The Best Car Upholstery Cleaners For 2023

Whether it is about going to work or taking a short drive every night after dinner, we spend a lot of time in our cars. Some people use their cars so much that it seems like their second home. But, have you ever considered car cleaning as important as your home? Sure, you may wash the exteriors to maintain its paint. But, it is the interiors that accumulate dirt and get grubby sooner that you expect. Is there anything worse than giving your guests a ride home only to realize your car looks a little pigsty as you haven’t cleaned the interiors for so long?

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Keeping your car clean can turn out to be a big challenge. From upholstery to the cabin, every part of the interior is likely to gather dirt and dust over time. To maintain the smell inside your four-wheeler and keep it clean and fresh all the time, you must use a high-quality car upholstery cleaner.

While a car vacuum is all you need to pick the wet and dry trash from every nook and corner of the vehicle, it is always best to do a little extra with upholstery cleaning. Not only does your car need to look cool, but it must smell good. That’s what an upholstery cleaner helps you with. It removes dirt, takes care of the stubborn marks, and maintain the odor in your car.

1. CarGuys Super Cleaner

CarGuys Super Cleaner uses nanotechnology to pick grime and dirt particles from your upholstery surfaces effortlessly. This multi-surface cleaner works as a stain remover, an inner dash cleaner, and a chemical solvent to remove stubborn tar from your seats, and so on. Given that you have CarGuys Super Cleaner, you don’t need additional chemical solvents and cleaning detergents for further cleaning.

It does the job pretty well! This multi-tasker upholstery cleaner also happens to be a versatile product for interior and exterior cleaning. It cleans all kinds of trash and some common surfaces including Fabric, vinyl, polyester, leather, grease, liquid spills, bird poop, pet fur, rubber, canvas, tree sap, and metals.

Many cleaning products claim to offer a clean finish and no gloss upholstery cleaning services. However, they end up leaving a messy and thin film. Sooner or later, they ruin your upholstery fabric. The best part is CarGuys Super Cleaner isn’t only used for upholstery cleaning. Being a multi-tasker, you could use it on a dashboard, floor mats, wheel tire, door panels, and seats.

Features

  • Leaves clean finish and no gloss
  • Compatible with all major surfaces
  • Removes deep stain
  • No need to rinse the surface with water
  • Used for home, car, and boat cleaning purposes

The Pros

  • Versatile
  • Leaves no residue
  • Wonderful cleaning performance
  • Easy to remove
  • Easy to use
  • Fresh odor

The Cons

  • It isn’t compatible with glass and fragile instrument panel screens

2. Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Cleaner

Lightning Fast cleaner is the ultimate option for car upholstery and cabin cleaning requirements. It is used to remove stains and dirt from upholstery, carpets, and car seats. The cleaner eliminates stubborn stains from liquid spills, grease, oil, pets, and more.

It comes equipped with a strong chemical solvent that is capable of removing tough stains pretty smoothly. In addition to giving you clean and fresh upholstery, the detergent removes strong dirt odor in the vehicle.

The cleaner dissolves all major stains. Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Cleaner is a little tough on debris and stains, while super gentle on your upholstery material. You could clean all the interior car surfaces in three steps i.e. shake the bottle, spray it on the filthy surface, and wipe up. It eliminates the need for scrubbing.

If you have a hard stain, spray the cleaner and use a scrub to rub the surface and remove stains. The cleaner wipes the dirt off the surfaces without fading colors. The cleaner is designed for professional cleaning purposes i.e. when you need fast results.

Features

  • Easy application
  • Compatible with upholstery, carpets, fabrics, and sneakers
  • Keeps the surfaces and color intact
  • Contains strong cleaning agents
  • Help prevent stains
  • Remove debris, liquid spills, trash, and pet fur smoothly
  • Leaves a fresh surface with a pleasant odor

The Pros

  • Powerful chemical solvent
  • Versatile
  • Require gentle cleaning
  • Easy to use
  • Remove stains effortlessly
  • Eliminates odor

The Cons

  • No cons that we know of

3. Blue Coral DC22 Car Upholstery Cleaner

Blue Coral is known for its potential to clean and lift up the debris in the easiest possible way. It can be used to remove everyday dirt, dust, and liquid spills in your car and home. It is a foam-based cleaner that lifts debris and leaves a no gloss surface. You could use it on nylon, polyester, and all types of synthetic surfaces that need gentle cleaning.

