A car's cabin collects a mix of dust, fingerprints, spills and grime on dashboards, door cards, consoles and trim, and each surface needs a cleaner that will not stain, smear or leave a greasy shine. This guide explains which type of interior cleaner suits which job, how to clean a dashboard without streaks, and compares the interior cleaners we stock using each maker's own words.
What is the best car interior cleaner in the UK?
It depends on the surfaces. AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner is our first pick for plastics, carpets and upholstery. For a cabin with leather too, an all-surface cleaner such as Stjarnagloss Inni or Yum Interior is made for plastics, leather and fabric. For dusty dashboards, finish with an anti-static detailer such as Sonax XTREME Cockpit Cleaner.
All-surface cleaner, APC or interior detailer?
An all-surface interior cleaner is made to be safe across the mixed materials inside a car, so one bottle covers most of the cabin. An all purpose cleaner (APC) is usually a concentrate you dilute to suit the dirt, and is the stronger tool for heavy grime. An interior detailer is a light spray for clean surfaces that leaves a finish behind, often matte and anti-static so dust settles less. Our guide on how to clean car seats and carpets covers fabric, leather and deep cleaning.
Our picks by job
Every pick below is in stock with us, and every claim comes from the maker's own listing or website.
Everyday cleaning on every surface
- AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner: a concentrate that AutoBead lists for interior plastics, carpet and upholstery as well as engine bays, door shuts and wheel arch linings. AutoBead says it is not for leather.
- Stjarnagloss Inni: a water-based, APC-style all-surface interior cleaner that its listing says is safe on dashboards, plastics, vinyl, trim panels, leather seats, fabric upholstery and headlining, and leaves no greasy residue.
- Yum Interior: a 4-in-1 total interior cleaner that Yum says is safe on plastics, rubber, metal, leather and fabric, needs no rinsing and leaves a factory sheen with no greasy by-product. Yum says it can be diluted by up to 50% with water for sensitive leather.
- CarPro Inside: an interior cleaner that CarPro lists for upholstery, plastic, vinyl, wood and finished leather. CarPro gives 1:5 for light cleaning and interior plastics and 1:10 for Alcantara, and says not to leave it on the surface for more than 5 minutes.
- Koch-Chemie Allround Surface Cleaner: a ready to use cleaner that Koch-Chemie says takes off finger-marks, dust and grease and leaves a residue and streak free finish on smooth surfaces, including plastics. Koch-Chemie lists it for plastic, leather and stainless steel.
Heavy grime
- Koch-Chemie Mehrzweckreiniger: an alkaline intensive cleaner that Koch-Chemie lists for carpets, upholstery, roof linings and plastics, diluted from 1:5 to 1:50 depending on the dirt. Koch-Chemie says not to use it on hot surfaces or let it dry, and to check suitability first.
- Sonax PROFILINE All-Purpose Cleaner Foam: a clinging foam that its listing says removes oil, nicotine, grease and insects from upholstery, carpets, glass, rubber and plastics without streaks or residue, and stays put on vertical and overhead surfaces.
Stains and smells
- Sonax XTREME Interior Cleaner: its listing says it removes stubborn stains from interior trims, upholstered seats and roof linings, and its odour neutraliser tackles cigarette smoke and animal smells.
Dashboards and a dust-free finish
- Sonax XTREME Cockpit Cleaner Matt Finish: a silicone free, anti-static cleaner for interior plastics that its listing says makes treated surfaces dust repellent and renews matt and grained dashboard finishes.
- Shiny Garage Interior Quick Detailer: an interior detailer for plastic, vinyl, leather, wood and aluminium that its listing says removes light dirt and dust and leaves a factory matte finish with anti-static properties and UV protection.
Interior cleaners compared
Notes are the makers' own, as shown on each product page or the maker's website.
| Product | Type | Maker's note |
|---|---|---|
| AutoBead All Purpose Cleaner | APC concentrate | Plastics, carpet, upholstery, not leather |
| Stjarnagloss Inni | All-surface cleaner | Water-based, no greasy residue |
| Yum Interior | All-surface cleaner | No rinsing, up to 50% dilution for leather |
| CarPro Inside | Interior cleaner | 1:5 plastics, 1:10 Alcantara |
| Koch-Chemie Allround Surface Cleaner | Ready to use cleaner | Residue and streak free on plastics |
| Koch-Chemie Mehrzweckreiniger | Alkaline intensive cleaner | 1:5 to 1:50 by the dirt |
| Sonax PROFILINE All-Purpose Cleaner Foam | Foam cleaner | Clings to vertical surfaces |
| Sonax XTREME Interior Cleaner | Stain and odour cleaner | Smoke and pet odours |
| Sonax XTREME Cockpit Cleaner Matt Finish | Dashboard cleaner | Anti-static, silicone free |
| Shiny Garage Interior Quick Detailer | Interior detailer | Matte, anti-static, UV protection |
How do you clean a car dashboard without streaks?
- Vacuum or brush loose dust out of vents, seams and grained plastic first.
- Work on a cool dashboard, out of direct sunlight. Shiny Garage gives the same advice for its interior detailer.
- Spray the cleaner onto a microfibre cloth rather than straight onto the dashboard, so no overspray reaches the screen or the windscreen. CarPro's method for Inside is to spray the cloth and work it in.
- Wipe one area at a time, and use a soft brush on grained plastic, seams and switches.
- Wipe off with a clean, dry microfibre cloth. CarPro says to take off any residue with a damp cloth.
- For less dust next time, finish with an anti-static detailer such as Sonax XTREME Cockpit Cleaner or Shiny Garage Interior Quick Detailer.
Our guide to the best microfibre cloths for cars explains which cloths to keep for the interior.
Can you use interior cleaner on leather?
Some, but not all. Stjarnagloss, Yum, CarPro and Koch-Chemie list their interior cleaners above for leather, and Yum suggests diluting its cleaner by up to 50% for sensitive leather. AutoBead says its All Purpose Cleaner is not for leather. For leather seats, our leather cleaner guide compares dedicated leather cleaners and conditioners, and the leather section of our seats and carpets guide gives the method. See every leather cleaner we stock.
How do you get a bad smell out of a car interior?
Find and clean the source first, such as spills, food or a damp carpet. Sonax says its XTREME Interior Cleaner neutralises cigarette smoke and animal smells as it cleans. For what is left, our guide to the best car air freshener covers odour eliminators and fresheners.
Need help choosing?
Tell the TDHQ team what your interior is made of and what needs cleaning, and we will point you to the right product. You can also browse every interior cleaner, dashboard cleaner and interior detailer we stock.
Last updated 2 October 2026.
