child can use the slide to roll their cars down the ramp. They can also use the knob to move the elevator from the first to the third floor to meet the helicopter waiting for them on the helipad.
This toy gives your kid the experience of using a real car because they have the option of visiting the mechanic.
They will also enjoy using the car wash to clean their car. When the car runs out of fuel, they can visit the gas station at the ground level of the toy to refuel.
Kids that use this toy will improve their hand dexterity because of the activities they do there.
Pros
- The product uses durable wood and safe paints and finishes
- It improves your child’s hand dexterity
- It has detailed assembly instruction
- It has many interactive areas which makes it more engaging for your child.
Cons
- Despite the detailed instruction, it is still quite challenging to assemble this toy
- Scrub It Kids Car Wash Activity Kit – Best For Real Car Wash Experience
Unlike other car wash toys, this car wash toy mimics real-life manual car cleaning. It comes with a folding bucket, wheel brush, microfiber mitt, cleaning clothes, and expendable squeegee.
This kit contains all that a kid needs to wash and wax a car, with all the items perfectly sized for kids. They can use this kit to join you in washing the family car.
So no more excuses. If you or your partner complains about not having enough time to spend with the kids, get this kit and let your kid join you to wash the car.
This car scrub kit is recommended for children of 5 to 10 years of age.
Pros
- This kit allows children to learn adult chores the fun way
- It has everything that is needed for washing a car
- It promotes family bonding
- It increases a child’s confidence in being able to do adult chores
- It reduces screen time for kids
- The kits are functional, yet perfectly sized for kids
- It still has toys
Cons
- A few customers complained about receiving a damaged package, though the toys were in good shape.
Conclusion
Car wash toys can help your child to develop motor skills, language skills, and even social skills if they are playing with friends. These toys can also deviate your toddler’s attention from you for some hours, giving you the space to do other things.
Choosing the right car wash toy is a plus. Consider the factors listed above to choose the best car wash toy for your child.
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