Best Car Carpet Cleaner: Top 5 Recommended

What Features Make it the Best Car Carpet Cleaner

While you will want a carpet cleaner that is easy to use, remember that the bulk of the dirt in your car mats and carpets is loose dirt. Make sure to give it a thorough vacuum before you decide to start adding wet chemicals.

After you are done with dust removal, look for a cleaner with the following features for the best results

 

 

What Surfaces is It Safe to Use On?

Most automotive carpets are manufactured using man-made materials including plastic. Check the label of your car carpet cleaner to see that it is safe to use on vinyl, plastic, dashboards, and upholstery. Avoid cleaners that are made to also condition leather or polish rubber.

Concentrated or Ready-to-Use

When detailing the interior of your vehicle, you won’t want to use a highly concentrated cleaner unless you are working on a specific spot or stain.

Your best car carpet cleaner will come ready-to-use in a spray bottle. Some may indicate they are also safe to use on your small carpet extractor.

Leave the can of concentrated spot remover to tackle the coffee or pet stain.

Leave to Dry or Rinse Required?

Since your car in an enclosed space, it doesn’t ventilate very well. Look for a car carpet cleaner that can be used and left to air dry.

If it wants you to rinse down after use to remove any remaining surfactants, you are simply adding water to an area that isn’t designed for fast drying. You can end up with a mildew smell or water stains.

Designed to Clean Spots or Large Areas?

Some products come in small bottles and tout super stain killing ability. However, if you use that chemical to tackle cleaning the entire carpet of your car, you are going to spend a lot of money on a little job.

Look for a label that offers a product ready to also clean the seats, steering wheel, trunk, and even the exterior trim pieces and get the best bang for your buck.

Built-In Scrubber

It isn’t just the chemicals that remove stains and dirt. A little elbow grease is needed to loosen ground in dirt and let the soapy bubbles whisk it away. The best car carpet cleaner will come with an extra scrub sponge, cloth, or textured top for an all-in-one cleaning package.

Able to Use with a Machine

If you like to use your carpet extractor to give your car a deep cleaning, check with the owner’s manual before adding any chemical to the tank. You may be mixing chemicals and that can harm the machine and your health.

If you cannot find verification that your carpet cleaner is safe to use with the machine, just use water in the tank and spray on the chemical by hand. You can then have the extractor scrub and suck up the used product.

5 Best Car Carpet Cleaner Reviews

Here’s a list of the best car carpet cleaners available:

1. Lexol Auto Carpet Deep Cleaner

Lexol has built a large loyal following of satisfied users for their leather cleaning products and have put the same care into creating their Auto Carpet Deep Cleaner.

This is the best car carpet cleaner for specific use on upholstery and your floor mats and carpets. Each bottle comes with an easy-to-use trigger spray.

All you have to do is spray it on the spot, let it foam for a few minutes, and then blot the stain away.

Because it is made by Lexol, a premium car care company, you might expect to pay extra for the product. That is not necessarily the case.

Do your smart shopping and you can spend less than $8. However, some stores will list it at over $15.

Buyer beware. You may also find that the foam will clog the nozzle from time to time.

Pros:

• Excellent reputation for their leather cleaner
• Convenient trigger spray applicator
• Designed specifically for carpet and upholstery

Cons:

• Foam clogs the spray nozzle
• Overpriced in some locations

View on Amazon

2. CarGuys Super Carpet Cleaner

Next up we have a cleaner that wants to replace a pile of bottles in your cabinet with one.

CarGuys Super Cleaner says it is safe and effective for not just your vehicle’s carpets, but also for your dashboard, console, doors, seats, leather, tires, and metal trim which could make this the best car carpet cleaner.

Spray it on whatever you want to clean, let the foam do its job, and give a little rub with a clean cloth to wipe away the dirt and stains. It doesn’t require dilution.

Best of all, the Car Guys really stand behind their product. They are prepared to help you with any issues, no matter how small.

Now for the drawbacks-every product will have a few. The bottle it arrives in can crack or you may difficulty sealing the cap. If it leaks onto your carpet and you let it sit for too long, it can bleach out the color and leave a permanent stain behind.

