Koch-Chemie Pol Star vs Chemical Guys Nonsense: Full Comparison
Koch-Chemie Pol Star and Chemical Guys Nonsense are two of the most talked-about interior cleaners in the detailing world — one known for German engineering and textile safety, the other for being “colorless and odorless.” But which one actually cleans better? We tested both side-by-side on leather, vinyl, plastic, and fabric to find out. The results reveal a clear winner — and an even better option for detailers and daily drivers.
Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
Introduction: Interior Cleaning Has Evolved
Koch-Chemie Pol Star is widely praised for its textile-safe formula and balanced pH, making it a favorite among high-end detailers. Chemical Guys Nonsense, on the other hand, is marketed as a “colorless and odorless” cleaner designed for maximum safety.
But marketing rarely tells the whole story. In our testing, we evaluated:
- → Cleaning strength
- → Safety on sensitive materials
- → Streaking and residue
- → Ease of use
- → Dilution flexibility
- → Real-world performance on leather, vinyl, plastics, and fabric
And, critically, whether either product beats our control benchmark: Complete Cabin Cleaner, the all-surface interior cleaner designed for pros and daily drivers.
1. Product Overview: What Each Cleaner Is Designed For
Koch-Chemie Pol Star
- → pH-balanced (around 8)
- → Safe on leather, Alcantara, fabric, vinyl, and trim
- → Designed for textile preservation
- → Foam-based cleaning action
- → Typically diluted 1:5 to 1:20
Chemical Guys Nonsense
- → “Colorless & odorless” formula
- → All-purpose interior cleaner
- → Marketed as extremely safe
- → pH around 9–10 (moderately alkaline)
- → Dilutable up to 1:20
Despite being described as safe, Nonsense is still alkaline and can leave residue if not wiped properly.
2. Real-World Cleaning Test
We tested both products on the same interior surfaces, under the same conditions, using the same towels and brushes.
Leather Cleaning
- → Pol Star produced light foam and lifted dirt evenly
- → Nonsense cleaned well but left minor tackiness
Vinyl & Plastics
- → Pol Star left a natural finish
- → Nonsense cleaned aggressively but streaked if not fully wiped
Fabric & Upholstery
- → Pol Star excelled with tight fibers and high-traffic grime
- → Nonsense foamed more but pulled less dirt
3. Cleaning Strength Comparison Table
| Surface | Pol Star | Nonsense | Complete Cabin Cleaner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather | Safe, even cleaning | Effective but leaves slight residue | Deep clean, no residue |
| Vinyl / Trim | Natural finish | Can streak | No streaks, OEM finish |
| Fabric / Upholstery | Excellent fiber lifting | Foamy but less dirt removed | Fastest, most even cleaning |
4. Why pH Matters for Interior Cleaning
Interior cleaners vary widely in pH, and that affects surface safety:
- → pH 6–8: safest for leather, vinyl, fabric
- → pH 8–10: stronger cleaning, higher residue risk
Pol Star: pH-balanced safety
Its balanced pH makes it safe for even the most sensitive materials.
Nonsense: moderately alkaline
This can cause dryness on leather or leave haze on soft-touch plastics if not fully wiped.
Complete Cabin Cleaner: optimized for all surfaces
With balanced pH and fast-cleaning surfactants, it avoids residue while maximizing safety.
The Better All-Surface Interior Cleaner
Complete Cabin Cleaner delivers stronger cleaning than Pol Star and safer performance than Nonsense — with zero streaks or residue.
Buy on Jimbo’s Detailing Buy on Amazon5. Foam: Helpful or Just Marketing?
Many people assume foam = better cleaning. Not true.
Pol Star foam:
Stable, controlled foam that lifts fibers safely.
Nonsense foam:
Looks impressive but collapses quickly, offering little functional advantage.
Complete Cabin Cleaner:
Low-foam, high-lubricity cleaning that avoids streaking.
6. Safety on Sensitive Surfaces
This is where Pol Star typically wins — but even here, our testing found limits.
- → Pol Star is safe on leather, vinyl, and textiles
- → Nonsense can dry leather and haze soft plastics
- → Complete Cabin Cleaner is safe on all interior materials with a true OEM matte finish
It’s rare to find a product that performs strongly across every interior surface. Complete Cabin Cleaner fills that gap.
7. Residue & Streaking: The Deal Breaker
Residue is a major issue with many interior cleaners — especially strong all-purpose cleaners.
Our results:
- → Pol Star: minimal residue
- → Nonsense: consistent residue unless wiped aggressively
- → Complete Cabin Cleaner: no residue, no streaks
For detailers, this alone makes a big difference in speed and finish quality.
8. Dilution Flexibility
A good interior cleaner scales with the job — gentle for maintenance, stronger for heavy-duty cleaning.
Pol Star
- → 1:5 for deep cleaning
- → 1:20 for maintenance
Nonsense
- → 1:5 recommended
- → Loses strength fast at higher dilutions
Complete Cabin Cleaner
- → Ready-to-use formula
- → Consistent performance
- → No dilution mistakes
9. Which Interior Cleaner Is the Most Versatile?
The true test: which one works best on every major interior surface?
| Surface Type | Pol Star | Nonsense | Complete Cabin Cleaner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather | Safe | Risk of dryness | Safe + no residue |
| Vinyl | Natural finish | Streak risk | OEM matte finish |
| Fabric | Excellent | Foamy but weaker | Strongest cleaning |
| Soft-touch Plastics | Safe | Haze risk | No haze |
10. The Final Verdict: Which One Should You Use?
If you want maximum safety (but moderate strength):
→ Koch-Chemie Pol Star is the better choice.
If you want a budget cleaner (but with streaking risks):
→ Chemical Guys Nonsense works, but has limitations.
If you want the best combination of performance, safety, speed, and finish:
→ Complete Cabin Cleaner is the clear winner.
It delivers stronger cleaning than Pol Star without the streaking and residue issues of Nonsense — and it works on every interior surface without dilution mistakes.
The All-Surface Interior Cleaner That Outperforms Them All
Complete Cabin Cleaner is the safest, fastest, and most effective interior cleaner for every car surface — leather, vinyl, plastic, fabric, and more.
Buy on Jimbo’s Detailing Buy on AmazonRelated Reading
FAQs
Is Pol Star safer than Nonsense?
Yes. Pol Star’s pH is lower and more balanced, making it safer on textiles and leather.
Does Nonsense leave residue?
Yes — especially on vinyl and soft-touch plastics if not wiped aggressively.
What makes Complete Cabin Cleaner better?
It cleans deeper, leaves zero residue, and works safely on every interior surface.
Can all three cleaners be used on leather?
Pol Star and Complete Cabin Cleaner are safest. Nonsense may dry out leather.
Which cleaner is best for detailers?
Complete Cabin Cleaner is the fastest, most consistent option for professional work.