Its dirt lifting abilities help remove stains from oil, grease, soda, coffee, ink, etc. Not only does it clean the interiors, but it removes the strong and foul smell in the car and keep the aura clean and fresh. The formula penetrates deep into the surface to dissolve hard stains and bring them up to the surface for smooth cleaning.

In addition to upholstery, you could use Blue Coral cleaner on floor mats and carpets. It comes with a built-in scrub that removes tough stains from all surfaces.

Features

  • Remove grease, oil, lipstick, ink, soda, and coffee stains smoothly
  • A foam-based cleaner
  • Lifts dirt from carpets, floor mat, and floor mat.
  • Offer deep cleaning service
  • Feature a built-in scrub
  • Neutralizes foul smell

The Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Extract dirt from carpets and upholstery
  • Durable
  • Maintains the surface and color

The Cons

  • A bit expensive

4. Meguiar’s G9719 Upholstery Cleaner

Meguiar’s G9719 Upholstery Cleaner is designed to offer deep stain cleaning services. The advanced chemical solvents penetrate into the fabric’s surface and remove light to stubborn stains with ease. The best part is this upholstery cleaner leaves no messy residue after cleaning.

You can expect your carpet or the car upholstery to look brand-new after being rinsed with Meguiar’s G9719. The cleaner has two built-in nozzles that enable the car owners to wipe the dirt off with a narrow stream or wash the interiors thoroughly with a wide mist stream.

With Meguiar’s G9719, you don’t need to carry a blower to air-dry the upholstery. The chemicals dry quickly after picking debris and stains from the material’s surface. Overall, the cleaner gives an excellent performance by removing all sorts of liquid and solid dirt from your vehicle smoothly. Its foam-based solvents offer deep cleaning benefits. It is super easy to use. Just spray it on the stained surfaces and see the change. The foam goes deep into the fabric to bring the stubborn debris up to the surface and dissolve it.

Features

  • Best for carpet and upholstery cleaning
  • Foam-based deep upholstery cleanser
  • Dry clean quickly
  • Dual nozzles for narrow stream and wide mist spray
  • Produce fresh odor
  • Give carpets and upholstery a fresh and clean look

The Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Can be used for deep cleaning and temporary stain removing purposes
  • Remove all stains
  • Dry automatically
  • Eliminates odor

The Cons

  • The nozzles pattern could have been better.

5. Trinova Leather Cleaner

Leather upholstery is more prone to accumulate dirt and grime over time. Regular maintenance and thorough cleaning is a must if you want your car interiors to look brand-new. Trinova Leather Cleaner is a perfect option for car owners looking for a tough yet gentle upholstery and carpet cleaning tool.

It removes stubborn stains, grime, dust particles, and dirt from your car upholstery without causing any damage to the sheen of the fabric. Once you are done cleaning, be ready to have a super smooth and shiny surface.

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The cleaner is safe to be used on multiple fabrics including vinyl, plastic, and all types of leather upholstery. To loosen the grime and stubborn debris from the upholstery, grab a microfiber cloth and rub the stained surface gently while spraying the cleaner. After cleaning the upholstery, wipe up with a clean and dry towel. Remember to move the microfiber cloth in a circular motion.

Features

  • Keep your leather upholstery in a good condition
  • Offer safe treatment
  • Compatible with all kinds of leather
  • Eliminate deep stains
  • Used on sofas, upholstery, carpet, bags, jackets, and leather furniture
  • Eliminates stain odor

The Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Works on multiple surfaces
  • Effective cleaning
  • Safe to use
  • Premium formula
  • Gives a shiny surface

The Cons

  • It can’t be used on Nubuck and Suede
  • Isn’t great at deep cleaning

6. Turtle Wax 50714 Upholstery Cleaner With Microfiber Cloth

Save your time and efforts on car maintenance by using Turtle Wax cleaner on upholstery. Vacuum the upholstery to pick trash and solid debris then spray the cleaner evenly across the seats and stained areas.

