To clean Alcantara, mist a gentle cleaner such as Koch-Chemie Pol Star, diluted 1:15 to 1:20, onto a microfibre, work it in with light pressure, blot the dirt away and brush the pile up once it is dry. Keep everything low-moisture to avoid water marks. The three cleaners below are all in our Alcantara cleaners range.
What is the best way to clean Alcantara?
Little and often, with as little liquid as possible. Alcantara is a soft microfibre material with a suede-like nap, and it marks when it is soaked or scrubbed. A weak, neutral cleaner on a towel, gentle pressure and patient blotting lift the dirt and oils without flattening the pile or leaving a tide line.
Why does Alcantara go shiny and matted?
Hands, faces and clothing leave skin oils, sweat and lotion on the fibres. Over time those oils glue the nap down, so the touch points such as the steering wheel rim, the seat bolsters and the centre armrest go dark, flat and slightly shiny. Dust and grit then work into the fibres and wear them. Regular light cleaning stops the oils building up.
Which Alcantara cleaner should you use?
A neutral or dedicated cleaner at a gentle dilution, never a strong degreaser.
A pH neutral cleaner for leather, Alcantara and textiles that lifts dirt from deep in the fibres with a fine foam, leaves no water marks and keeps the original water-repellent finish. Its range runs from 1:5 to 1:20, and we start Alcantara at 1:15 to 1:20.
A high-foaming interior cleaner concentrate for vinyl, plastic, finished leather and fabric, diluted 1:10 for Alcantara and 1:5 for light cleaning and interior plastics. Leave it no longer than 5 minutes before you wipe it away.
A water-based, low-moisture cleaner made for Alcantara and fine interior fabrics on seats, steering wheels, door cards and headliners. Apply it to a clean microfibre or mist it lightly, work it in gently and blot away.
Alcantara cleaners compared
| Product | Type | Alcantara dilution | Also for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Koch-Chemie Pol Star | Neutral cleaner, pH 7 | 1:15 to 1:20 | Leather, upholstery, carpets |
| CarPro Inside | Foaming concentrate | 1:10 | Vinyl, plastic, finished leather |
| Mosschem Alcantara Cleaner | Low-moisture cleaner | Ready to use | Fine interior fabrics |
How do you clean Alcantara step by step?
Work on a small area at a time, such as one bolster or one section of a door card, and test the cleaner somewhere hidden first.
- Vacuum gently: use a soft brush attachment to lift loose dust and grit out of the nap before anything damp touches it.
- Apply to the towel: mist the diluted cleaner onto a folded microfibre rather than soaking the material.
- Work it in lightly: wipe in one direction and then across, with light pressure and no scrubbing.
- Blot the dirt away: press a clean, dry microfibre onto the area to lift the loosened dirt and moisture, turning it to a clean side each time.
- Let it dry: leave the area to dry fully at room temperature, without a heater blowing straight on it.
- Brush the nap up: once dry, brush lightly with a soft brush to lift the pile and even out the finish.
What do you need besides the cleaner?
Soft, clean towels and a gentle brush. Hard bristles and rough cloths pull and pill the fibres.
SOFT99 Interior Detailing Brush
Dense natural bristles that are gentle on all interior surfaces, in 16mm, 24mm and 30mm diameters, for lifting the nap and working round stitching.
Maxshine Detailing Microfibre Cloths
A pack of 20 cloths at 22 x 22cm and 180gsm, so you always have a clean, dry face for blotting. Wash them without fabric softener.
How do you stop water marks on Alcantara?
Use less liquid and clean whole sections evenly. Water marks form when one patch gets wetter than the area around it and dries with a ring at the edge. Mist the cleaner onto the towel, cover a full panel or bolster rather than a single spot, blot well and let it dry evenly. A low-moisture cleaner such as Pol Star is made to leave no water marks.
Common questions
How do you clean an Alcantara steering wheel?
The same gentle way, with extra care on the rim where hands leave the most oil. Our guide to cleaning a steering wheel covers the wheel in detail.
Can you clean an Alcantara headliner?
Yes, but with the least moisture of all, because headliner glue can fail if it gets wet. Our guide on how to clean a car headliner explains the method.
How often should you clean Alcantara?
Wipe the touch points every few weeks and give seats and trim a proper clean every few months. Light, regular cleaning stops oils matting the pile.
Can you use leather cleaner on Alcantara?
Only one made for both. Koch-Chemie Pol Star and CarPro Inside clean leather and Alcantara at different dilutions, so check the Alcantara ratio before you mix.
For the rest of the cabin, see our pick of the best car interior cleaners.
Need help choosing?
Tell our team which parts of the car are Alcantara and how marked they are, and we will match the cleaner and dilution. You can also browse the Koch-Chemie and CarPro ranges.
