The 8 Best Upholstery Cleaners for Furniture and Beyond

The Bissell Little Green Pro is one of the best-selling carpet and upholstery cleaning gadgets on Amazon—and one of the highest rated, with over 6,600 five-star ratings. The brand’s most powerful spot and stain cleaner effectively erases messes on carpet, stairs, upholstery and car interiors so well that even professional house cleaners may consider it as an option. The set comes with a deep stain tool, a tough stain tool and two 8-ounce trial sizes of cleaning formula.

Jen N, a cat owner, had a hard time cleaning up brown hairball stains when she purchased the product. “I can safely say that it has changed my life. It takes only a few minutes to completely remove the stain, and within a couple of hours, the spot is completely dry. I can’t recommend it enough,” she writes. The compact size and weight—just over 13 pounds—make it easy to lug up and down stairs, and it’s incredibly easy to use and operate.

Pros

• The affordable gadget erases upholstery stains in minutes
• Small, compact size makes it easy to carry around the house
• 8,400 Amazon ratings and a 4.6-star average

Cons

• Slightly more expensive than the original Little Green

The OG cleaning powerhouse from Bissell, the Bissell Little Green, is still a bestseller, and for good reason. It’s a bargain for those on a tight budget, coming in at just over $120. Weighing under 10 pounds (three pounds lighter than the Pro), the portable cleaning machine lifts away messes on carpet, upholstery and car interiors quickly and effectively, according to our Bissell Little Green review.

“I would give it 10 stars if I could,” verified purchaser Mrs. Augie wrote in her review, sharing before-and-after photos of old filthy chairs that were “restored” to “brand new” using the machine, which she claims is “well worth the very reasonable price.” All that’s missing is a new, dependable vacuum cleaner, and spring cleaning will be in full effect.

Pros

• Budget-friendly cleaning gadget at just over $120
• Weighs under 10 pounds, so it’s portable
• 58,000 Amazon ratings and a 4.6-star average
• Available on Amazon and Bissell

Cons

• Only comes with one 8-ounce sample of cleaning solution

If you don’t want to invest in a cleaning machine, the best upholstery cleaner in spray form is the Revolve Upholstery & Multi-Fabric Stain Remover. With over 8,200 5-star ratings from Amazon shoppers, this safely cleans polyester, nylon and cotton upholstery.

“I have been using this particular spray for years to clean up the puke my cats so graciously leave around the house, preferably on my rugs and blankets,” says Shopping Editor Stephanie Hope. “It seriously amazes me how effective this product is at erasing stains completely. It’s one of the best carpet cleaners for pets on the market.”

Pros

• Convenient upholstery cleaner spray
• Inexpensive at less than $5
• Editor-approved
• Hundreds of shoppers maintain it removes tough stains from couches and other upholstered surfaces
• 11,900 Amazon ratings and a 4.5-star average
• Available on Amazon and Walmart

Cons

• Not safe on silk, velvet, vinyl or leather fabrics

Similar to upholstery stains inside of the house, car interiors also fall victim to spills, muddy feet, pet stains and other mishaps. While many of the other best upholstery cleaner products we recommended can also be used to clean car upholstery, this Chemical Guys Cleaning Kit will make your car cleanup a whole lot easier and more efficient. A handheld vacuum cleaner is a useful addition to your car-cleaning arsenal.

The set comes with all the cleaning products and tools needed to clean the car upholstery and carpets with ease, including a special carpet and upholstery shampoo and a drill brush, which is a brush that attaches to your drill making scrubbing out stains a breeze. While it is the top-selling car cleaner, people also use it to clean sofas and other upholstered surfaces in their homes.

