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Aidan Pounder is a Motor1 product tester who has written reviews spanning from tonneau covers to rooftop cargo boxes. If he’s not burning through the clutch on his 2003 Ford Focus Zx3, you’ll find him keeping up with the latest happenings in the world of European football. Custom Steam Mop
A car carpet cleaner with a highly concentrated formula to remove tough stains.
A high-quality car carpet cleaner with a scrub brush attachment for deep cleaning.
A non-toxic and hypoallergenic car carpet cleaner that leaves a pleasant aroma behind.
A quality car carpet cleaner that effectively cleans and brightens multiple surfaces.
An incredible car carpet cleaner that can restore fabric to its original state.
Car detailing doesn’t have to be a headache if you’ve got the right equipment – including the best car carpet cleaner. If you’ve conducted your own research on your way to stumbling upon this article, then you’ll likely have an idea of the sheer number of brands and car carpet cleaners that claim they can make your car’s old carpet look new again.
While many of these car carpet cleaners will work as advertised, some of them won’t. To save customers the time and hassle of thoroughly researching this type of product, our team members have pored through the top-rated car carpet cleaners on the web. Following this, we conducted a rigorous testing process to truly find the best of the best when it comes to car carpet cleaners. For removing serious car carpet stains, we recommend using one of the best steam cleaners for cars.
When considering the best car carpet cleaners, we factored in price, odor residue, stain removal effectiveness, and a before and after cleaning comparison.
We named the Chemical Guys CWS20316, Turtle Wax T-244R1, Adam’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, Chemical Guys SPI 191_16, and Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner as the best-rated car carpet cleaners on the market in 2023.
*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
After looking at factors such as application surfaces, bottle size, customer ratings, and prices, our product testing team ordered the car carpet cleaners that best met these standards. A team member tested each product on a 2003 Ford Focus ZX3, taking note of how well the cleaners removed stains, how well they eliminated and masked odors, and their general cleaning abilities. Each car carpet cleaner was given a rating out of 5.0 stars based on these criteria.
Learn more about how we tested car carpet cleaners here.
Designed for cleaning not only car carpets but also cloth, upholstery, and fabrics of all kinds, the Chemical Guys CWS20316 is our product testing team’s choice for the Best Overall car carpet cleaner. This car carpet cleaning solution is highly concentrated as it’s recommended to be used at a dilution of 20:1 with filtered water – however, this doesn’t mean this product is full of chemicals. This car carpet cleaner doesn’t feature any toxic chemicals, nor does it feature any bleach, ammonia, or color-damaging detergents.
You can see how the Chemical Guys CWS20316 performed in each of our testing categories below:
For more professional auto detailing, this car carpet cleaner creates foaming bubbles to separate stains and dirt particles from deep within the fabric. It also comes with built-in odor remover by way of Chemical Guys’ patented odor elimination enzymes, which are mixed into the cleaning formula. Below are the pros and cons of Chemical Guys CWS20316:
Our product testing team named the Chemical Guys CWS20316 as the Best Overall car carpet cleaner for its high scores in all of our testing categories.
Stain Removal: This car carpet cleaner worked quite well at removing stains from the car carpet. It instantly impacted tough stains, showing clear signs of improvement as soon as we began scrubbing it into our test vehicle’s carpet.
Odor: All of the members of our product testing team enjoyed the smell of this car carpet cleaner. We stuck our noses to our test vehicle’s carpet before and after using this product and could clearly tell that it not only eliminated existing odors but also left its own pleasant-smelling scent as well.
Cleaning: Looking at the car carpet before and after using this product gave us a good idea of how effectively it can clean car carpets. We were impressed with how much cleaner our test vehicle’s carpet looked after using this product.
Overall, buyers love the Chemical Guys fabric upholstery cleaner, noting the ease of use and before and after appearance when it comes to removing stains quickly. Reviewers emphasize the pleasant citrus smell left behind after cleaning while also removing the poor smells that previously filled the dirty interior.
The Turtle Wax T-244R1 is designed for cleaning both car carpets and car floor mats. In addition to cleaning carpets, it leaves a soil-repelling silicone shield for added protection. This car carpet cleaner is formulated with Turtle Wax’s Odor-X odor eliminator to remove odors from pets, food, mildew, and even cigarette smoke. Odor-X technology is formulated with oxygenated cleaners to allow it to eradicate odors at the molecular level and deodorize.
You can see how Turtle Wax performed in each of our testing categories below:
Customers note the ease of use, quality, and value of this cleaner. Buyers are super impressed by its effectiveness when used for spot cleaning and by how easy it is to apply. The included brush enhances the ease of use, though some customers were disappointed that their cleaner did not come with the included brush as expected.
