Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus Fabric Clean Review: A Shampoo for Cloth Seats and Carpet
Our Verdict
A high-foaming citrus shampoo for cloth seats, carpet and mats that lifts soil to the surface for blotting or extraction and goes after odors too. Chemical Guys says it is safe on natural and synthetic fibers and free of ammonia, bleach and solvents. The foam needs thorough removal and the scent is strong, so it works best alongside an extractor.
General interior cleaners handle a light mark on cloth. A seat that has absorbed a year of coffee and gym bags needs a product made for fibers. Foaming Citrus Fabric Clean is Chemical Guys' carpet and upholstery shampoo, a high-foaming citrus formula meant to float soil up out of the weave so it can be blotted or extracted instead of rubbed further in.
What you get
A 16 oz bottle of fabric shampoo for cloth seats, carpet and floor mats. Chemical Guys says it works on synthetic and natural fibers without discoloring or fading them, and that the biodegradable formula contains no ammonia, bleach or solvents. It is aimed at odors as well as stains and leaves a citrus scent. It is sold both as a concentrate, which the brand says dilutes as far as 20 parts water to 1, and as a ready-to-use spray, so check which one you have before you start.
How it's used
Vacuum first to get loose grit out. Shake the bottle, dilute if you have the concentrate, spray the fabric, agitate gently with a brush, then blot dry with a microfiber towel and vacuum again once it has dried. Chemical Guys also describes lifting the loosened soil with a hot water extractor, and that is the better route for a whole seat. Paired with a Bissell Little Green, the shampoo loosens and the machine removes. A scrub brush does the agitating.
Where it falls short
Foam is the strength and the catch. Whatever you put into a seat has to come back out, and blotting alone leaves some shampoo behind in thick fabric, which can dry stiff or attract dirt. Use less than you think you need. The citrus scent is strong in a closed car for the first day. It is also for fabric only, so leather and Alcantara need their own cleaners.
Who it's for
Owners of cloth interiors doing a proper seasonal clean, ideally with an extractor. Our interior cleaner guide covers the alternatives. Check price on Amazon
Pros
- Made for fabric and carpet fibers
- Targets odors as well as stains
- Free of ammonia, bleach and solvents
- Works with brushes and extractors
Cons
- Heavy foam must be blotted or extracted
- Citrus scent lingers at first
- Concentrate and ready-to-use versions are easy to confuse