A bristle brush can be used for the removal of hard stains. Let the chemical solvent sit on the surface for a minute or two before you rub it. You could also use the spray on plastic and vinyl surfaces. Just make sure you don’t scrub it after application. Spray the chemical and wipe it gently with a dry towel.

The USP of this advanced upholstery cleaning spray is its odor-remover features. Turtle Wax cleaner can remove foul smells produced by stains, grease, and debris for up to 30 days. Switch its nozzle to jet spray setting and wipe away the stains after application.

The cleaner can eliminate the pungent and foul odor of food, pets, liquid spills, and smoke. Moreover, it comes with a micro-scrub brush that clean hard-to-reach areas. The kit contains a blue microfiber towel that can be used to wipe up the surface after spraying. It is reusable and washable. Designed specifically for the car and automotive interiors, Turtle Wax is a perfect choice for all surfaces.

Features

  • Offer add-ons including blue microfiber towel and an odor eliminator spray
  • Neutralize pungent odor
  • Micro-scrub brush can be detached for deep and smooth fabric cleaning
  • Keeps your car interior free from odor for 30 days
  • Eliminates the smell of food, coffee, soda, pets, smoke, and more.

The Pros

  • Deep Cleanser
  • Ensure fabric’s longevity
  • Remove odor
  • Keep your car interiors fresh
  • Easy to use
  • Remove liquid spills smoothly

The Cons

  • Not recommended for glass and plastic
  • It emits strong scent’

7. Armor All 7333 Upholstery Cleaner

Ground-in dust and grime can cause serious damage to your car upholstery. No matter how strong and durable the fabric is, it loses shine over time. Armor All 7333 Upholstery Cleaner increases the lifespan of your upholstery fabric by eliminating all sorts of dirt and grime effortlessly. Restore the luster of your fabric with this advanced carpet and upholstery cleaning solution. The spray utilizes oxygen action to dissolve stubborn stains and remove them from the fabric for good.

No matter how intense the stain is, Armor All 7333 Upholstery Cleaner can remove it in one go. The best part is the chemical solvent enters deep into the fabric or carpet surface to pick in-ground filth seamlessly.

Features

  • Use oxygen action for deep cleaning
  • Remove the toughest stains
  • Retain the luster and luxurious beauty of the fabric
  • Used to remove stains from coffee, soft drinks, soda, mud, and grease

The Pros

  • Easy to remove stains
  • Offer Deep cleaning
  • Keep the color and surface intact

The Cons

  • No cons that we know of

8. Armor All Magic Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

Your car upholstery needs to be cleaned regularly. To prevent the buildup of germs, grime, dust, dirt, and other contaminants, it is important to use a high-quality and strong car upholstery cleaner. Armor All Carpet and Upholstery Cleanerrestores the shine and strength of your upholstery fabric by keeping it clean. The cleaning solution uses oxygen action to dissolve hard stains from all kinds of fabrics.  Before you use it on fabrics and carpets, test it for colorfastness.

The clean is simple to use. Just spray it on the stained surface and let it sit there for 1-3 minutes. Use a microfiber cloth or a damp towel to remove the sticky residue left on the surface after cleaning. You could repeat the process, though it won’t be needed.

Armor All Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner is strong enough to remove tough stains in a matter of minutes. For best results, wipe stains instantly. It is best to keep your car windows open for a while after applying the upholstery cleaner. It needs some time to dry. You could also use a blower to dry the seats quickly.

Features

  • Goes deep into the surface to pick the stubborn debris.
  • Offer deep cleaning
  • Uses oxy action
  • Advanced chemical solvent

The Pros

  • Oxygen action
  • Simple to use
  • Strong stain remover
  • Best cleaning performance
  • Condition the upholstery

The Cons

  • It can cause discoloration in certain fabrics.
  • Incompatible with plastic, wool, wood, instrument panels, and glass.
  • It may take a little longer to dry.

