Prep first
Before you start
- Check your owner's manual for your seat material before you buy or use any cleaner.
- Test each cleaner on a hidden spot first, such as under a seat or on the back of a flap.
- Park in the shade and let the interior cool, since heat can set stains quickly.
- Vacuum loose dirt, crumbs and debris, and remove loose items before you start.
A car interior mixes leather, vinyl, fabric, glass, electronics and seat belts, and each one reacts differently to water and cleaners. The biggest risks are soaking the seats, letting liquid reach the electrics, and reaching for harsh chemicals or alcohol on plastics and leather. Check your owner's manual first, because it lists the right cleaners for your seat material.
Start with a thorough vacuum, then clean the car interior from the top down. Begin with the vents and dashboard, then move on to the seats, the inside car windows and the seat belts. Keep cloths damp rather than wet, and use mild cleaners only.
Before you start
What car interior can take
Use with care1
- Water
Avoid5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
8 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Whisk broomLoosens dirt from fabric seats and carpet before you vacuum.
- Vacuum with a crevice tool and brush attachmentPulls crumbs and dust out of seats, the trunk, mats and gaps. (opens Amazon)
- Soft-bristle brushLifts dust from vents, crevices and control knobs gently. (opens Amazon)
- Microfiber clothsUsed damp for the dashboard, inside glass and touch screen. (opens Amazon)
- Mild neutral cleaner or upholstery cleanerCleans seats and trim without the harsh chemicals the car interior can't take. (opens Amazon)
- Glass cleaner for the front and side windowsRemoves oily, greasy or waxy film from the inside glass. (opens Amazon)
- Fabric spot cleanerTreats fresh spots on fabric seats right away. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soap or detergentCleans seat belt webbing with warm water. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 710 minutes
Vacuum and clear loose dirt
Take out loose items and trash, then vacuum the seats, carpet and trunk to pull out crumbs and debris. Unlock the anchor knobs and take out the floor mats, setting them aside to vacuum. Vacuum all loose dirt before you use any cleaner.
Tip. Use a whisk broom to loosen dirt from fabric seats before you vacuum.
Step 2 of 710 minutes
Brush out vents and crevices
Brush the vents, the gaps between the seat and console, and the control knobs with a soft-bristle brush to loosen dust. Then vacuum the dust out with the crevice tool.
Careful. Keep liquids away from electrical parts and never spray water into the cabin, since the electrics can fail or catch fire.
Step 3 of 710 minutes
Wipe the dashboard and plastics
Dampen a microfiber cloth with water and wipe the dashboard, door panels and trim in overlapping strokes. If the surface is still grimy, add a small amount of mild non-detergent cleaner and wipe it again with a clean damp cloth.
Tip. Dry the surface right away so water spots don't form.
Careful. Never use silicone or wax-based products on the dashboard, since they are ruled out for the interior.
Step 4 of 710 minutes
Wipe the seats gently
Wipe the seats with a soft cloth dampened with a mild neutral cleaner, working in large strokes out to the seams. Wring the cloth out well so it's damp, not wet, then go over each area with a clean damp cloth to lift the leftover cleaner.
Tip. Test the cleaner on a hidden spot first, such as under the seat.
Careful. Never use chemical solvents or strong detergents on seats with side airbags, and never spray cleaner on the sides of those seats.
Step 5 of 710 minutes
Clean the inside glass
Wipe the front and side windows with glass cleaner on a microfiber cloth, using vertical strokes. Clean the rear window with only a damp cloth, wiping along the direction of its wires.
Careful. Never scrape the rear window or use glass cleaner on it, since that can damage the defogger wires.
Step 6 of 710 minutes
Clean the seat belts
Dab a mild soap or detergent onto the webbing with a soft brush and warm water to lift dirt. Wipe it with a cloth wrung out thoroughly, then let it air dry.
Tip. Pull the belt out fully so you can clean every section of the webbing.
Careful. Never bleach or dye the webbing, because that can weaken it.
Step 7 of 7
Dry and put everything back
Let every surface air dry completely, wiping away any damp spots with a clean dry cloth. Once the mats are fully dry, put them back in the car and relock their anchor knobs.
Tip. After the belts dry, pull them sharply to check that they lock.
Careful. Never leave leather wet; dry it promptly.
What makes the job easier
Best products for cleaning car interior
Choose a neutral-pH cleaner for leather and trim, and skip any product with solvents, silicone, wax or bleach. A soft-bristle brush and a few microfiber cloths cover most of this job.
Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor for Fabric
Armor All Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for cleaning car interior, its maker doesn't warn against using it on car interior, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely before you use it again.
How to tell it's really done →Spots that survive a deep clean are usually stains, and each stain has its own method.
Find the guide for your stain →Heavy grime or a lingering smell usually needs a second round once it's fully dry.
See what to do for what you're seeing →When to call a professional →How to tell it's done
The glass should look clear with no streaks, the plastics should look even with no water spots, and the seats and belts should feel dry to the touch. If anything still feels damp or looks cloudy, wipe it with a clean dry cloth and give it more time to air dry before you use the car.
Treat stains with their own method
Got a stain on it?
