This article was updated with new products and information in March 2024.
Keeping the interior in top condition is essential to maintain your vehicle's resale value. This includes the carpets, trim, and especially the upholstery, which is pivotal in comfort for you, your children, pets, groceries, and everything you transport daily. Given its constant use, it's inevitable that the upholstery will get nasty. Let us guide you through the best practices for keeping your upholstery in prime condition, ensuring you'll have enough money for that dream supercar when you sell your van after the kids have flown the coop.
Our Top Picks
Best Kit
Chemical Guys Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Kit
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We got our hands on 10 of the best car upholstery cleaners. We tested them on stained upholstery and found that each offers the everyday car owner the ability to clean with the speed and efficiency of a detail shop. Some products work faster than others, some are easier to use or require less elbow grease, but all were effective at lifting stains and grime from cloth and vinyl.
To be clear, the products on this list are intended to clean cloth and vinyl upholstery; a few here will also clean leather.
Upholstery Cleaning Tips & Tricks
- Begin by thoroughly vacuuming the interior of your car. Before vacuuming, use a dry, soft brush to help dislodge any stubborn or deeply embedded debris. Your car vacuum will likely come with attachments appropriate for different creases and crevices, so be wise and use them accordingly.
- Maximize the cleaning by revealing all surfaces of the seats. Folding them forward, reclining fully, and other adjustments help dislodge materials and expose hard-to-reach places.
- Before a general cleaning, you should do spot stain cleaning with an appropriate stain remover. Always remember to test in an inconspicuous area first.
- When cleaning cloth seats, be cautious with liquids. Excessive moisture can enter foam padding beneath the upholstery, potentially leading to mold and mildew.
- While certain products claim to clean leather, fabric, and vinyl, it's advisable to use a specialized leather cleaner and conditioner for your car's leather interior. This helps maintain the material's quality and longevity.
The Best Auto Upholstery Cleaners
Best Overall
Chemical Guys Nonsense Invinsible Super Cleaner
Best Overall
Chemical Guys Nonsense Invinsible Super Cleaner
Pros
- Safe for most surfaces
- Excellent stain-lifting properties
Cons
- Not for use on screens or gauges
In recent years, Chemical Guys has elevated itself to one of the premier automotive-detailing companies on the market. The Nonsense cleaner is odorless, pH balanced, safe on all surfaces (minus infotainment and gauge clusters), and dries with zero residue. The combination of these traits, in tandem with its high-power stain lifting, makes this cleaner arguably the best all-around product on the list.
Most Reliable
Meguiar's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Most Reliable
Meguiar's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Pros
- Proven brand
- Pleasant scent
Cons
- On the pricey side
Car and Driver has a long history of using Meguiar's products. We've grown fond of their exceptional quality, and this carpet and upholstery cleaner holds true to those expectations. Its best features include an ergonomic spray-nozzle design, a pleasant citrus scent, and a dual-action trigger (offering a wide-angle spray for large areas or a precise stream for spot cleaning).
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Best Extraction Tool
Bissel Little Green
Pros
- Next-level deep-cleaning achieved
Cons
- Needs a power source
Look, all these cleaners are great. But do you want to elevate your cleaning? Get yourself a Bissel Little Green upholstery cleaner. This machine, combined with any cleaner listed below, will elevate your cleaning to the next level. The best part of these cleaners is that there is a clean and a dirty side, so you can see the dirty water shooting into the discarded reservoir, which is satisfying on so many levels. Trust us, this little machine is a game changer when used with any cleaner. It's fantastic on pet stains, and perfect for RV and van owners.
For even more cleaning power, opt for the ProHeat version ($134 at Bissell) to keep your cleaning water at a consistently warm temperature.
Best All-In-One
Car Guys Premium Super Cleaner
Best All-In-One
Car Guys Premium Super Cleaner
Pros
- Biodegradable and eco-friendly
- Safe for leather
Cons
- Not great results on glass
Car Guys is a fairly new brand to the world of automotive detailing, offering uncompromising quality. Though it claims to be more affordable than competitors, the Super Cleaner checks in as one of the most expensive on this list. However, this premium isn't an arbitrary one. Super Cleaner is both biodegradable and eco-friendly and is safe for cleaning leather as well. With no need to rinse or vacuum, a neutral smell, and no residue left behind, Super Cleaner is truly an all-in-one product.
Check out the Car Guys store on Amazon to see all the company's great car detailing products.
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Most Versatile
Mothers Carpet & Upholstery All Fabric Cleaner
Most Versatile
Mothers Carpet & Upholstery All Fabric Cleaner
Pros
- Trusted brand
- Very little residue
Cons
- Sprayer mechanism described as "wonky"
Starting off from humble beginnings with only aluminum-wheel polish, Mothers now offers the car community a comprehensive lineup of detailing products. Mothers Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner offers a gentle, pH-balanced formula that greatly aids in preventing colors from running. In our sampling of this product, we found a like-new finish and no trace of residue. We should also note that this product works well around the house, so take advantage of its massive 24-ounce capacity.
