Best Car Interior Cleaner

There are several things you should consider before you purchase any cleaner, such as the following:

The Cleaner’s Purpose
What is the cleaner designed to do? Simply “cleaning your car” may not be the answer. Therefore, make sure you understand the primary purpose of the product before you purchase it. You may buy a heavy-duty cleaner when all you need is something to remove a light stain.

Potentially Harmful Ingredients
Cleaners may contain ingredients that can damage your car’s interior. This is especially true if you have luxury leather or a sensitive fabric. Some cleaners contain ammonia and bleach, which can damage your interior, whereas others opt for eco-friendly, all-natural ingredients.

You May Still Smell an Odor
Many cleaners are designed to remove stains or protect your interior finish, but will not necessarily remove odors. If you need to address a bad smell in your car, look for a cleaner that specializes in treating odors.

Residue
Some cleaners leave a residue. In most cases, the instructions on the outside of the container will tell you if the product leaves a residue and how you can prevent it. For instance, you may need to vacuum your carpet with a wet vac or wipe the surface with a damp cloth after you apply the cleaner.

Best Cleaner for Carpets: Meguiar’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Meguiar’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner has been a long-standing critics’ favorite. The ergonomic spray-nozzle makes it easy to use without wearing out your hand. The spray handle also offers dual-action options so that you can control the spray width and direction. Bonus feature: a citrus scent for that fresh car smell.

Best Budget-Friendly Cleaner: TurtleWax Power Out! Upholstery Cleaner
If you’re looking for a budget option, you may want to opt for TurtleWax Upholstery Cleaner. The can comes with a detachable (and machine-washable) brush that helps you get out tough stains along the carpet and seats.

Make sure you have a damp towel that can adequately clean up the cleaner, however, as TurtleWax may leave a slightly greasy film. Also, keep in mind that all brushes can be abrasive. So, clean your carpets and upholstery with a soft touch.

Best Biodegradable Cleaner: CarGuys Super Cleaner
CarGuys Super Cleaner is the newest product on our list, but it is quickly establishing a reputation as a high-level cleaner. The trade-off is the higher price tag, which is due to the product’s quality and its biodegradable, eco-friendly design. This makes it particularly appealing to green shoppers.

Best Cleaner for Deep Detailing: Ultima Antimicrobial Interior Shampoo Gel
Ultima Interior Shampoo Gel is not your average cleaner. Ultima is a gel rather than a liquid or foam. The gel/solution combination acts as both a cleaner and a coating agent to protect your surface. It also contains an antibacterial shield that actually works to clean your car, not just to remove the stain.

Despite its ability to treat tough stains, Ultima is gentle enough for any surface, including leather. Professionals often use it for detailing car interiors. Plus, it won’t leave a stain or a film on the surface.

Best Cleaner for Preventing Color Fading: Mothers Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Unless you have a window cover, car cover, or tinted glass, your car interior is likely to fade over time due to sun exposure. Mothers Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner is designed to remove stains and preserve the color of your carpet & upholstery. You can also use it on the dash and other car components.

The pH-balanced formula is specially made to keep colors from running or fading. It also restores your interior’s new look without any residue. Best of all, it comes in a 24-ounce bottle.

Best Cleaner for Removing Odor: Chemical Guys Foaming Fabric Clean Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo  
If you hate the smell of a dirty car AND cleaning chemicals, Chemical Guys Fabric Clean Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo relieves you of both. There are no harsh chemicals in the solution, and there’s no bleach or ammonia either. The formula is biodegradable and eco-friendly.

You’ll also get lots of mileage from Chemical Guys, as the cleaner is highly concentrated. A little will go a long way. This is a top pick because it will eliminate virtually any odor in your car, leaving it smelling fresh—unlike that strawberry hanging from the mirror.

Best Concentrated Cleaner: 3D Upholstery & Carpet Shampoo
The 16-ounce bottle of 3D Upholstery & Carpet Shampoo contains a heavily concentrated cleaner—the equivalent of about ten bottles of many of the other products on this list. How concentrated exactly? One part shampoo to 16 parts water.

Best No-Work Cleaner: Armor All Oxi Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
What do you get when you combine Armor All and Oxi Magic? A cleaning experience that requires less effort! With most cleaners, you may still have to scrub to remove a stain. With Armor All Oxi Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, you just spray it on the stain, let it sit for a few minutes, and blot it dry. It really is that simple.

However, Armor All is not suited for all surfaces. It is a specialized cleaner that works best on non-clear plastics, fabric, certain types of carpet or mats, and vinyl. Make sure that it is compatible with your car’s interior before using it.

Each and every product featured here is selected by our editorial staff of car enthusiasts, and anything you buy through our links may earn TrueCar a commission. Although the prices are accurate and items are in-stock at time of publication, offers are subject to change without notice.