10 Best Steam Cleaner For Cars 2026 in the United States

The BISSELL Little Green Mini is a lightweight (7 pounds), portable carpet and upholstery cleaner designed for small stains and general deep cleaning, including car interiors. It excels in spot cleaning with its 4-inch Tough Stain Tool and HydroRinse self-cleaning feature, making it handy for removing dirt, pet stains, and allergens in tight spaces. Its 16-ounce water tank and corded electric power source allow for continuous use without needing battery swaps.

This model does not use steam for cleaning, so it lacks steam pressure, heating time, and on-demand steam control that are typical in steam cleaners for cars. If you’re specifically looking for steam cleaning to sanitize and loosen grime with heat, this product won’t meet that need. However, if you want a straightforward, convenient cleaner that can handle upholstery and carpet stains inside your car or home, it’s a solid choice.

Its compact size is great for easy storage and portability, though it may require some effort to clean larger areas due to the smaller water capacity. The BISSELL Little Green Mini is best suited for users needing a compact, effective stain remover rather than a steam cleaner for deep sanitizing.

The McCulloch MC1275 is a powerful steam cleaner well-suited for car detailing thanks to its strong 43 psi steam pressure, which helps break down grease and tough grime without chemicals. Its large 48-ounce water tank provides up to 45 minutes of continuous steam, allowing you to clean most of your car in one session without frequent refills. The heating time is fairly quick at under 8 minutes, so you can start cleaning promptly. It comes with 18 accessories including various brushes and a mop head, making it versatile enough for different car surfaces like upholstery, carpets, and hard-to-reach areas. One consideration for car use is its weight—12 pounds—which might be a bit bulky for some users to carry around the vehicle easily.

However, the long 15.7-foot power cord and over 9-foot steam hose enhance maneuverability, letting you reach interior and exterior parts without needing to unplug frequently. The option for lockable continuous steam means you won’t have to keep pressing a trigger, which is convenient during longer cleaning sessions. Although primarily designed for home use, its features align well with the needs of car owners looking for a chemical-free, thorough cleaning tool. If portability and a very compact size are top priorities, there may be lighter models better suited, but the MC1275 delivers excellent cleaning power and versatility for detailed car care.

The Hoover PowerScrub Deluxe Carpet Cleaner is designed primarily for deep cleaning carpets and upholstery. It uses rotating brushes and heated suction to remove tough stains and dries faster than many similar machines. It includes useful tools such as a pet stain cleaner, upholstery scrubber, and crevice tool, which can be helpful for cleaning car interiors, although it does not produce steam, a feature often favored for sanitizing and loosening dirt in automotive cleaning.

The machine features a water tank capacity of about 3.8 liters, allowing for longer cleaning sessions before needing to refill. It weighs 18.5 pounds and is corded, which may limit portability and maneuverability in tight car spaces. Its dual tank system separates clean and dirty water, making operation cleaner and easier.

While it lacks steam pressure and does not provide on-demand or continuous steam, it offers strong scrubbing power and useful attachments for removing stains from fabric surfaces. For those prioritizing stain removal without requiring steam, this model is effective. However, for steam cleaning or detailed sanitizing of car interiors, a dedicated steam cleaner would be more appropriate.