The 4 Best Upholstery Cleaners, According to Our Testing

Final Verdict

The Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner is our top pick because it was the most effective at picking up stains of any of the portable upholstery cleaners we tested. It's also extremely lightweight and easy to maneuver, making it ideal for treating small areas on furniture, car interiors, and draperies.

Our Testing Process

We spent three days testing 12 upholstery, carpet, and steam cleaners side-by-side in our Lab to determine the best ones for cleaning upholstery. To start, we followed the assembly instructions for each device, timing how long it took to put together and heat up.

The day before our stain testing, we stained light-colored cushions with both ketchup and wet potting soil and let them set overnight. The next day we used each machine to tackle its own stained cushion, timing how long it took to remove the stain and noting whether the material suffered any damage.

Meanwhile, testers took note of each machine's portability and usability, including its weight and whether or not it required frequent refilling. We also paid attention to the noise level of each machine. Upholstery cleaners that could also be used on hard surfaces earned bonus points for versatility. Afterwards, testers were made aware of the price of each device, and were asked to score its overall value.

How to Shop for Upholstery Cleaners

Type

Most of the time, upholstery cleaners are small, handheld appliances designed with the purpose of spot treating stains on upholstered furniture, carpets, and rugs. They work by using a cleaning solution in conjunction with warm water and vibrating scrub brushes to lift dirt and stains, and then remove the liquid using a powerful vacuum suction. Portable upholstery cleaners are typically constructed with a small, easy-to-lift tank that connects to a variety of attachments, usually with more narrow cleaning pathways for spot treating.

You can also find upright upholstery cleaners, which resemble upright vacuum cleaners, and are designed to tackle wall-to-wall carpeting. They also usually have attachments for use on upholstery.

Finally, some steam cleaners may also be used to clean upholstery—although you should always refer to the manufacturer's guidance as to which surfaces a device can be used on. Steam cleaners rely entirely on steam and water to loosen dirt, and can often work on both hard and soft surfaces. They are ideal for disinfecting surfaces and eliminating pests, germs, and allergens. But while steam cleaners can be useful for lifting fresh stains, they may struggle to remove set-in stains as they don't use a cleaning solution.

If you're looking to just clean upholstered furniture, car interiors, and small carpet stains, a portable upholstery and carpet cleaner is probably your best choice. For larger carpeted areas, an upright carpet cleaner with upholstery attachments will offer more functionality. A steam cleaner is the most versatile choice as it can often be used on upholstery and carpets, in addition to different types of flooring, bathroom surfaces, and more. However, it's not always the most effective at removing set-in stains.

Upholstery Material

Be sure the upholstery cleaner you choose is compatible with whatever fabric type you're looking to clean. The same goes for choosing a cleaning solution, too. Upholstered furniture uses a code system which notes what type of cleaning agents and processes are safe for different fabrics. Refer to the care tag on your furniture for the code:

• Code W: Only water-based cleaning agents should be used.
• Code S: Only solvent-based cleaning agents should be used.
• Code S/W: Both water- and solvent-based cleaning agents are safe to use.
• Code X: Never use water- or solvent-based cleaning agents. Only clean by vacuuming or light brushing.

It's generally a good idea to test a cleaner out on a small, inconspicuous area first, to ensure there's no color running or fabric degradation.

Size and Portability

When it comes to cleaning upholstery, a lightweight machine is going to make maneuvering around furniture and car interiors much easier. Look for a unit with a longer power cord that will allow you to rest the tank on the ground from a comfortable distance, without having to constantly resposition.

Attachments

Most upholstery cleaners come with at least one additional attachment to enhance the effectiveness and versatility of the product. Portable upholstery cleaners typically include a stain tool as well as a crevice tool for hard-to-reach areas. Steam cleaners are the most versatile thanks to their many attachments, such as brushes, mop heads, squeegees, and more.

Questions You Might Ask

How do upholstery cleaners work?

Upholstery cleaners work by spraying a stain with a cleaning agent and then using a brush to agitate and perform a shampooing action that lifts the stain. The dirty water and solution is then extracted from the carpet using a vacuum suction. Steam cleaners that are compatible with upholstery work by releasing a pressurized steam that loosens dirt and disinfects surfaces. These generally don't feature a vacuum suction because the high-heat steam dries very quickly.

How often should you clean upholstery?

Most upholstery cleaners are designed to spot treat stains as needed, although a general refresh is recommended several times a year (more if you have kids or pets).

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Melanie Fincher, associate commerce editor for Real Simple with nearly three years of experience writing product reviews and lifestyle content. To formulate this list, we tested 12 upholstery cleaners side-by-side over the course of three days. Each model was evaluated based on its ease of setup, effectiveness at removing stains, portability, ease of use, noise level, versatility, and overall value.