7 Best Car Interior Cleaners for 2024

  • Written by: William Copper

Our top selection:

Product Our Rating Purpose Advantages
Weiman Leather Cleaner
Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Review thumbnail FULL REVIEW HERE BUY HERE
cleans leather interior which is also conditioned after use
  • helps to prevent your leather surfaces from sunray damage
  • designed to not leave behind any residue
  • also restores softness, as well as prevents it from drying out
Ozium Air Sanitizer
Ozium Air Sanitizer Spray & Air Freshener Review thumbnail FULL REVIEW HERE BUY HERE
eliminates odors caused by bacteria, dust, dirt, and other buildups on contact
  • strong enough to be effective, but not overwhelming enough to create an unsafe environment or unbearable conditions to your nose and those around you
  • it doesn’t just “mask” odors, it completely eliminates them
  • many customers compare it to a “new car” smell
Invisible Glass - Cleaner
Invisible Glass Premium Glass Cleaner Review thumbnail FULL REVIEW HERE BUY HERE
use on your windshield
Chemical Guys MIC_507_06
Chemical Guys MIC_507_06 Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towel in Gold Color Review thumbnail FULL REVIEW HERE BUY HERE
effective solution to dry your car
Sonax Dashboard Cleaner
Sonax (283241) Dashboard Cleaner Review thumbnail FULL REVIEW HERE BUY HERE
must have for wiping down, cleaning, and restoring the condition of your dashboard, panel, and other plastics
COLOURLOCK Brush
COLOURLOCK Leather & Textile Cleaning Brush Review thumbnail FULL REVIEW HERE BUY HERE
use on your leather and textile interior
Chemical Guys CWS103
Chemical Guys CWS_103 Fabric Clean Carpet and Upholstery Shampoo and Odor Eliminator Review thumbnail FULL REVIEW HERE BUY HERE
from “degreasing” your fabric, to getting even the toughest of stains and odors out

Interior cleaners for your car come in many shapes, sizes, and types - and most are rather affordable. Even better, many interior cleaning products are also trusted for use in cleaning your home, which is how and when you know that you have a reputable, trusted interior cleaning product.

If you’re looking to get maximum cleaning results for your vehicle, especially if it’s been a long time, then you’ve come to the right place. Even better, if you’ve just purchased your vehicle – or are looking to sell it – then you’ll likewise find the following car interior cleaning products equally useful.

What are Car Interior Cleaning Products?

When it comes to cleaning the interior of your car, there are several routes you can take, and depending on the condition of your vehicle some cleaning products may be more necessary than others.

For example, while a solid, effective dashboard cleaner might be a must, an air sanitizer could be considered more of an “extra”, final step, or you may not have an odor problem at all. Although, we’re still equally confident that you’ll find the Ozium Air Sanitizer as not only a nice product for freshening your car interior, but also warding off bad odors, as well as for use on a regular basis to prevent unwanted odors.

If you have a leather car interior, then you know how both important, and labor-intensive regular cleaning maintenance and condition can be. However, we have outlined the best, most positively consumer reviewed leather cleaners and conditioners below, and much like customers we’ve heard from are confident you too will find them very useful.

Should I use Car Interior Cleaning Products?

If your car has been sitting for a long time, or simply has not been cleaned in a while then investing just a few dollars, the necessary time, and efforts can make all the difference in not only condition and appearance but also the comfort of your vehicle. After all, nobody likes driving regularly or daily in a car that is dirty, odorous or needs a good cleaning. Also, using these car interior cleaning products can easily save you hundreds of dollars, as opposed to having a professional detailing done – or worse, having to replace car interior parts due to neglect or odor build-up.

Each of these car interior cleaning products are designed for ease of use, convenience, and are meant to be affordable for most budgets. Best of all, most are relatively self-explanatory, and will not require extra, or special tools for application. Many of these cleaning products are effective on contact and will leave your car looking, feeling, and smelling fresh in just a matter of minutes.

Choosing the Best Interior Cleaning Products

When considering the follow car interior cleaning products, keep in mind your level of comfort, experience, and the specific areas within your vehicle that could use a cleaning, or ‘refurbishing’. Several of these interior cleaning products are designed to be used with one another, which will make the process all the more easier and practical for you.

