The best car upholstery cleaner is an essential product to have in your vehicle maintenance arsenal, which is where our list of top picks is here to help.
While some of the best car cleaning products are designed to leave your vehicle's exterior with a showroom-like shine, upholstery cleaners are best suited to keeping the interior of your car spotless and stain-free.
They work by essentially loosening any dirt and stain molecules latched onto the fibres of your car's interior, allowing them to then be wiped or vacuumed away with ease.
With that in mind, we've put together a list of the best cleaning products around based on their price, reviews, and, perhaps most important of all, their ease of use, to help kick off your search in the best way possible.
Whether you're after a spray-on solution, like the Chemical Guys Super Cleaner, or something designed to remove set-in stains, like this Tuff Stuff Stain Remover & Multi-Purpose Cleaner, then we've got you covered right here.
Best car upholstery cleaner
- Chemical Guys Nonsense Invisible Super Cleaner
- CarGuys Premium Super Cleaner
- Meguiar's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
- Tuff Stuff Stain Remover & Multi-Purpose Cleaner
- Armor All Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
click to enlarge1. Chemical Guys Nonsense Invisible Super Cleaner
Best multi-surface car upholstery cleaner
We kick off our list with the Chemical Guys Nonsense Invisible Super Cleaner which is said to work on vinyl, rubber, plastic, and carpet, making it a suitable solution to clean all areas of your vehicle.
Chemical Guys boast its formula is both colourless and odourless, so can be used on all types of interiors without having to worry about leaving any further stains.
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Moreover, the solution is said to produce minimal foam which should reduce the time it takes to dry out your interior after cleaning.
As a result, using this Chemical Guys formula should have your car's interior cleaned and dried in no time so it's ready for you to drive in again.
click to enlarge2. CarGuys Premium Super Cleaner
Best car upholstery spray cleaner
CarGuys Premium Super Cleaner may be one of the more expensive options on our list, but its price tag isn't without good reason.
This multi-purpose spray-on solution is suitable for almost every material, including leather, and is said to leave no glossy finish by leaving behind a cloudy, thin, greasy layer of conditioner.
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This spray-on solution is also biodegradable and eco-friendly, making it a more sustainable pick to consider for cleaning your vehicle.
All in all, we feel there's a lot to like about this upholstery cleaner, especially with it being suitable for multiple surfaces.
click to enlarge3. Meguiar's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Best car upholstery cleaner for carpets
When it comes to carpets though, Meguiar's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner looks like it has you covered.
Meguiar's is a company we've featured on many occasions, including in our list of the best alloy wheel cleaners, as it's known for its high-quality cleaning products.
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Meguiar's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner is no different, with the company boasting a formula that can deliver a deep, professional clean that removes both stains and odours from the comfort of your own home.
Other notable features include its residue-free formula and brush head attachment that should make cleaning your car's carpets quick and easy as everything you need is all on one handy canister.
click to enlarge4. Tuff Stuff Stain Remover & Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Best car upholstery cleaner for tough stains
As its name suggests, Tuff Stuff Stain Remover & Multi-Purpose Cleaner is built for hard-to-clean, set-in stains.
Its heavy-duty solution has been formulated to deliver a deep cleaning foaming action to help it lift up and remove dirt molecules with the help of its bristled cap attachment.
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Being a multi-purpose cleaner, you should also be able to use this cleaner on more than just fabric for a more comprehensive and complete clean of the interior of your vehicle.
So, for dirt, grime, and harmful elements like UV rays and oxidation, this cleaner from Tuff Stuff could be the solution for you.
click to enlarge5. Armor All Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Best budget car upholstery cleaner
Rounding off our list is this relatively inexpensive Armor All Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner which, despite its lower price tag, looks as though it can deliver a seriously good clean.
Its rich foam formula is said to lift soil and debris with ease, breaking up any dirt and stains for you to then wipe or vacuum away, including tricky bug marks and fingerprints.
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Armor All also boasts its formula will not discolour your carpets or upholstery, so you shouldn't have to worry about whether it's suitable for your particular interior.
The canister also contains 22.0 Fl Oz. in total which, in our opinion, makes Armour All cleaner great value for money.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Finding the best upholstery cleaner can often lead to a ton of questions. Don't worry though because we've answered some of the most common queries right here.
How do you clean car upholstery?
According to Armor All, the first step to cleaning the upholstery of your car is to thoroughly vacuum every inch of your vehicle's interior. This is necessary to ensure you remove any loose dirt or debris before tackling tougher stains.
Next, apply your upholstery cleaner of choice as per the manufacturer's instructions. Take a soft-bristled brush and begin to work in the formula in circular motions, being careful to use as little water as possible during the cleaning process.
Start to dry the areas you cleaned with paper or an ordinary towel before vacuuming the areas again with one of the best car vacuums, then leave the interior to air out.
How much should you spend on car upholstery cleaner?
This really depends on your available budget and how much you're willing to invest in maintaining your vehicle.
That said, you don't necessarily have to break the bank in order to pick up a good upholstery cleaner, as evidenced by our list, that should last a considerable amount of time.
Like most car cleaning products though, you can spend more to pick up something a little more premium, or something to last you for years. The more premium products may come with additional functions like being able to use them on all surfaces rather than just your car's carpets.
Ultimately, how much you spend will come down to you. Our only recommendation is to make sure you're only purchasing something which you can afford.
Can you use upholstery cleaner on leather seats?
This depends on the cleaning product in question. Some will state that they're suitable for multiple surface types while others won't.
That said, we'd recommend a dedicated leather cleaner for this task as they typically container leather cleaning agents, conditioners, and UV blockers to clean, moisturise, and protect the material better than an upholstery cleaner.
You may then want to apply a leather conditioner to your seats to prevent drying and cracking. Again, we'd recommend a formula that's specifically built for leather car interiors for the best results.
Can you use carpet cleaner on car seats?
It depends on the type of carpet cleaner you have and the type of car seats you have.
Some carpet cleaners may contain chemicals that could be too harsh for certain types of car seats, such as leather or vinyl seats. Additionally, some carpet cleaners may not be formulated to remove specific types of stains that are common on car seats, such as oil or grease.
If you are considering using a carpet cleaner, it is important to check the label and make sure that it is safe to use on the type of car seats you have. You may also want to do a spot test in a small, inconspicuous area to make sure that the cleaner does not cause any damage or discolouration.
If you are unsure about using a carpet cleaner on your car seats, it may be best to consult with a professional detailer or contact the manufacturer of your car seats for their recommendations.