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The Interior Cleaning Products Worth Buying (and What to Skip)

By The Interior Pro · 25 years of hands-on car interior repair, reconditioning and detailing · Updated

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The Pro's Verdict
DIY it

You need five things, not fifty. Buy these, skip the rest, and you'll spend under $100 and do better than most store shelves.

Typical cost
$60 to $120 for the full kit
Time
Buy once, lasts a year or more
DIY difficulty
Easy

Walk into any auto parts store and you’ll find fifty bottles promising the same miracle. Here’s the short list a pro would actually buy.

The short list

  1. All-purpose interior cleaner: for plastic, vinyl and door panels.
  2. Leather cleaner and conditioner: if you have leather.
  3. Upholstery and carpet cleaner: for fabric seats and spills.
  4. Microfiber towels and a soft detail brush: the brush matters more than you’d think.
  5. Matte UV protectant: for the dash and trim.

That covers about 90% of what goes wrong with an interior.

What to skip

  • Shiny dash sprays: they create glare and attract dust.
  • Household cleaners, bleach and window cleaner on leather or dash: they strip and dry out the surface.
  • Magic erasers on leather or the dash: they sand off the finish.
  • Scented sprays: they cover odor and don’t remove it.
  • Paper towels: they leave lint and can scratch.

How to use them

Spray the cleaner on the towel, not the surface. Work in small sections. Use the brush in seams and vents. Finish with the protectant. Test any new product on a hidden spot first.

What it costs

Full kit: $60 to $120. It lasts a year or more for one car.

When to call a pro

Products won't fix torn, cracked or collapsed surfaces. For those, see the guide for your problem.

Tools that make it easier

  • pH-balanced interior all-purpose cleaner

    $10 to $20

    Safe on plastic, vinyl and most surfaces. Replaces five other bottles.

    Check price

  • Leather cleaner and conditioner

    $20 to $40

    Two steps, one purpose. Keeps leather soft and the finish intact.

    Check price

  • Upholstery and carpet cleaner

    $10 to $20

    For fabric seats, carpet and headliner spot cleaning.

    Check price

  • Microfiber towels and a soft detail brush

    $15 to $30

    A brush gets dirt out of seams and vents. Towels don't scratch.

    Check price

  • Matte UV protectant

    $10 to $20

    Protects dash and trim from sun without leaving a shine.

    Check price

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