We have laid out here the best interior cleaning products for your vehicle in a way which will help you determine which cleaning product is best for what, how to use it, and why it’s the best cleaning product.

The Chemical Guys MIC_507_06: Best Microfiber Cleaning Towel

If you’re looking for the best microfiber cleaning towel, then the Chemical Guys MIC_507_06 is the ultimate cleaning, and drying solution.

This microfiber towel is a popular pick among both professional car detailers and vehicle owners alike because it’s made durable, designed to be used frequently, and comes with a special, two-sided design for various cleaning purposes. Thanks to having a both high pile and low pile side it is the perfect solution for anything from cleaning off dirt and dust, grime, to effectively removing polish or wax residue.

In fact, if you’ve been looking for an effective solution to dry your car after a washing and for drying, the Microfiber towel by Chemical Guys is perfect, and will not leave unwanted swirls, marks, residue or oils, scratches, or abrasions behind. In comparison to competing products, this microfiber towel is made of premium, lint-free material, and is both soft and effective for nearly any interior car – or at home – cleaning and drying use. Best of all, this microfiber cleaning towel also works great when wet, which makes it stand out from other common ‘run of the mill’ microfiber towels that you may have experienced in the past. It is made from durable, yet pleasant and gentle silk, as opposed to nylon, and is still durable enough that you cannot feel the surface through the rag.

To sweeten the deal, this product includes 6 total microfiber cloths, are easy to clean in a regular washer and dryer, and are also perfect for drying off your windows without leaving any streaks or moisture behind. In conclusion, the Chemical Guys Microfiber Towel is a must-have for anyone serious about maximizing the effects of another cleaning, polishing, or detailing products when cleaning their car interior – and exterior.

The COLOURLOCK Leather & Textile Cleaning Brush: Trusted and Effective

When detailing your car, if you have leather interior you know how tough stains can be to remove, and how upsetting UV-damage can be to its overall appearance and condition. However, customers are very pleased and trust the COLOURLOCK brand for providing a reliable, durable leather and textile cleaning brush that can be used for more than just cleaning your car interior.

The fact that this leather cleaning brush was made to clean and restore the condition of surfaces such as Alcantara (also known as Ultrasuede), which means although it's built tough, it’s soft and sensitive enough to be effective on even the most sensitive materials of your car interior. Additionally, customers report being very satisfied with the COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Brush being perfect for cleaning tough stains, grime, and dust from their cherished leather furniture – which also says a lot about the quality and satisfaction of this product.

For those that have never cleaned their leather interior before, or have just purchased and use a vehicle with leather, this cleaning brush is perfect, as it helps to restore the condition of the leather, and is also great for getting deep into crevices, cracks, and the leather material connecting it to your seats. It should be no surprise that this durable, top-rated leather and textile cleaning brush is also made in Germany, and everyone knows that some of the best, most effective, and reputable products come from there.

If you also have leather handbags, accessories, or clothing this can also be a nice solution. Overall, using this leather cleaning brush for your leather car interior is an excellent solution for getting the most out of your cleaning efforts, and remains our top pick among leather and textile cleaning brushes for cars.

Cleaning and Restoring your Dashboard: The Sonax (283241) Dashboard Cleaner

The Sonax (283241) Dashboard Cleaner is a must have for wiping down, cleaning, and restoring the condition of your dashboard, panel, and other plastics. Sonax is a trusted brand that has been making cleaning products for years and has received very positive feedback for this dashboard cleaning product.

In comparison to competing dashboard and interior car cleaners, the Sonax stands out as it does not leave any sticky, or oily residue behind. At the same time, it’s also made with unique, non-harmful and specialized ingredients that also protect your dashboard from UV-ray damage in the future. Even better, customers report that this Sonax cleaner is desirable, and not only easy to use but that the application is also both fast and effective. This is a great quality and means this dashboard cleaner is both practical and portable enough to stick in your trunk and take with you anywhere for on-the-go cleaning.