9. Aero Cosmetics Interior Upholstery and Carpet Cleaner

Aero Cosmetics car upholstery cleaner is a strong chemical solvent that offers intense cleaning with minimum efforts. You could use it to clean car interiors, carpets, leather seats, headliners, cockpit, and tray tables. Not only does it remove the pet and oil stains, but the car upholstery cleaner by Aero Cosmetics can be used to eliminate spill stains and make-up marks. Apart from cleaning the upholstery, this cleaning detergent can remove stains and dirt from all parts of your car interiors.

Clean your vehicle in simple steps. Grab the cleaner and spray the stained areas. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth (microfiber towel). Scrub the surface gently until the dirt is removed. Once you spot a stain-free fabric, clean it with a fresh and dry towel to remove the sticky residue.

Features

  • Compatible with all interior parts
  • Used to remove body oils, lotions, make-up, and food stains
  • Safe to be used on automotive interiors
  • An ultimate solution for deep cleaning

The Pros

  • Light and fresh scent
  • Deep cleaner
  • Reasonable price
  • Easy to use
  • Extend the life of the fabric
  • Durable

The Cons

  • No cons that we know of

10. Adam’s Polishes Leather and Interior Upholstery Cleaner

Are you looking for a strong chemical solvent to preserve your new fabric and get your old upholstery a brand-new look? Adam’s Polishes Upholstery Cleaner keeps your interiors in a good condition for years. The cleaner is compatible with all types of leather fabrics. It can be used to remove dirt, grime, and stains from the fabric surface.

The cleaner does not contain lanolin and animal by-products, making it a safe product for all interior surfaces. Leather tends to deteriorate over time. The continuous exposure to the UV rays and harmful contaminants make it even worse. The regular build-up of the stubborn stain and trash can cause irreversible damage to your leather seats. To ensure the safety of your leather upholstery, conduct thorough cleaning with Adam’s Polishes Upholstery Cleaner.

You could also use the cleaner with a cockpit brush to eliminate heavy stains. It can be used to remove grease, oil, and stains from food and beverages on all interior surfaces including door panels, console, steering wheel, and armrests. It is compatible with leather, vinyl, and other fabrics.

Make sure it contains a strong chemical solvent, which may cause the dye on your fabric to fade. You do not need to rinse the surface after deep cleaning. Spray the cleaner on the stained surface and let it sit there for a few seconds. Wipe clean the area with a fresh microfiber cloth or a regular towel.

Features

  • Offer deep cleaning for plastic, vinyl, leather, and other fabrics.
  • Uses a perfect combination of cleaners and surfactants to remove hard stains
  • Comes with a sweet almond fragrance
  • Transparent color
  • Maintain the sheen and luster of the fabric

The Pros

  • A wonderful almond scent
  • Easy to use
  • Ensure the longevity of upholstery fabric
  • Perfect for deep cleaning
  • Versatile
  • Strong chemical solvent

The Cons

  • It can fade the dye from colored fabrics

What are Car Upholstery Cleaners?

The inside of your car can get super dirty if you often travel with kids and pets. The wrappers of the candies, stubborn stains on the passenger seats, and the pet hair spread everywhere can make your vehicle’s cabin extremely messy. While car upholstery is quite robust, it does need maintenance to keep looking as good as it did when you bought it. There are quite a few car interior cleaning tools on the market, including vacuum, brush, sponge, and upholstery cleaner. You could also invest in a corded car vacuum to clean every corner of your car thoroughly. You could use a foam-based, spray, or liquid upholstery cleaner.

A car upholstery cleaning device is designed to keep your upholstery from accumulating dirt. It isn’t only used to wipe the stubborn stains off your car upholstery, but a strong cleaner can remove grime and dirt particles from seats. Thus, it gives the best finish to your vehicle.

Before you purchase this ultimate car interior cleaning tool, know that each upholstery cleaner comes with a unique set of features and perks. On that note, let’s have a look at the best and trusted upholstery car cleaners that maintain your car’s interiors for years.

Car Upholstery Cleaner Buying Guide

Both exteriors and interiors of your vehicle need regular maintenance and cleaning. Even the brand-new models tend to accumulate dirt and filth. This makes your four-wheeler susceptible to premature wear and tear. While exteriors can be cleaned with a pressure washer, the same can’t be used for interiors for obvious reasons.