Designed for car carpet, fabric, cloth, car upholstery, and car seats, Adam’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner is an incredibly versatile car cleaning product. The cleaning solution used in this car carpet cleaner is non-toxic and hypoallergenic, even though it can clean up the toughest stains. It should be noted that though this car carpet cleaner has multi-surface capabilities, it won’t work as effectively on leather seats. For leather seats, you’ll need one of the best interior car cleaners .
You can see how Adam’s performed in each of our testing categories below:
The manufacturer didn’t want to risk staining more lightly colored fabrics, so it’s dye-free and perfume-free. Additionally, the cleaning formula is non-foaming. To apply, simply spray, agitate the cleaning solution, and wipe away to remove carpet stains.
Our team members awarded the title of Best Smell to Adam’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner for its odor elimination and the pleasant aroma it left in our test vehicle.
Stain Removal: This car carpet cleaner isn’t the greatest for stain removal. While applying this product, we noticed the stain slightly fading, though stubborn stains were still very much present after allowing the test vehicle’s carpet to dry.
Odor: Adam’s not only eliminated foul odors but left a pleasant lemony aroma in our test vehicle’s cabin. The aroma left by this car carpet cleaner wasn’t overpowering, but rather subtle and welcoming.
Cleaning: This car carpet cleaner worked well both as a spot cleaner and a carpet cleaning-focused interior detailer. After using it, our test vehicle’s carpet was noticeably cleaner and brighter than it was prior to application.
Customer reviews emphasize the good value when considering the quality of this cleaner. While it doesn’t remove the toughest stains, it’s easy to use and has multiple benefits to help protect the upholstery of your vehicle throughout the cleaning process. The pleasant odor left behind after cleaning is also noted across various reviews.
Customers like the ease of use, value, performance, and quality of the cleaning agent. They mention that it takes a moment to use, works wonders on upholstery, doesn’t fade, and leaves no residue.
Chemical Guys SPI_191_16 is a heavy-duty carpet and upholstery stain extractor. By heavy-duty, we mean the cleaning formula is highly concentrated and can be diluted up to a 20:1 ratio with distilled water. The innovative formula is tough on stains but gentle on sensitive carpet and upholstery. This car carpet cleaner is designed to release stains from the surface and restore the original appearance and feel of the carpet.
You can see how the Chemical Guys SPI_191_16 performed in each of our testing categories below:
This stain and spot cleaning formula can remove coffee, mud, juice, wine, grease, oil, and even pet stains from fabrics, upholstery, door panels, carpets, and headliners. This car carpet cleaner acts as two products in one, working to both clean and deodorize simultaneously. Additionally, it helps resist future stains by reaching deep into the fabric to lift grease and dirt. Below are the pros and cons of Chemical Guys SPI_191_16:
The Chemical Guys SPI_191_16 was awarded the Best Value car carpet cleaner by our product testing team for its high quality and affordable price.
Stain Removal: Our team members were impressed with this car carpet cleaner’s ability to remove stains. We noticed an immediate improvement to the carpeted mats used in testing as stains began fading once we began scrubbing the product into the carpet.
Odor: This car carpet cleaner had the worst aroma out of all the products we tested. It may have effectively removed already-present foul odors, but it simply replaced those foul odors with an unappealing odor of its own. The carpeted floor mat that we used in testing overwhelmingly smelled of chemicals after using this product.
Cleaning: We noticed that this car carpet cleaner left our carpeted mats cleaner than they were before using it. We felt that it worked effectively to clean car carpets in general as it certainly made the carpeted floor mat much brighter in color.
Buyers loved how well this carpet cleaner performed. In just a few sprays, stains started lifting from their car carpet mats. Customers note that the addition of a drill attachment brush makes this cleaner even more effective. Some customers were disappointed that the cleaner started to leak out of the bottle, affecting the amount of uses they got out of the cleaner, as well as the poor odor that lingered after cleaning.
One of the best products to restore fabric to its original luxuriousness and plushness is Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner . This car carpet cleaner acts as a breath of fresh air in cleaning technology, as it uses oxygen action to get your fabric clean. Oxygen action means that this car carpet cleaner will begin dissolving stains upon first contact.
You can see how the Armor All performed in each of our testing categories below:
This car carpet cleaner penetrates deep into your carpet or upholstery’s fibers to break up ground-in dirt and grime for the most thorough fabric cleaning. It’s built to handle the toughest stains, including mud, coffee, cola, ink, and motor oil. It should be noted that this car carpet cleaner is not recommended for use on instrument panels, clear plastic surfaces, leather, wood, or wool.
Our team members awarded Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner the honor of being the car carpet cleaner that’s Best for Rejuvenation.