In addition, this dashboard cleaner by Sonax sets itself apart by restoring the condition of your car interior plastic, and will not leave an unwanted or mismatched artificial “shine” behind. It is specifically designed for Matte black finish, and customers report satisfaction with the end results which include both renewed look and feel accompanying one another. Also, the Sonax Dashboard Cleaner lasts longer than other competing products and is effective in as little as one application.

Because the Sonax Dashboard Cleaner is made with special ingredients, it’s also designed to be anti-static, which means you can worry less about cotton or lint accumulating over time on your dashboard post-cleaning. It also lasts the longest in comparison to competing products, and customers are so pleased with the results on their car interiors that they also trust it for use on their shoes. The Sonax Dashboard Cleaner is reported by customers to leave a non-overbearing “new car scent” behind, which really sweetens the deal, making this a must-have addition to your next interior car cleaning project.

The Best Interior Leather Shampoo and Conditioner: Weiman Leather Cleaner

For the best results with cleaning, restoring, and preventing damage to your vehicle's leather interior, customers have found the Weinman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner to be an excellent product. With over 15 years of experience, Weiman has already established itself in trusted, effective automotive cleaning products, and each product comes with a guarantee.

We, as well as customers, really enjoy this leather cleaner and conditioner for car interiors because it has been designed with a pH-neutral special formula which ensures that your leather interior is not only cleaned but also conditioned. Using this leather cleaner also helps prevent leather cracking, hardening, or it drying out in the future. This is also a great product to prevent and avoid discoloration from sun exposure over time, and also works on both faux-leather, as well as synthetic leathers.

Customers trust this car interior leather cleaner for any vehicle type, including premium, imported cars such as BMW, Audi, and Mercedes – which says a lot about the quality and consumer trust in this product. Also, customers have reported great success in using this leather cleaner on their shoes. So, what better product to clean, condition, and restore your leather interior than one that people trust on their own, personal, valued leather shoes? The Weiman Leather Cleaner & Conditioner is developed by a company that’s been in this business for over 15 years, and it’s ingredients also work in a UV-sealant to help protect your interior car leather from aging or sun damage over time.

So, if you’re looking for a leather car interior cleaner that will restore and leave you with factory-like original, sheen, supple, and sleek leather appearance this is a product worth checking out. It also has a pleasant, sweet and clean Lemon scent, and will not leave any oils or residue behind – which is a common occurrence with competing products.

Removing & Keeping Away Car Interior Odors: The Ozium Air Sanitizer

Whether you’re a smoker, have recently purchased a car, or are looking to get stubborn odors out of your vehicle's interior the Ozium Air Sanitizer is the ultimate solution.

The Ozium Air Sanitizer is a must have for every car owner, and those preparing to detail or clean out their car – as well as those looking to regularly maintain it’s cleanliness. In comparison to other common products you might see frequently advertised or talked about, customers have found that the Ozium Air Sanitizer is a “hidden gem” so to speak, and rather than aggressive sales tactics it really shines because it does what it’s designed to do, saves you time, energy, and money. Because it is made with concentrate ingredients it will work in as little as one spray, and typically takes full effect within ten seconds or less, depending on ventilation.

As a car owner you know, over time dust, dirt, grime, and bacteria will accumulate in your car, and the Ozium Air Sanitizer is unique in that it’s designed to not only address the odors, but specifically kill bacteria that is not only foul to your nose, but also to your health. The Ozium Air Sanitizer has been designed and reported by customers to be effective even on pet stains and odors that have been sitting in your vehicle for a long time - as well as those that regularly have animals in their car. This is also a great air sanitizer and must have for cleaning your car interior because it’s specifically formulated to remove odors and keep them away.

It's not only nice, but also relatively rare that you see an air sanitizer or air freshener product that’s also tested and popular in the medical field and facilities, but Ozium Air Sanitizer is one of the few that are. Using this air sanitizer is also great during flu season, as it kills germs, and is trusted and frequently used by customers in their homes, as well as home office. If you’re looking for an air sanitizer that will literally dissipate nearly any imaginable scent on contact, this is definitely the way to go.

Chemical Guys Interior Fabric Cleaner: Reaching All Your Needs

The Chemical Guys Interior Fabric Cleaner is the ultimate car interior cleaner, as it serves multiple purposes, from “degreasing” your fabric, to getting even the toughest of stains and odors out.

