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How to Clean Dog Drool Off Car Interior: Cleaning Options & Tips

Misty Layne
By Misty LayneUpdated on June 17, 2026
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Being a dog parent is incredibly rewarding but can also be quite messy. This holds especially true if you have a dog that is a huge drooler. Drooly breeds can leave quite a mess wherever they go, and dog drool can leave stains.

You’re probably a pro at getting rid of dog drool and drool stains off objects in your home, but what about removing them from your car interior? How do you clean dog drool off your car interior? There are a few ways to go about this, which we’ll detail below. Before you know it, your vehicle will be drool-free!

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Why Do Dogs Drool in the Car?

Even if your pup isn’t a drooly breed, you might find they tend to be more drooly in the car, but why is that? Why do dogs drool in the car?

There are actually a few reasons for this, including:

  • Motion sickness
  • Excitement
  • Anxiety
  • Being too hot

Motion sickness is probably the top cause of dogs drooling in the car, but some pups also get super anxious about riding in vehicles, which leads them to drool more often. Other dogs simply get overly excited about car rides, which leads to drooling, and then there are the canines who get excessively hot and start panting a lot, which causes them to drool more.

Image by: Andrey_Popov, Shutterstock
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Before You Begin

Gather the tools you will be using.

What do you need?

  • Absorbent towels (cloth or paper)
  • Pet-friendly cleaner
  • Vacuum
  • Odor-eliminating spray

If you're looking for a pet-friendly cleaner and an odor eliminating spray, your best bet is to invest in en enzyme cleaner. Many of these are made from all natural ingredients and work at combating pet messes by using active ingredients that lift stains and remove lingering odors.

If you're looking for an all-in-one, pet-friendly, enzyme cleaner, we highly recommend the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray.

It eliminates tough stains and odors easily and is excellent for accident prevention. Plus, it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order now.

At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool pet company!

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How to Clean Dog Drool Off the Car Interior: A Step-By-Step Guide

Ready to clean your car interior of dog drool? Of course, you are! Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do just that.

1. Tackle fresh drool first

Image by: guys_who_shoot, Shutterstock

Use your absorbent towels to blot up fresh drool. Don’t wipe at it, though! Doing that will spread it around rather than eliminate it. Once fresh drool is removed, wait for the surface to dry a little.


2. Use your pet-friendly cleaner

Spray or dab it onto the remaining drool spots, let it sit for a bit, and then blot it away. You might have to do this more than once to remove the dried drool stains. Don't forget to use the pet-friendly cleaner on any other dried drool stains you find.

  • What about leather or vinyl?

3. Vacuum

Vacuum over the stain first to loosen up any grime on the upholstery. Then, use the pet-friendly cleaner on the stain and scrub it with a soft brush.

Image by: Andrey_Popov, Shutterstock

4. Use an Odor-eliminating Spray

Drool can produce odors, so you want to be sure you’re eliminating those as well. So, next up is using an odor-eliminating spray. Just spray that around, open some windows to air out the car, and you should be good!

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What if I Want to Clean Up Drool With Natural Products?

Some people may not want to use store-bought cleaners, no matter how pet-friendly they are. If that sounds like you, you can clean drool stains with natural products you probably already have in your home.

Cleaning Up Drool With Rubbing Alcohol

If you have surfaces that aren’t water-safe, rubbing alcohol could work.

Steps to follow:

  1. Pour some 70% isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle, then spray it lightly on the drool stain.

  2. If you don’t have a spray bottle, dab it on with a cloth.

  3. Blot with a dry cloth, and you’re done!


Cleaning Up Drool With Vinegar

Image By: FotoHelin, Shutterstock

An all-natural way you can get rid of drool is with vinegar.

Steps to follow:

  1. Mix 1 tsp of dish detergent, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/4 cup of white vinegar, and 1 cup of water.

  2. Pour this solution into a clean spray bottle.

  3. Only use this solution on water-safe fabrics, like upholstery or carpeting!

  4. Spray your vinegar mix on the drool stain lightly, but don’t soak it.

  5. Let sit for 15 minutes.

  6. Use cold water to dampen a cloth, then blot away the vinegar mixture.

  7. Dry the area.

  8. Repeat the process if necessary.


Cleaning Up Drool With Baby Wipes

It sounds unbelievable, but some people swear up and down that baby wipes can get rid of doggie drool in the car. Just grab a few wipes and wipe down what you need to! Of course, if you have leather seats, you might not want to use this method as the wipes could dry out the leather.

If you are looking for the perfect product to clean your dog's sensitive areas, Hepper's Wash Wipes are our recommendation, plus it's a great on-the-go option. These premium wipes are thick and durable enough for the toughest of paw messes, while still being soft enough to use on your dog's ears or eyes. Formulated with pet-friendly, hypoallergenic ingredients they are the ideal product for all dogs of all ages, skin conditions, or sensitivities. 

At Dogster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool pet company!

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Use Preventive Measures

Image By: eva_blanco, Shutterstock

Want to stop drool in its tracks? While you may not be able to get your four-legged friend to stop drooling in the car, you can keep the interior of your car safe from drool by doing a few simple things.

Some recommendations are:

  • Put a protective cover or blanket on your car seats.
  • Put a bib on your pup so it catches drool.
  • Don’t open windows. If windows are open, drool is more likely to go flying around.
  • If your pup is drooling because of motion sickness, talk to a vet about motion sickness medication.
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Final Thoughts

Having drool all over the interior of your car can be gross, but with the above guide, you can easily clean it up. Doing so probably won’t take long either (unless your pup is particularly drooly). Also, take a few preventive measures next time you go for a car ride with your favorite dog. It’ll save you some time!


Featured Photo Credit: Nomad Soul, Shutterstock

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Misty Layne
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Misty Layne

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