Best Car Carpet Cleaners
Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- The best car carpet cleaners of 2024 are from top brands including Chemical Guys, Turtle Wax, Adam’s Polishes, and Armor All based on stain removal, odor, and our overall cleaning process.
- On average, you can expect to spend as low as $10 up to $25 for one of the best car carpet cleaners depending on size, application surfaces, and brand.
- When buying a car carpet cleaner, it’s important to see which cleaners can remove different stains like coffee, ink, mud, and oil.
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.
Car Carpet Cleaner Reviews
When considering the best car carpet cleaners, we factored in price, odor residue, stain removal effectiveness, and a before and after cleaning comparison.
What Is The Best Car Carpet Cleaner?
We named the Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus, Turtle Wax T-244R1, Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor, and Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner as the best-rated car carpet cleaners on the market in 2024.
| Brand/Model | Cost | Overall Rating | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus | $10 | 4.5 | Best Overall |
| Turtle Wax T-244R | $12 | 4.3 | Best Features |
| Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner | $10 | 4.3 | Best Smell |
| Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor | $12 | 4.0 | Best Value |
| Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner | $25 | 3.8 | Best for Rejuvenation |
*Because cost data fluctuates, the prices in the table above are approximate values that our team regularly updates.
Car Carpet Cleaners Ratings: Our Testing Process
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.
1. Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus: Best Overall
- Cost: Around $10
- Amazon review score: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars based on over 33,600 ratings
- Size(s): 16.0 ounces, 64.0 oz., and 1.0 gallon
- Highly concentrated formula
- Built-in odor remover
- Doesn’t feature toxic chemicals
Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus Carpet Cleaner Review
Designed for cleaning not only car carpets but also cloth, upholstery, and fabrics of all kinds, the Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus 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 Foaming Citrus performed in each of our testing categories below:
| Review Category | Score (Out of 5.0 Stars) |
|---|---|
| Stain Removal | 4.5 |
| Odor | 4.5 |
| Cleaning | 4.5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.5 |
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.
Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus Shampoo: Pros And Cons
Below are the pros and cons of the Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus:
Chemical Guys Fabric Clean Carpet & Upholstery Shampoo: Our Experience
Our product testing team named the Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus 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.
Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus Upholstery Cleaner: What Customers Are Saying
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.
2. Turtle Wax T-244R1: Best Features
- Cost: Around $12
- Amazon review score: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars based on over 1,500 ratings
- Size(s): 18.0 oz
- Removable brush cap
- Odor-X technology
- Leaves behind a soil-repelling silicone shield
Turtle Wax T-244R1 Review
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:
| Review Category | Score (Out of 5.0 Stars) |
|---|---|
| Stain Removal | 4.5 |
| Odor | 4.0 |
| Cleaning | 4.5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.3 |
A removable brush cap is featured on this car carpet cleaner to allow you to get grime out of the tightest spots in your car’s interior. This micro scrub brush attachment allows for a deep clean of your carpet fibers into otherwise untouched areas. This car carpet cleaner is best used by evenly spraying it onto your car’s carpet, scrubbing the foam with the micro scrub brush, then wiping the car carpet clean with a cloth.
Turtle Wax T-244R1: Pros And Cons
Below are the pros and cons of the Turtle Wax T-255R1:
Turtle Wax T-244R1: Our Experience
The Turtle Wax T-244R1 was recognized by our team of experts as the car carpet cleaner with the Best Features, mainly because it comes with a removable brush cap.
Stain Removal: This car carpet cleaner worked well to remove stains that had soaked into our test vehicle’s car carpet years ago. The attached micro scrub brush meant we could really work this cleaning solution deep into the carpet’s fibers to properly affect stains.
Odor: Turtle Wax has quite an average smell, but it did successfully remove almost all of the already present odors emanating from the test vehicle’s carpet.
Cleaning: Our team members were pleased with the overall cleanliness of the interior of our test vehicle after using this cleaning kit. This aerosol canister works well for general car care due to its wide spray pattern and solid spot cleaning.
Turtle Wax T-244R1: What Customers Are Saying
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.
3. Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner: Best Smell
- Cost: Around $10
- Amazon review score: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars based on over 850 ratings
- Size(s): 16.0 oz, 128 oz, and 5.0 gal.
- Non-toxic and hypoallergenic
- Non-foaming cleaning formula
- Works on multiple surfaces
Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner Review
Designed for car carpet, fabric, cloth, car upholstery, and car seats, Adam’s Polishes 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 Polishes Carpet Cleaner performed in each of our testing categories below:
| Review Category | Score (Out of 5.0 Stars) |
|---|---|
| Stain Removal | 3.5 |
| Odor | 5.0 |
| Cleaning | 4.5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.3 |
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.
Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner: Pros And Cons
Below are the pros and cons of the Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner:
Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner: Our Experience
Our team members awarded the title of Best Smell to Adam’s Polishes 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 Polishes Carpet Ceaner 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.
Adam’s Polishes Reviews Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner: What Customers Are Saying
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.
4. Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor: Best Value
- Cost: Around $12
- Amazon review score: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars based on over 23,500 ratings
- Size(s): 16.0 oz and 1.0 gal.
- Cleans and deodorizes simultaneously
- Highly concentrated formula
- Works on multiple surfaces
Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor Review
Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor 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 Lightning Fast Stain Extractor performed in each of our testing categories below:
| Review Category | Score (Out of 5.0 Stars) |
|---|---|
| Stain Removal | 4.5 |
| Odor | 3.5 |
| Cleaning | 4.0 |
| Overall Rating | 4.0 |
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.
Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor: Pros And Cons
Below are the pros and cons of Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor:
Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor: Our Experience
The Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor 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.
Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor: What Customers Are Saying
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.
5. Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet Cleaner: Best For Rejuvenation
- Cost: Around $25
- Amazon review score: 4.4 out of 5.0 stars based on over 1,200 ratings
- Size(s): 22.0 oz.
- Restores fabric to its original state
- Dissolves stains upon first contact
- Uses oxygen action
Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet Cleaner Review
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:
| Review Category | Score (Out of 5.0 Stars) |
|---|---|
| Stain Removal | 3.5 |
| Odor | 4.0 |
| Cleaning | 4.0 |
| Overall Rating | 3.8 |
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.
Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet Cleaner: Pros And Cons
Below are the pros and cons of the Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet Cleaner:
Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet Cleaner: Our Experience
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.
Armor All Reviews Oxi-Magic Carpet Cleaner: What Customers Are Saying
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.
Car Carpet Cleaners Buying Guide
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.
Application Process
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.
- Aerosol: This type of car carpet cleaner will give you the most possible foaming action. Most aerosol cleaners require you to shake before use, but will effectively tackle a large vehicle with ease due to the foaming capabilities of aerosol canisters.
- Spray Bottle: This type of car carpet cleaner may not have the foaming power of aerosol cleaners, but in some cases it can be more accurate. Some spray bottles have adjustable nozzles that help make hard-to-reach areas more accessible.
Features
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.
Carpet Cleaning Tips
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”
Compare Car Carpet Cleaners
| Brand/Model | Bottle Size(s) | Scent | Specific Use(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus | 16.0 ounces, 64.0 oz, and 1.0 gallon | Citrus | Car, carpet, floor, towel, and upholstery |
| Turtle Wax T-244R | 18.0 oz. | Fresh | Car |
| Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner | 16.0 oz, 128 oz, and 5.0 gal. | Lemon | Car, carpet, floor, and upholstery |
| Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor | 16.0 oz. and 1 gal. | Fresh | Carpet and upholstery |
| Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner | 22.0 oz. | Fresh | Car, carpet, and upholstery |
Best Car Carpet Cleaners: Bottom Line
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 2024:
- Best Overall: Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus
- Best Features: Turtle Wax T-244R1
- Best Smell: Adam’s Polishes Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
- Best Value: Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor
- Best for Rejuvenation: Armor All Oxi-Magic Carpet Cleaner
Car Carpet Cleaners: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about car carpet cleaners:
What’s a good carpet cleaner for cars?
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.
Can you use normal carpet cleaner on car carpet?
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.
How can I clean my car carpet without a machine?
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.
Full Car Carpet Cleaners Testing Methodology
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.
How We Score Products
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.
- 5.0 Stars: A 5.0-star rating is a high score for the car carpet cleaners and all products in our reviews. If the carpet cleaner exceeds our expectations in all testing criteria, you’ll see a 5.0-star score.
- 4.0 Stars: A 4.0-star score is an above-average rating. If the carpet cleaner eliminates poor odor but doesn’t leave behind a fresh smell that most buyers would like in a cleaning product, you’d see a 4.0-star rating for odor.
- 3.0 Stars: A 3.0-star rating is an average score. If the cleaner meets expectations but could use improvements, such as a better scent or deeper stain removal, you’ll see a 3.0-star rating.
- 2.0 Stars: A 2.0-star rating is a below-average rating. If the carpet cleaner doesn’t remove stains as advertised or leaves a very poor scent behind, we would give the cleaner a 2.0-star rating.
- 1.0 Star: A 1.0-star rating is a well below-average rating. If the cleaner is somehow defective, either with a poor spray nozzle or leaving behind residue after cleaning, we would give the cleaner 1.0 stars.
Why Trust Motor1.com
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.