Because this car interior cleaner is made of concentrate ingredients, customers have experienced more positive results with less chemical, faster, and more effective refreshing properties in this product. It also leaves a nice, light hint of lemon and citrus behind, which is great for those with sensitive noses, along with anyone looking to also freshen their car after riding it off tough odors.

Many customers have found great success in also using this car interior fabric cleaner for removing cigarette and pet odors, as well as stains. This interior cleaner not only cleans, but it also restores the original color and feeling of your car fabric, which is a huge plus. It also suds up very easily, making for the best scrubbing, and cleaning experience. Most popular among professional car detailers as well as vehicle owners, this interior fabric cleaner is not only great for cleaning and restoring car seats or mats, but also scrubbing out stains and restoring the condition of your vehicles interior, plastic parts.

Most importantly, the Chemical Guys Fabric Cleaner works, because it’s designed with a bacteria-fighting deodorizer, eliminating the true source of bad odors and stains. So, if you have odors or stains in your car interior from body oils, food oils, dirty shoes, pets, smoke, or other dust and dirt this is the ultimate solution. To add to quality, Chemical Guys has been a very reputable, widely known brand for making reliable, efficient car interior cleaners of all types, and always has positive feedback, along with repeat customers – which we find to be very important characteristics of any car interior cleaning product.

The Best Car Glass Cleaner: A Final Touch by Invisible Glass

Once you’ve finished cleaning the interior (and exterior) of your vehicle at the carwash, or at home, the finishing touches should involve cleaning, restoring, and preventing dirt, dust, grime, and build-up on your windows. After all, your car windows are both an integral part of your interior, and exterior. They not only add to cosmetic appearance, but also physical safety from road hazards, as well as improving or balancing your vision of the road and any obstacles around you.

The Premium Glass Cleaner product by Invisible Glass is the ultimate solution for maximizing your next car interior cleaning, and its natural, non-harmful or abrasive ingredients will both provide clean, satisfying results as well as prevent future dirt build-up. Often, rain can cause tiny droplets to form on your windows and windshield, but this glass cleaner is made with specific (safe) chemicals that will prevent that from happening – further contributing to your cars overall road worthiness and safety.

This glass cleaner is also perfect for removing bird feces, tree-berries, oils, dirt, and other commonly accumulated debris on your cars windows and windshields over time. The Invisible Glass Cleaner is also great for cleaning the interior of your car, as your interior windows often also have dirt and bacteria build-up, especially those that smoke, or frequently have pets in their car. In fact, pet dander is one of many causes of dust and other allergens, that, if left untreated on your interior windows can cause other bacteria, and add to an overall dirtier environment.

In comparison to other glass cleaners, the Invisible Glass Premium Glass Cleaner is more practical, as well as popular, because it lasts longer. This is due to not using any artificial dyes, foam, scents, or coloring. When you clean your interior and exterior windows this also means you do not have to worry about streaking, swirling, or any residue being left behind post-cleaning. Best of all, the Invisible Glass Cleaner produces consistent results, has no scent, is eco-friendly, and one bottle will easily last you up to 6 months or more.

Where do I Get Started?

Cleaning out your car interior, removing tough stains, odors, and preventing future dirt build-up and wear doesn’t have to be a long, or difficult process. In fact, the majority if not all the above-recommended car interior cleaning products are each designed to be effective with minimal effort, and an easy to understand the application.

We know how important your car interior and the condition is, and these top car interior cleaning products were each designed with cleaning and preserving the integrity of exactly that. So, whether you have a leather interior and are looking to clean it, as well as in need of the perfect leather cleaning brush, or are looking for a multipurpose glass and surface cleaner, we’re confident that you now have a better idea of what interior cleaning products work best, how, and why.

If in doubt, simply approach your car interior cleaning one step at a time, focusing on any major problem areas, and of course, your safety (such as windshield and window visibility). Most importantly, take your time in making the best product selection, and take comfort in knowing that these products have not only received the best consumer product feedback, but that they’re also practical, and affordable too.

Main Image Copyright: “PATIWIT HONGSANG/Shutterstock”