A deep clean lifts everyday dirt, but most stains need their own method. Pick yours:
What changes for yours
Adjust for each part of the interior
Leather car seats
Dampen a soft cloth with a mix of 90% water and 10% neutral soap, and wring it out well so it's damp, never wet. Finish by buffing with a clean dry cloth, and vacuum leather often to prevent abrasion in the pleats and seams.
Light-colored leather shows dirt more and needs more frequent cleaning. A leather protectant can reduce abrasion and help keep the color.
Fabric car seats
Fabric seats take a mild soap solution made for upholstery, and you should not oversaturate them, because a ring will set as it dries. Wipe in large strokes out to the seams, and treat fresh spots at once with a fabric spot cleaner.
Don't scrub or scrape a stain, since that can damage the fabric; blot it instead. Rinse out soapy residue thoroughly, because it attracts dirt. Untreated fresh spots can stain and change color, so act on them quickly.
Floor mats
Unlock the anchor knobs to take the driver's mat out, then relock them when you refit it. Vacuum the mat before anything else, and let it air dry completely before you put it back.
Mats are the easiest part of the interior to clean in a quick pass, so keep the job to vacuuming and airing out. Heavy carpet staining is a bigger job that needs its own method.
Interior plastics and trim
Start with a whisk broom or vacuum to clear loose dust, then use warm water first. Add a mild non-detergent cleaner only if the trim is still grimy, and use a soft-bristle brush on textured trim, vents and control knobs.
If you can't tell whether a surface is plastic or vinyl, check your owner's manual before choosing a cleaner. Stick to mild, neutral-pH cleaners for both.
Between deep cleans
How often to clean it
Clean the interior on a regular schedule, and do it more often if the interior is light-colored, since dirt shows more on it. Vacuum fabric seats and carpet regularly, and vacuum leather often, paying attention to pleats and seams.
Wipe beverages, fragrance, grease and oil off at once with a soft cloth, because perfume, sunscreen, hand cleaner and cosmetic oil can damage or discolor the interior. Heat inside a car can set stains quickly, so park in the shade when you can.
Clean seat belts promptly, since dirt left behind is harder to remove and can affect retraction.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work for cleaning car interior?
Most household fixes are ruled out for a car interior, because the guidance keeps bleach, alcohol, acids, alkalis and harsh detergents away from it. None of these remedies belong inside a car.
Skip1Avoid6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't soak the seats
Too much liquid in fabric leaves a ring that sets as it dries, so keep cloths damp rather than wet. On leather, wring the cloth out well, because a wet cloth can crack the surface.
Don't reach for bleach, alcohol or solvents
Bleach, alcohol, thinner, benzene, petrol, naphtha and other organic solvents are all ruled out for the interior. Leather can fade or strip with these cleaners, so keep them out of the car.
Don't scrub with a stiff brush
A stiff brush or rough cloth can damage seats, trim and vents. Use a soft-bristle brush, and never use one that has been used with a harsh chemical.
Don't stack a mat on an anchored one
Never put another mat on top of an anchored mat. Unlock the anchor knobs to take a mat out, and relock them when you put it back.
Troubleshooting
If it still isn't clean
Pick what you're seeing:
Water rings on fabric after drying
Too much liquid causes a ring that sets as it dries. Blot up the extra moisture, then wipe the area with a clean damp cloth to lift the leftover cleaner.
Streaks on the inside windows
Clean the front and side windows in vertical strokes with a microfiber cloth. Use glass cleaner on any oily, greasy or waxy film, and keep it off the rear window.
Seat belt is slow to lock
After the belt dries, pull it sharply to check that it locks. If the webbing is fraying or the belt won't retract properly, have a dealer check or replace it.
When to call a professional
Ask a specialist before using a leather coating or protective agent, and contact the vehicle maker's customer support if you're unsure which cleaners to use. Have a frayed or abraded seat belt checked or replaced by a dealer, too.
Questions
Can I use wipes on my car interior?
Scented wipes and bleach-containing wipes are ruled out, so use a damp microfiber cloth instead. Household products and glass cleaners can also stain fabric and affect its flame-retardant properties.
Can I use a steam cleaner in my car?
It's better to skip it. Steam adds moisture to the cabin, and water should never reach the electrical parts or be sprayed inside.
How do I know if my seats are leather, synthetic leather or fabric?
Check the interior care section of your owner's manual, which treats fabric, genuine leather and synthetic leather as three separate materials. If it says synthetic leather, follow its synthetic-leather directions rather than the genuine-leather ones. A hands-on test can't reliably tell them apart, so the manual or your dealer is the safest check.
Can I use glass cleaner on the back window?
No. Glass cleaner can damage the defogger wires, so wipe the rear window with a damp cloth along the direction of the wires.
Can I whiten my seat belts?
No. Whitening or dyeing the webbing can weaken it, so clean it with mild soap and warm water instead.
Can I clean my touch screen with glass cleaner?
Not really. Switch the screen off and wipe it with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth, avoiding ammonia cleaners. Keep liquids away from the electronics as well, since they can fail or catch fire.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Odor guides
Still smells?
More cleaning guides
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.