SONAX Upholstery & Alcantara Cleaner Review: Gentle Foam for Delicate Fabric
Our Verdict
SONAX's foaming cleaner is made to clean Alcantara without soaking or matting it, and it also handles cloth seats, carpet and headliners while tackling smoke and pet odors. The process takes a 5 to 10 minute dwell and a full dry, and the 250 ml bottle goes quickly. For Alcantara wheels and inserts specifically, it is a well-matched specialist.
Alcantara looks great new and terrible neglected. Skin oils flatten the nap on steering wheels and seat inserts until the material turns shiny and matted, and harsh cleaners or too much water can make it worse. SONAX Upholstery & Alcantara Cleaner is a foaming cleaner formulated specifically to clean that kind of delicate surface gently, and it is made in Germany.
What you get
A 250 ml (8.45 oz) bottle that dispenses foam. Beyond Alcantara, SONAX lists seats, upholstery, carpet, headliners and even child seats as suitable surfaces. The company also says it works on odor-causing molecules, removing cigarette and animal smells from carpet and upholstery and leaving a fresh scent. Foam is the right delivery method here because it cleans the surface without soaking the backing or the adhesive behind a headliner.
How it's used
SONAX's directions: vacuum loose dirt, shake the bottle and test for colorfastness somewhere out of sight. Lightly moisten the soiled area, apply the foam evenly and work it in with a soft brush, damp sponge or cloth. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, go over it again with a damp sponge or cloth, and let it dry completely. Then vacuum or brush. On Alcantara, a final pass with a soft brush from a set like the Detail Factory ultra-soft brushes stands the fibers back up. SONAX advises cleaning complete sections, such as a whole seat, to avoid visible differences in color between treated and untreated areas.
Where it falls short
The bottle is small. Cleaning whole sections as instructed uses it up quickly, and a full cloth interior could take more than one. The process is slow, with a dwell time and drying time, so it is not a quick wipe. For large areas of ordinary carpet, a cheaper cleaner such as Chemical Guys Foaming Citrus Fabric Clean makes more economic sense, and Dr. Beasley's Microsuede Cleanser is another specialist alternative.
Who it's for
Owners with Alcantara or microsuede wheels, shifters and seat inserts, plus anyone nervous about cleaning a headliner. Check price on Amazon
Pros
- Formulated for delicate Alcantara surfaces
- Also cleans cloth seats and headliners
- Foam avoids soaking the material
- Targets smoke and pet odors
Cons
- Small 250 ml bottle runs out fast
- Needs a 5 to 10 minute dwell, then drying
- Costly for large areas of plain carpet