Car Upholstery Cleaner

If your backseat has seen juice box spills, your trunk doubles as a gear hauler, or your only passenger sheds like it’s their job, we’re here to help. 

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Why Fresh Upholstery Changes the Way You Drive

Fresh seats and clean fabrics don’t just look good – they transform your driving experience. With the right car upholstery cleaner, your interior can go from worn-out to welcoming in just a few passes. Here’s how it makes a difference:

  • Every drive feels better: Clean upholstery makes your cabin feel more open, more relaxing, and more enjoyable. Whether you're commuting, running errands, or cruising on a weekend trip, a tidy interior adds a layer of comfort that sticks with you long after the engine starts.
  • Your car smells like new again: Stains leave behind more than just visual clutter—they trap odors. A deep clean removes the lingering scents of fast food, gym bags, and accidental spills while restoring that crisp, just-detailed aroma.
  • Mood shifts happen in the front seat: A clean interior can boost your focus and lift your mindset behind the wheel. Something is rewarding about sliding into a fresh seat that makes daily drives feel less like a chore and more like a reset.
  • Passengers feel (and smell) the difference: From family road trips to carpool pickups, guests notice a clean cabin. Fresh upholstery shows you care about the space and makes every ride more pleasant for anyone who hops in.
  • Resale value gets a quiet upgrade: Stain-free seats and a fresh-smelling interior help maintain your car’s condition over time. When it’s time to sell or trade in, a spotless cabin can raise buyer confidence and bump up the price without extra work.

Everyday Stain Offenders That Citrus Fabric Clean Can Handle

Car upholstery takes a beating, but that’s why our Upholstery Cleaners are formulated to break down tough stains and cut through the grime life leaves behind. Here’s what they’re built to fight:

Drinks That Soak In and Leave Their Mark

Morning coffee spills, sports drinks tossed in the backseat, and juice boxes that take flight during rush hour. Liquids like soda, tea, or energy drinks seep deep into fabric, locking in stains and smells as they dry. Over time, they leave behind dark spots and sour aromas that a regular wipe-down can't handle. Citrus Fabric Clean lifts those marks from the fibers so your seats look crisp and smell clean again.

Food Residue That Lingers After Lunch

Fast food fries. Melting chocolate. Sauces that dribble down the side of a takeout bag. Food stains are some of the most common offenders, and they rarely travel alone. Oils and crumbs settle into seat seams, creating buildup that dulls your interior and leaves a stale scent behind. Our upholstery cleaner cuts through grease and breaks down grime in a few easy passes, leaving nothing behind but fresh, clean fabric.

Dirt, Dust, and Whatever the Road Brings In

Shoes track in more than just a little dirt. Whether stepping into your car after a hike or just walking across a rainy parking lot, grime builds up fast. Dust from open windows, pollen, and construction debris can cling to fabric fibers and dull your interior. A quick scrub with Fabric Cleaner clears away surface grit and resets your upholstery back to a brighter, more breathable feel.

Pet Hair, Paw Prints, and Stubborn Odors

Four-legged copilots bring a lot of joy and a lot of mess. Pet hair weaves into cloth seats, paw prints collect in corners, and damp fur leaves behind lingering odors. Our Car Upholstery Cleaner helps clear fur from fabric and neutralizes smells without relying on heavy perfumes. The result is a cabin that smells clean and feels welcoming again, whether you’re heading to the park or picking up passengers.

Mystery Marks That Just Appear

From pen smudges to makeup residue to that weird sticky patch no one wants to admit to—mystery stains are part of real life. Over time, minor marks add up, making your interior look older than it is. Citrus Fabric Cleaner is tough enough to lift those spots while staying gentle on seat fibers, helping your cabin bounce back without discoloration or harsh fumes.

Foaming Citrus Car Upholstery Cleaner by Chemical Guys

Interior Detailing Tools That Make Every Clean Count

Few things feel better than stepping into a spotless, fresh-smelling cabin. Before you break out the cleaner and hit every surface in sight, take a second to gather the right tools. With the right lineup, you'll tackle dirt faster, clean smarter, and get a better finish every time.

Upholstery and Interior Brushes

Soft yet sturdy bristles are key here. A good brush helps lift dirt from fabric and carpets without damaging the material. Use it to break up stubborn crumbs, dried spills, and that one fry wedged between the seat rails since last summer.

Microfiber Towels

These are the MVPs of any cleaning session. Microfiber lifts grime while staying gentle on upholstery, leather, and trim. Keep a few on deck – one for applying cleaner, one for wiping it away, and another to buff your interior to a crisp, finished look.

Vacuum Cleaner With Attachments

Surface dirt only tells part of the story. A quality vacuum reaches under seats, between cushions, and into tight corners where debris likes to settle. Use crevice tools for narrow spaces and brush heads to refresh carpets and floor mats without damaging the fibers.

Detailing Swabs and Precision Brushes

Sometimes a regular brush just can’t cut it. These smaller tools are designed for tricky areas like air vents, button edges, or seams where dust builds up over time. Add them to your routine to chase out grime from places often missed.