Pros

• Everything you need to clean auto upholstery and carpets
• Cleans other types of upholstery as well, including sofas
• 4,600 Amazon ratings and a 4.4-star average
• Available on Amazon and Chemical Guys

Cons

• Some reviewers warn that using the drill brush attachment with a heavy hand can result in damage to the upholstery

If you are spot-treating stains, the best upholstery cleaner is the Bissell Spot and Stain Fabric and Upholstery Cleaner. The compact product comes fully loaded with Bissell’s tried and true stain-removing solution but also includes a brush nozzle to easily scrub out spots and stains. Because it’s so small, keep it in your car’s glove compartment to clean messes on the go or use it to attack smaller stains at home.

“When I want to just spot-clean the couch from our dogs’ dirty paws, this works well. Easy to use and dries nicely,” writes reviewer Audrey P. It may not be large enough to be the best carpet cleaner, but this Bissell tool cleans small stains on carpet fibers with ease.

Pros

• With Bissell solution and a brush, it is an effective, portable product for spot cleaning
• 5,600 Amazon ratings and a 4.2-star average
• Available on Amazon and Walmart

Cons

• While effective for spot cleaning, you will be better off cleaning larger stains or all-over cleaning with other products

One of the major drawbacks of being a pet owner is the toll they take on your carpet and upholstery. Urine, fecal stains, vomit, muddy paws and outside “gifts” that some pets bring inside can cause unwanted wreckage on your upholstered surfaces. That’s why this Rocco & Roxie Stain and Odor Eliminator is crucial when it comes to pet stain removers.

To say this miracle product has a cult following is an understatement, as it has amassed over 74,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, making it the most highly-rated product on our list. Formulated with the necessary enzymes to eliminate urine smells and stains, it’s also certified safe to use for all carpets and also safe for kids and pets.

Pros

• The best upholstery cleaner for pet owners
• Effectively removes pet stains and odors, ranging from urine and fecal matter to vomit and mud
• 102,000 Amazon ratings and a 4.5-star average
• Available on Amazon, Chewy, Target and Walmart

Cons

• Pricey option at almost $20

Cleaning leather upholstery requires an entirely different cleaning product than other types of textiles. Weiman Leather Cleaner and Conditioner is the best upholstery cleaner for leather surfaces, according to Amazon shoppers. With over 7,600 five-star ratings, this three-in-one product cleans, conditions and protects leather surfaces, ranging from sofas to car interiors.

Verified purchaser Diana Swank calls it a “must-buy” item for leather. “It makes my sofa look like brand new and keeps [it] conditioned,” she writes.

Pros

• Keeps leather fresh, supple and soft
• Ideal for cleaning purses, shoes, car interiors and pocketbooks
• 10,000 Amazon ratings and a 4.5-star average

Cons

• For use on leather only

If using natural cleaning products is important to you, then Method Stain and Odor Treatment is the best upholstery cleaner. Made with plant-based stain and odor lifters, this BPA-, paraben-, sulfates-, phthalates- and silicone-free product attacks stains, spills and odors on sofas, rugs and upholstery without any harsh chemicals.

It works well on several types of upholstery and even clothing. It eliminates all types of odors and various stains, including puppy accidents and muddy paws.

Pros

• The best plant-based upholstery cleaner
• Works well on multiple upholstery types and fights various stains

Cons

• Not available on Amazon

Are there any types of fabric that shouldn’t be cleaned with an upholstery cleaner?

First and foremost, Sokolowski stresses the importance of reading the label on the upholstery before applying any cleaning product. Some upholstery may require professional cleaning.

Can you use an upholstery cleaner on other surfaces or fabrics?

You may be able to use an upholstery cleaner on other surfaces or fabrics. Again, always make sure to read the instructions on both the item you are cleaning and the product’s label.

Can carpet cleaner be used on upholstery?

While it depends on the exact product, many carpet cleaners may be used on upholstery. In fact, many upholstery cleaners double as carpet cleaners. Again, make sure to read labels before using a carpet cleaner on upholstery to make sure it is safe for the fabric type.

Source:

• Alicia Sokolowski, president and co-CEO of AspenClean