Best for Household Use
Tuff Stuff Multi-Purpose Foam Cleaner
Best for Household Use
Tuff Stuff Multi-Purpose Foam Cleaner
Pros
- Fantastic stain-lifting
- Fine for multiple surfaces all over the house
Cons
- Price can vary greatly between retailers—shop wisely
With "tuff" in its name, we expected great things from this multipurpose cleaner, and it didn't disappoint. Since it's more utilitarian than others in this roundup, we decided to test this product on a large 10-year-old coffee stain on a chair in a staffer's cubicle. We were shocked to find zero trace of said stain after scrubbing with Tuff Stuff, although we did need a vacuum to assist with the drying process. In addition to cleaning car upholstery and furniture, Tuff Stuff can be used around the house as a bathroom, carpet, and appliance cleaner.
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Easiest to Use
Armor All Oxi Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Easiest to Use
Armor All Oxi Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Pros
- Fresh, clean scent
- No scrubbing required
Cons
- Only for certain surfaces
With the help of Oxi Magic, Armor All's Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner is a more narrowly focused cleaner than some of the others on our list, specializing in fabric, vinyl, carpet, and non-clear plastics. It leaves behind a bright, clean-linen scent and zero residue. It's easy to use too: Just spray it on, let it sit, and blot it dry.
Best Eco-Friendly
Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus Fabric Clean
Best Eco-Friendly
Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus Fabric Clean
Now 20% Off
Pros
- No bleach, ammonia, or harsh chemicals
- Fresh lemon scent
Cons
- May not lift tough stains
A concentrated shampoo from the vaunted Chemical Guys lineup. Using naturally occurring microbes, Fabric Clean breaks down stains and odors at a microscopic level without using harsh chemicals such as bleach and ammonia, thanks to its eco-friendly biodegradable formula. After use we found no trace of residue or stains, just the scent of a freshly squeezed lemon.
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Best Kit
Chemical Guys Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Kit
Pros
- All you need
Cons
- Brush may be rough on delicate fabrics
This complete kit may be all you need to keep your car's upholstery and carpet clean. It comes with Fabric Clean above as well as a secondary spray bottle and a carpet brush drill attachment.
Best Concentrate
3D Upholstery & Carpet Odor Eliminating Shampoo
Best Concentrate
3D Upholstery & Carpet Odor Eliminating Shampoo
Pros
- Great for long-term use
- Good for stain fighting
Cons
- May require a stronger mix for tough stains
Some people prefer value and quantity over quality. Thankfully, with 3D's carpet and upholstery cleaner, you won't have to make that compromise. The shampoo comes concentrated in a 16-ounce bottle and requires that you dilute it: one part shampoo to 16 parts water. It also means that you aren't buying the water that is typically mixed into cleaning sprays, just the shampoo.
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Best Manual Tool
Chemical Guys Nifty Interior Detailing Brush
Best Manual Tool
Chemical Guys Nifty Interior Detailing Brush
Now 15% Off
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
- You gotta put in the work to see the results
Don't forget the tools! This Chemical Guys Interior Detailing Brush will agitate and release tough stains and debris that has nestled deep into the fibers of your upholstery. If you want the deepest clean possible, clearing the peskiest of stains, you'll need some elbow grease to achieve results. This brush will help get you there.
Things to Consider Before Buying Car Upholstery Cleaner
• Before using a new cleaning product, it is best practice to conduct a color-fastness test. A color-fastness test involves testing the product in an inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn't cause fabric dye, bleeding, or running.
•READ THE LABEL. All cleaners are different, so you must read the instructions carefully to ensure the best results. Pay close attention to recommended techniques and methods, and confirm materials are compatible with the cleaner.
• If applying the product and wiping it away isn't working, consider purchasing a detail brush. The detail brush helps agitate the cleaner, working up a lather and offering deeper penetration into the target area.
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FAQs
Are car upholstery cleaners safe to use?
Yes, most car upholstery cleaners are safe to use. However, it is essential to remember to read the label, paying particular attention to instructions and cautionary messaging.
Are upholstery cleaners safe for all fabrics?
Upholstery cleaners are not "one size fits all." Check the label to ensure it is safe for your car's specific type of fabric. Also, as always, do a test in an inconspicuous area first.
How often should I clean my car's upholstery?
How often you clean your car's upholstery depends on personal preference and how frequently the cabin is soiled. However, a quarterly scrub down and clean should keep your car in decent condition.
Can upholstery cleaners remove odors?
Depending on the source and severity of the odor, some upholstery cleaners may be able to remove or mask odors. If you want to do a deep clean to address severe odors, we recommend trying the Bissel Little Green plus your cleaner of choice.
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Maxwell B. Mortimer
Assistant Technical Editor
Max Mortimer is a lifelong car enthusiast who spends his days managing Car and Driver's test data and processes, and evaluating vehicles. Starting at the age of five, he began working on classic muscle from the '60s with his father, which blossomed into his own passion for modifying cars, which include a 500 whp Big Turbo SRT-4 Neon and a FBO Protuned '17 WRX. Not a day goes by that Max doesn't think about owning his dream car, a fifth-gen Viper GTS . . . one day.
Katherine Keeler
Assistant Testing Editor
Katherine Keeler is an Assistant Testing Editor at Hearst Autos. By day she evaluates tools for your enjoyment; by night, she Frankenstein’s her ever changing fleet of rust-bucket-oddities back to repair. Her dream is to open a roadside attraction where the public can view, drive, and learn repairs at her emporium of curious cars.