Lightning Fast Stain Extractor

Tough stains don’t stand a chance. Our Lightning Fast Stain Extractor dives deep into fabric to loosen up set-in spills and lift dirt to the surface. It combines stain removal and fabric-safe cleaning into one quick step – perfect for carpet, seats, and upholstery across your entire cabin.

Fabric or Leather? Use the Right Approach for Each Surface

Your seats take a lot of heat – coffee spills, snack breaks, muddy gear, and everything in between. However, fabric and leather react differently to daily wear, so they need different cleaning strategies. Our team has the tools for both.

How to Clean Fabric Seats Without Overdoing It

Fabric seats are durable, but they soak up messes fast. From drive-thru ketchup to drips from your morning brew, stains can settle deep into the fibers. That’s where our Citrus Fabric Clean shines. It dives into the material's weave, breaks down gunk, and lifts it to the surface. A soft brush helps agitate dirt without damaging the fabric, and a quick wipe with a microfiber towel reveals clean, fresh seats underneath.

Work in small sections for best results and let the cleaner do the heavy lifting. Skip aggressive scrubbing—friction wears down fibers and won’t speed things up. Once stains are cleared, let the area dry with the windows down or a fan running to help reset the scent and keep that fresh detail-shop feel going.

How to Treat Leather Seats Without Drying Them Out

Leather needs a gentler touch. It’s smooth, breathable, and naturally resistant to grime, but it still traps dirt in its pores over time. To clean leather properly, reach for a pH-balanced formula like our Leather Cleaner, followed by a nourishing conditioner. These two steps clean without stripping oils and help the material stay flexible and rich-looking.

Apply product using a soft microfiber towel or a dedicated leather brush. Work the cleaner in gently, wipe away residue, and follow up with conditioner to preserve the texture and tone. This helps prevent drying, cracking, or that dull, chalky finish that comes from harsh chemicals. Chemical Guys offers a full range of leather care solutions, including our Leather Cleaner and Leather Conditioner, to help your seats stay soft, sleek, and road-ready.

How To Use Citrus Fabric Clean for a Deep, Satisfying Interior Reset

Citrus Fabric Clean was built to make interior detailing feel less like a chore and more like a fresh start. The oxygen-infused foam lifts stains from below the surface, making it easier to scrub, blot, and bring your fabric back to life. Here’s how to get the most from every detail.

  • Start with a surface-level reset: Before using any product, vacuum your seats and floor mats to remove dust, crumbs, and loose debris. This helps prevent grime from sinking deeper once the cleaner is applied.
  • Dilute and load up your bottle: Mix Citrus Fabric Clean with water according to the label. Use a Chemical Guys spray bottle or foam sprayer for a smooth, even application that covers wide areas quickly.
  • Spray onto fabric or carpet: Aim directly at the stained or dirty section. Let the foaming action sit briefly to break up oils, grime, or dried residue buried in the fibers.
  • Gently agitate with a soft brush: Work the cleaner in with overlapping motions. Focus on seams, corners, and textured fabric where dirt tends to hide. The foam will lift and separate debris, making cleaning easier without harsh scrubbing.
  • Wipe away with a clean microfiber towel: Blot first, then use a fresh section to dry the surface. This helps pull up dissolved dirt and leaves a brighter, fresher finish behind.
  • Repeat as needed for stubborn spots: For tough stains like coffee, grease, or pet accidents, hit the area again with our Chemical Guys’ stain extractor and repeat the steps.
  • Let dry and enjoy the clean scent: Crack the windows or turn on a fan to speed up drying time. As the fabric dries, the light citrus scent will settle in, making the space feel noticeably fresher.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does car upholstery cleaner eliminate odors?

Of course! Our upholstery cleaners go beyond surface stains by neutralizing deep-set smells trapped in fabric. From spilled lattes to gym bag funk, Citrus Fabric Clean targets odor at the source and leaves your interior with a crisp, clean scent. For more pungent smells, follow up with an odor eliminator for even fresher results.

Do I need a brush to use car upholstery cleaner?

While a brush isn’t required, it makes a big difference for heavy stains or textured fabric. A soft or medium-detail brush helps loosen debris and push cleaner deeper into the fibers. A microfiber towel will do the job just fine for lighter messes or maintenance cleanups.

How long does it take for upholstery to dry after cleaning?

Dry time depends on how much product you used and how much airflow your car gets. With windows cracked or a fan running, most seats dry within 1 to 2 hours. Give it a little extra time for a deep clean before hopping back in.

How can I avoid watermarks when using upholstery cleaner?

Work in small sections and avoid oversaturating the fabric. Spray cleaner onto a towel or brush instead of directly onto the seat. Always finish with a clean, dry microfiber towel to blot away moisture evenly.

How do I treat tough stains like coffee or ink?

Start by blotting the area to lift as much as possible. Then, apply your upholstery cleaner or stain-specific product to the spot and agitate gently with a brush. Repeat if needed until the stain fades. Our Lightning Fast Stain Extractor is a go-to for deeper messes for coffee, ink, and more.

Is it necessary to vacuum before cleaning upholstery?

Always start with a vacuum. Removing loose dirt, crumbs, and pet hair keeps debris from getting pushed deeper into the fabric during cleaning. It also helps your cleaner work more effectively and keeps your seats looking fresh longer.