Stain Removal: This car carpet cleaner received the lowest score in our stain removal testing category. Though it works well for cleaning car carpets, it’s relatively underwhelming in terms of its stain-removal properties.
Odor: This car carpet cleaner almost entirely removed all foul odors from our test vehicle’s carpet. It worked well to remove bad smells and, in its place, leave a pleasant-smelling aroma.
Cleaning: We awarded this car carpet cleaner the title of Best for Rejuvenation for what it did for our test vehicle’s carpet. This product noticeably improved the plushness of our car’s carpet and gave it back a lot of its original luxuriousness.
Customers appreciate that this cleaner leaves no residue behind while also protecting their car’s carpet upholstery. However, buyers note that this carpet cleaner was less effective when it came to deeper stains and the overall experience was underwhelming when compared to other carpet cleaners on the market.
After thoroughly researching and rigorously testing a multitude of car carpet cleaners, our team members have a few suggestions for things that we think you should look for in this type of product.
When it comes to car carpet cleaners, there are two main application processes. The two most common applications of car carpet cleaners are via aerosol canister and spray bottle.
There are two main features of a car carpet cleaner that our team members feel truly make a difference in the car carpet cleaning process: deodorizing capabilities and attached brushes for application.
A car carpet cleaner that deodorizes makes all the difference. Car carpet cleaners with deodorizing properties eliminate negative odors while simultaneously adding their own fresh and pleasant-smelling aroma in its place.
Car carpet cleaners with attached brushes simply make sense. At the end of the day, many of these car carpet cleaners require you to brush or agitate the solution into the carpet to effectively clean it. This ultimately leaves you looking for a brush or microfiber cloth while wishing the product came with everything you’d need to do the job properly in the first place.
To get some added interior cleaning know-how, we spoke with Mike Pennington, Sr. Manager of Global Training at Meguiar’s. He has over 30 years of car detailing experience and told us one of the best things someone can do is basic surface preparation before applying a cleaning solution.
“A lot of people don’t realize you can actually brush a carpet prior to vacuuming, or while you’re vacuuming, to fluff those fibers up to get all that excess dirt out”
In this article, along with sharing helpful purchasing tips for those interested in purchasing a car carpet cleaner, we reviewed the top five car carpet cleaners in 2023:
Below are some common frequently asked questions about car carpet cleaners:
The car carpet cleaners that our team recommends are the Chemical Guys CWS20316, Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, Chemical Guys SPI_191_16, Adam’s Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, and Turtle Wax T-244R1.
Yes, you can use normal carpet cleaner on car carpets. However, car carpet cleaner is specially formulated for the carpet on the inside of your vehicle meaning you’ll likely find better results with a product that’s specific to car carpet.
Cleaning your car’s carpet without a machine means you might have to use a bit of elbow grease and put your back into the cleaning process. You simply will need to use some of the car carpet solution with a brush or rag and scrub away at your car’s carpet.
Our team tested each of the five car carpet cleaners against the following criteria:
Stain Removal: The ability to remove stains is one of the most important traits of any car carpet cleaner. We tested this by utilizing the car carpet cleaner on one of the many stains in our nearly 20-year-old testing vehicle. After applying the car carpet cleaner, we observed how fully it removed the specific stain in question.
Odor: It’s all well and good to clean your carpet and remove stains, but what about the smells that are left behind? We tested this by observing if the car carpet cleaner will eliminate, mask, or overpower odors with its own scent. Car carpet cleaners that eliminate odors while simultaneously adding their own scent scored highest in this testing category.
Cleaning: This is a more general testing category based on the overall cleaning that a car carpet cleaner provides. We tested for this by observing how thoroughly clean the car carpet looks compared to how it was prior to using a car carpet cleaner.
Star ratings help us to differentiate between the top products to provide an honest evaluation of each car carpet cleaner. With this information, we can effectively rank each carpet cleaner against the others in this review, highlighting the qualities of each product. On average, the car carpet cleaners in this review scored 4.2 out of 5.0 stars.
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more. For more information on our testing methodology and how we evaluate every product, check out our methodology page .
*Data accurate at time of publication. Products subject to availability.
Aidan Pounder is a Motor1 product tester who has written reviews spanning from tonneau covers to rooftop cargo boxes. If he’s not burning through the clutch on his 2003 Ford Focus Zx3, you’ll find him keeping up with the latest happenings in the world of European football.
As a member of both the APA and IMPA, Charles Noyes has devoted himself to creating and refining quality content covering automotive products and accessories, motorcycle products, RV products, and more. As the lead editor serving the product review team, he has personally reviewed, critiqued, and fact-checked over 200 product reviews.
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