Take care to always store it tightly sealed where you won’t mind if it leaves a spot. Will you pay more for this product? Probably, but users by and large feel they get a good return for the price.

Pros:

• No rinsing required
• Safe and effective for all surfaces including leather and wood
• Fabulous customer service

Cons:

• Can damage surfaces if spilled
• Bottle can leak

View on Amazon

3. Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Carpet & Upholstery Stain Extractor

Now for the best car carpet cleaner to get out a small stubborn stain on your carpet in a flash.

Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Carpet & Upholstery Stain Extractor is designed to quickly loosen and release stuck in coffee, pet, oil, and fod stains.

Simply blot away with a clean cloth and you are done. It has a mild scent and at the same time binds with foul odors, leaving a nice fresh smell behind. Its pump spray provides pin-point accuracy for those small problems.

Why does it work so well and so fast on stubborn spots? Because it is heavily concentrated. The directions actually recommend watering it down when cleaning your entire interior.

However, when you do follow the direction you don’t get the same results. If you are only getting the spots, this turns into an expensive bottle that doesn’t get used.

Finally, you really can’t use this on anything else except your carpet and seats as it leaves behind a dull film that is tough to remove.

Pros:

• Includes a deodorizer, too
• Great on small stains
• Rapid cleaning action

Cons:

• Only works for carpet and upholstery
• Directions say to dilute, but more effective full strength

View on Amazon

4. Turtle Wax Quick & Easy Interior 1 & Exterior 1 Kit

For the car fanatic who wants to keep up on cleaning their ride inside and out every week, Turtle Wax Quick & Easy Interior 1 is the best car carpet cleaner.

It is a nicely priced product that comes in a convenient spray bottle along with a bottle of exterior cleaner to keep your car shining. There is also a scrub brush and polishing chamois included.

This product is not intended to remove ground in stains but provide a quick clean to keep spots from becoming a real problem. You can use it for quick wipe down on the dash and seats, too.

All that being said, it really performs much like your bottle of kitchen cleaner and not a heavy-duty carpet cleaner or stain remover.

Buy this kit when you want to give your ride a little love, but not for a real spring cleaning effort.

Pros:

• Complete interior and exterior kit
• Good price
• Includes microfiber towel and scrub brush

Cons:

• Under performs

View on Amazon

5. Blue Coral DC22 Upholstery Cleaner

If you are cruising the shelves in search of the best car carpet cleaner, Blue Coral might grab your eye with its low price and bright blue can.

Its top comes with a built-in soft scrubby so it looks like it is ready to get down to work. When you check on its performance, those who have used it on their special “S” coded upholstery and rugs have been thrilled that it doesn’t break down the fibers.

Now for the reality check. It comes in an aerosol can so it does have a stronger smell compared to other products. It is great on small spots, but not so much on large surfaces. You will get the coffee stain out, but the ground in the dirt will remain.

Perhaps the worst part is that it leaves behind a foggy film that dries stiff, so if you want a soft carpet under your feet, you will be disappointed.

As usual, when you save a few pennies you can end up paying a higher price to fix a new problem.

Pros:

• Low price
• Attached brush cap
• Works on “S” coded upholstery and carpets

Cons:

• Only good on small spots
• Leaves a stiff foggy film behind

View on Amazon

So, Which Product Wins the Best Car Carpet Cleaner?

In the end the car carpet cleaner award goes to CarGuys Super Cleaner. You will pay a little more for the big bottle, but it is ready to tackle not only your carpets, but the seats, steering wheel, and door panels at the same time.

It dries without leaving a cloudy film and does not require rinsing or polishing. Lastly, if you need any help using the product the CarGuys customer care is quick and responsive.

Should you want to strike out a single stain, the Chemical Guys Lightning Fast carpet cleaner will get it done in just a few minutes, but remember to avoid using the product on any other surfaces.

We hope you enjoyd our buying guide and review for the best car carpet cleaner. If you have any insight into one of these products, please share your experience in the comments section or on your social media page.

Related Articles:

• Best Car Wash Soap
• Best Foam Cannon
• Best Windshield Washer Fluid
• Best Air Impact Wrench
• Best Car Wash Nozzle