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The Best Car Interior Cleaners To Keep Your Car Squeaky Clean

Our content is meticulously curated through independent research, testing, reviews, and AI-driven recommendations, all designed to present you with the finest product choices. When you make a purchase through our links, it could result in us earning a commission.

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Keeping a car’s interior clean can be an uphill battle against coffee stains, muddy footprints, dust, and pet hair. But there’s good news: you don’t have to put up with a messy interior any longer. In this post, we’ll share the top-rated car interior cleaners of 2024 to help you get your car squeaky clean and looking like brand new.

We’ve taken many factors into consideration, including the types of materials used, ease of use, cleaning power, and value for money to compile a list of the top-rated cleaners. So, whether you’re looking for a spot solution or an all-purpose cleaner, we’ve got you covered.

Car Interior Cleaners: A Buying Guide

When it comes to cleaning your car’s interior, the right cleaner can make a world of difference. There are a variety of types, formulas, and applications available that can help you keep your car interior looking like new. To help you find the right cleaner for cleaning the inside of your car, here is a comprehensive buyer’s guide that covers the features you should consider when choosing a car interior cleaner.

What To Consider When Choosing a Car Interior Cleaner

Efficiency

The first thing to do when deciding on a car interior cleaner is to determine how effective it is when it comes to cleaning dust and dirt. Newer interior cleaners tend to be the best at this since they capture narrow dust particles and grime at the smallest level for deep interior cleaning and detailing. Generally speaking, such detailers are a good solution for most interior cleaning needs. As someone who has had to purchase new cleaning supplies in the recent past, I can recommend upgrading to the newest product to save time through greater effectiveness.

Compatibility

When applied to door panels, mirrors, or other glass parts, most interior cleaners leave a slight haze. Similarly, some detailers are not compatible with fabric seats. When choosing an interior cleaner, make sure it supports the surfaces you’ll be cleaning along the way. You may choose to purchase multiple cleaning products, with each one specific to a particular surface. While that is an option, I don’t recommend going down that route for most people. Cleaners can be expensive, so unless you really want each surface to be perfectly treated, stick to one multi-purpose interior cleaner.

Ergonomics

Cleaning bottles must be easy to hold if you want to detail your car comfortably. This may not sound that important, but you may be spending up to an hour inside your car when detailing the interior, and no one wants to hold an uncomfortable bottle for that long.  We recommend shower bottles that have an ergonomically designed grip. Also, opt for a small-sized, lightweight bottle for easy carrying while cleaning your car. We know these details seem tedious, but I can tell you that cleaning the inside of your car can take a while, so they do matter.

Additional Buying Tips

Say no to greasy cleaners

The car interior cleaners that add a slick, shiny layer to the interior parts tend to leave grease and residue, which catches dust over time. That means your car's interior looks stunning and show-ready for a while but will potentially get dirtier faster. We suggest non-greasy car detailers for long-lasting cleanliness unless you’re preparing a show car.

Choose UV-blocking detailers

The UV rays of sunlight may damage your car’s interior trim and cause cracking & discoloring. Some car interior cleaners pack UV-blocking ingredients to protect your car from harsh sunlight. If you care about retaining the original color of your car’s interior leather and details, purchase a UV-blocking cleaner.

How We Selected the Best Car Interior Cleaners

Standout features

Besides looking into detailing functionality, we also focused on unique features when narrowing down the top car interior detailers. As features like UV protection, nanotechnology, and non-greasy finish are important for a clean and long-lasting interior, we kept them in mind during our research. We gave extra points if a product included them.

Safety

A good interior cleaner doesn’t just make the car look clean but actually kills germs and bacteria along the way. Since excessive bacteria and viruses are prone to causing infections, we had to look into this factor when deciding on what interior cleaners to pick. 

How To Use an Interior Cleaner to Clean Your Car

Take the following steps to clean your car’s interior and give it a clean look:
  1. Start by removing trash like old drink cans and shopping bags
  2. Vacuum the floor mats and seats to remove dust.
  3. Clean the seats and mats by applying the interior cleaning solution
  4. Grab a microfiber cloth and wipe away dirt with the help of your interior detailer
  5. Clean cup holders, door panels, instrument panels, and steering wheel using your interior cleaner

Top Picks

  • Best Overall: Adam’S Polishes Car Interior Cleaner
  • Easy To Use: Chemical Guys Car Interior Cleaner
  • Perfect For Show Cars: Meguiar's Car Interior Cleaner
  • Residue-Free: Griots Car Interior Cleaner
  • Toughest On Dirt: Car Guys Car Interior Cleaner
  • Ideal For Dust Removal: Shine Armor Car Interior Cleaner

Reviews

Best Overall
None

Adam’S Polishes Car Interior Cleaner

Pros Cons
  • Fast, easy application 
  • Leaves no slimy or greasy residue
  • Protects against fading and the elements 
  • Scent can be strong
Easy to Use

Chemical Guys Car Interior Cleaner

Pros Cons
  • Suitable for all interior trim materials
  • Keeps germs away with bacterial protection
  • Avoids dashboard cracking by UV rays 
  • Can leave a haze when applied to glass
Perfect for Show Cars

Meguiar's Car Interior Cleaner

Pros Cons
  • Provides UV protection
  • Effective for commercial car detailing needs
  • Dries with a non-greasy finish
  • Not to be used on glass
Residue-Free

Griots Car Interior Cleaner

Pros Cons
  • Doesn’t discolor light-colored interiors
  • Kills bacteria & viruses
  • Won't leave residue or dye behind
  • No scent at all
Toughest on Dirt

Car Guys Car Interior Cleaner

Pros Cons
  • Supports various surfaces
  • Provides effective removal of contaminants
  • The spray bottle is extremely easy-to-use
  • Not effective for cleaning glass
  • Pricer than other options
Ideal for Dust Removal

Shine Armor Car Interior Cleaner

Pros Cons
  • Effective dust removal with nanotechnology
  • Lasts up to a month
  • Doesn’t leave a greasy residue
  • Doesn’t work well on glass or fabric

FAQs

What is the best thing to clean a car’s dashboard?
The best way to clean your car’s dashboard is with an interior cleaner. These cleaners are designed to eliminate germs and bacteria while they give a fresh and clean look when applied properly. 
How to remove stains from car seats?
Car interior cleaners are an effective way to remove stains and germs from your car’s seats. Interior cleaners are made from antibacterial ingredients like sodium hydroxide to purify your car’s interior, including seats, by eliminating grease, dirt, and stains. 
What do car detailers use to clean interiors?
Professional car detailers normally use specialized car interior cleaners to give a luxurious look to a car interior. The cloth you use for wiping away dirt on your car’s interior also matters. Car detailers tend to use microfiber cloths as they effectively suck contaminants from your car’s dashboard, seats, and other interior parts without leaving any fibers behind.
What is included in a complete car detail?
To fully detail your entire car, you would need to vacuum the interior, clean the interior, wash the windows, clean the tires, and wash the outside of the car. 
How much does a full car cleaning cost?
Hiring someone to clean your car can be expensive. Depending on your vehicle and your location, it could cost anything from $50-$300. A cheaper alternative is to just do it yourself!