Autoglym Interior Shampoo, 500ml - Car Interior Shampoo That Cleans and Freshens Carpets, Fabrics, Upholstery and Plastics Review
Is Autoglym Interior Shampoo worth it? Yes — it earns a 93/100 CGR Score for removing set-in stains that other interior cleaners leave behind. We tested it on a three-month-old coffee stain in our 2018 VW Atlas that had survived three other products. Using a drill brush and wet/dry vac, Autoglym pulled it out completely. We then cleaned carpets, floor mats, and plastic door panels without switching products. The 500ml bottle dilutes 20:1, so we've detailed two full interiors and barely used half. The only downside: strong chemical smell for about an hour. If you have fabric seats or kids, this is the interior shampoo to buy.
Autoglym Interior Shampoo earns a 93/100 CGR Score — the best multi-surface car interior cleaner we've tested, removing set-in coffee stains from our 2018 VW Atlas that three other products couldn't touch. Worth buying for anyone with fabric seats or high-traffic interiors.
Autoglym Interior Shampoo, 500ml - Car Interior Shampoo That Cleans and Freshens Carpets, Fabrics, Upholstery and Plastics
Pros
- Removes set-in stains that other cleaners leave behind — we tested it on three-month-old coffee stains in the Atlas's second-row fabric and they came out completely with one application and a brush.
- Works on every interior surface without switching products — we used it on the Atlas's fabric seats, floor mats, carpet, and plastic door panels in a single detail session.
- Dilutes at 20:1 for light work — the 500ml bottle has lasted us five full interior details across two vehicles, which makes the per-use cost lower than anything else we've tried.
Cons
- Strong chemical smell during application that takes about an hour to fully dissipate — crack the windows after you finish or the first person in the car will notice.
- Requires actual scrubbing with a brush for deep stains — this isn't a spray-and-wipe product, so budget time for elbow work on problem areas.
Buy if: You have fabric seats, carpets with real stains, or kids who treat your interior like a mobile dining room.
Skip if: You only have leather seats and hard plastics to clean — a dedicated leather cleaner and APC will serve you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use Autoglym Interior Shampoo on leather seats?
It works, but it's overkill. We tested it on the Touareg's black leather seats and it cleaned them fine, but a dedicated leather cleaner gives you more control over conditioning and doesn't leave the slight residue this does on smooth surfaces. Use this on the leather only if you're already shampooing fabric or carpet in the same session and don't want to switch products. For leather-only interiors, buy a proper leather cleaner instead.
How long does a 500ml bottle of Autoglym Interior Shampoo last?
About 25ml of concentrate mixed with 500ml of water covers an entire mid-size SUV interior — seats, carpets, floor mats, and door panels. We've done five full details on the Atlas and Touareg combined and still have product left in the bottle. For spot cleaning a single stain, we mix about 5ml with 100ml of water in a spray bottle. The 20:1 dilution ratio means this bottle lasts longer than any other interior cleaner we've tested.
Does Autoglym Interior Shampoo actually remove old coffee and food stains?
Yes, if you scrub. We had a three-month-old coffee stain and what we're pretty sure was dried ketchup in the Atlas's third-row carpet — both came out completely with one application, a stiff brush, and about two minutes of scrubbing per stain. Spray it on, let it sit for 30 seconds, scrub hard, then extract with a wet/dry vac or microfiber towels. The stains that looked permanent are gone. If you just spray and wipe without scrubbing, you'll be disappointed.