Moreover, regular cleaning comes with health benefits. Experts suggest that it isn’t only the outdoors that expose us to contaminants. But, pet hair, pungent odor, and filthy interiors of a car can also lead to respiratory problems and allergy. Each fabric produces a different odor when exposed to liquid spills, oil, and grease. So, it is important to find yourself a reliable and strong car upholstery cleaner that could wipe the dirt off your seats and fill your cabin with a fresh and pleasant smell.

You must consider various factors and your car interiors before selecting the best and most suitable upholstery cleaner.

Fabric

The most crucial factor that must be taken into account when shopping for a car cleaning tool is the material your upholstery is made of. Most fabrics of upholstery are sturdy enough to resist dirt and grime. Some cleaning tools are made specifically for a particular fabric. It is best to check the manufacturer’s instructions before you make a purchase. Meanwhile, let’s have a look at the common fabrics used in car upholstery.

Nylon

One of the most robust car upholstery materials, Nylon is found in automotive, marine, and home upholstery. This long-lasting and versatile fabric comes in a broad range of colors and patterns. You could go for a plain fabric or printed material. As the fabric is weaved, it is pretty robust. It doesn’t tear that easily. Moreover, nylon comes with stain and dirt resistance features. The only drawback is its porous structure, which makes the fabric highly prone to grime and dust. As Nylon is a popular and most-used fabric in car upholstery, there are many cleaners available for this fabric.

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Polyester

Another great fabric for car upholstery is polyester. Being a UV resistant fabric, polyester can withstand all types of harsh chemicals and regular moisture. The best part is polyester is easy to maintain. It needs only a little attention to remain intact for years. While polyester is chemical and dam resistant, some materials mimic suede and leather. Such fabrics are not only hard to clean, but they are porous and highly likely to catch dirt and grime more often than the standard polyester.

Vinyl

Wiping the dirt and stains off the Vinyl upholstery is much easier than other fabrics. They are non-porous and durable materials for car and auto upholstery. Being a durable material, Vinyl is easy to maintain and an ultimate option for families with pets and kids.

Leather

There isn’t a better and more luxurious car upholstery material than leather. This premium fabric for upholstery is strong, durable, and extremely comfortable. But with great look and comfort comes a few drawbacks. Leather can tear and fade. Unlike other fabrics, leather isn’t resistant to UV rays. The leather upholstery in your car can be damaged if exposed to the sun for longer durations. Moreover, they need high maintenance. The material is easy to clean as long as you purchase a leather-specific car upholstery cleaner.

Rinse or Rinse-free Cleaner

Once you are done spraying the cleaner, you need to air-dry the upholstery. You can either opt for rinse or rinse-free cleaner. Car owners with leather upholstery can opt for rinse seat cleaner. Leather and vinyl are damp-resistant. They don’t let the moisture leak into the surface of the fabric. Vinyl, on the other hand, isn’t moisture-proof, but its smooth surface makes it easier to resist moisture. So even if the upholstery cleaner leaves the liquid droplets after cleaning, it will not damage your leather or vinyl upholstery.

If you have a polyester or nylon fabric, it is best to opt for a rinse-free cleaner. If you clean the nylon or polyester upholstery with the regular cleaner that leaves water droplets, you will need to wait until the seat dries automatically i.e. if you don’t have the blower handy. Alternatively, you can buy a rinse-free cleaner.

Liquid or Foam Cleaner

Car upholstery cleaners come in foam and liquid forms. The liquid cleaner is the ultimate choice for owners who need deep cleaning. But, they spread across quickly, making the job a little difficult. If your car interiors and upholstery aren’t too dirty, you can choose a foam cleaner.

Final Words

A strong and versatile car upholstery cleaner is necessary to keep your interiors fresh and clean. From preserving the fabrics of a brand-new vehicle to restoring luster in your old car, the right upholstery cleaner can do it all.

So, why wait? Compare the features, benefits, and prices of each cleaner listed above and order the most suitable one.

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Chris Jacobs

Sports cars have always been Chris's passion since he was a little kid. He was very excited to turn 16 years old so that he could drive his mother's old van. Many years later, he's still a passionate car geek and totally in love with his Tesla Model 3.