The Best Car Interior Cleaners to Make Your Baby Shine
Sprays, wipes, and more—we tested the top contenders.
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The car community is one of the most complex and diverse groups out there. While outsiders might lump us all into the same basket, those within car culture understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all school of thought. That’s why you’ll often catch us arguing over what seem to be insignificant details.
But if there’s anything we can agree on, it’s the pride and satisfaction of a freshly cleaned interior. Even if the thing is smoking, backfiring, and beat-up on the outside, a clean cabin lets us escape into the mystique of any car or truck.
There’s no shortage of products to help you clean your car’s interior. The hardest part is sorting through all of the options. Now, we don’t know if you’re running leather or cloth seats, but we do know you’ve got a dashboard, a steering wheel, and plenty of other hard surfaces for dust and dirt to collect on. So, we set out to get a little more hands-on in finding out exactly what product is the best for cleaning your car’s interior.
Mothers Speed Interior Detailer
- Competitive price point
- Cleans and repels dust well
- Light layer of protection provides “new car” appearance
- Offers no UV protection, warranting the use of additional product
303 All Surface Interior Cleaner
- Very affordable pricing
- Outperformed more expensive products
- Light layer of protection is virtually undetectable
- Does not offer UV protection; should be paired with additional product
Chemical Guys Hydro Interior Ceramic Quick Detailer
- Ceramic coating offers superior defense
- Thick layer of protection offers a premium sheen, reflective of a new car
- The hefty price tag reflects a premium product; it’s nearly double the cost of any other product on our list
Summary List of the Best Car Interior Cleaners
Our Methodology
Testing cleaners seems pretty straightforward, right? Clean, then compare. That's how I started. However, the dash test I initially decided to perform wouldn’t work and, if possible, would only tell us so much about how the product performs. So, I opted to perform three basic tests. This way, I could display the effectiveness of each cleaner to the best of my ability.
For more on how The Drive selects products, check this out.
Surface Test
With eight products to test, dashboard space was tight. Instead, we opted to use the rear hatch of a Crosstour. The surface test is pretty standard. I used a large area with a typical buildup layer, taped off a section for each of the cleaners, and compared the results side by side. This provided an overall look at how the products performed as a cleaning agent, and an authentic look at the finish each left behind.
Some of the differences were just too close to call, and I immediately knew that further testing was necessary.
Steering Wheel Test
Every product we're testing talks about how it's perfect for use on the parts you interact with regularly. To me, the dashboard doesn't fit that mold. So, I used these cleaners on the steering wheel of my project Charger. That way, I could determine how—or if—they impacted its feel to a notable degree.
Dust Resistance Test
To test each product's ability to repel dust, I decided to apply a layer to an old, beat-down center console sitting in my parts pile for some time. I essentially replicated the dash test by taping off sections for each of the cleaners and applying them accordingly.
Since it’s difficult to accumulate dust in short order, I decided to shake off a shop broom above each section. Then I gave the console a good shake. A quick swipe of tissue would reveal how much dust remained on the surface after each cleaner was applied.
Best Car Interior Cleaners Reviews & Recommendations
With our large surface, steering wheel, and dust-resistance tests in mind, we put our contenders through the wringer. All performed admirably. Some did just what they were meant to do, while others went above and beyond our expectations.
Specs
- Brand: Mother’s
- Size: 24 ounces
- Application: safe for most surfaces
Pros
- Excellent at repelling dust
- Good for various surfaces
- Decent pricing
- Easy to use
Cons
- Layer of protection is so-so compared to rival brands
Specs
- Brand: 303
- Size: 16 ounces
- Application: safe for a variety of surfaces
Pros
- Affordably priced
- Efficiently repels dust
- Good on glass, leather, vinyl and more
Cons
- No UV protection
- Doesn’t provide a “preferred” finish
Specs
- Brand: Chemical Guys
- Size: 16 ounces
- Application: safe for most surfaces
Pros
- Efficiently cleans
- Leaves behind a protective matte finish
- Water-repelling properties
Cons
- Pricey
Specs
- Brand: Meguiar’s
- Size: 15.2 ounces
- Application: safe for most surfaces
Pros
- Smells good
- Cleans well
- UV protection
- Choose between a higher shine or gloss finish
Cons
- Doesn’t repel dust as well as some other brands
Specs
- Brand: Turtle Wax
- Size: 20 ounces
- Application: works on most surfaces
Pros
- Nice finish
- Bottle shape provides good control during application
- Cleans well
Cons
- Could do a better job of repelling dust
Specs
- Brand: Chemical Guys
- Size: 16 ounces
- Application: Use on plastic, rubber, vinyl, leather, glass and more
Pros
- Efficiently removes dirt and dust
- UV protection
- Pleasant scent
Cons
- Retains more dust than some rival brands
Specs
- Brand: Miracle Wipes
- Size: 36 ounces (90 wipes)
- Application: use on upholstery, leather, and other surfaces
Pros
- Can be used inside and out
- Removes dirt and grime
- Dual-textured surface
Cons
- No protective layer
- No UV protection
- Hard to tell how much dirt it’s picking up
Specs
- Brand: Armor All
- Size: 30 wipes
- Application: use on the dashboard, vinyl, leather, fabric, carpet and console
Pros
- Efficient at cleaning
- No residue
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- No protective layer
- Dust still clings to surface areas
Our Verdict on the Best Car Interior Cleaners
We stand behind Mothers Speed Interior Detailer as our top car interior cleaner, and 303 All Surface Interior Cleaner as the one that’s the best value for the dollar. While all of these are good cleaners, these two products are both attached to decent price tags—always a plus.
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers!
Q: Should I use the product full strength or have it diluted?
You shouldn’t have to dilute the product. In fact, none of the products we tested required cutting to any degree. Those with a thicker finish may say going back over the product with a damp cloth can help with streaking, but we didn’t find that to be a common issue.
Q: Do car interior detailers work on scratch marks?
Not exactly. A detailer is simply a cleaner that leaves behind some form of protection; it doesn’t exactly work to mask scratches or finish imperfections. For that, you might want to look into polishing interior components that deal with light scratches.
Q: Can I clean glass with car interior detailers?
Depends on the product. Among the products we tested, some allow for use on glass while others do not. I’d recommend using dedicated glass cleaners simply because the less a product is trying to achieve, the more it excels in the areas it does perform in. Even if an interior cleaner works on glass, glass cleaner will work better.
Q: How often should I use a cleaner on the interior of my car?
A: How often does your car get dirty? Some recommend cleaning your car’s interior once a month. However, you really never know when you’ll spill your coffee, get mud on your kick panels, or sneeze all over the dash. The best car interior cleaners won’t harm the surface, nor will they pose much of a threat to anything else. So, it ultimately comes down to how much of a mess you can tolerate and how much money you’re willing to spend on cleaning products.
Q: How much should I expect to pay for an interior cleaner?
You’ll typically find basic cleaners between $5-10, though these products offer minimal protective properties but are generally fine for removing dirt and buildup. Some professional-grade and premium products can be found at prices above $20.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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