If your house is home to a pet or young child, you’re probably already familiar with cleaning upholstery. Whether a potty accident on the carpet or an ill-placed, Picasso-style masterpiece on your brand new sofa, getting rid of stains on fabric is a task you’ll encounter at some point in your life, even if you live in a child and pet-free environment. And while a panicky Google of “the best way to clean upholstery” might offer a quick fix for superficial spills, for a deeper, more comprehensive clean, we suggest being prepared with one of the best upholstery cleaners.
Aside from the occasional vacuuming session, upholstery cleaning is often one of the household chores we neglect the most. However, given the sheer amount of upholstery found in your home, you may want to consider taking this cleaning task more seriously. You may also be convinced when you see how versatile some of the best upholstery cleaners can be. With an upholstery cleaner, potentially cleanable items and surfaces around a household include:
- Sofas/Couches
- Car Interiors
- Carpets
- Chairs
- Stairs
- Sneakers
- Outdoor Furniture
- Rugs/Runners
To help you take your upholstery cleaning a little more seriously, we’ve put together a list of the top nine upholstery cleaners available online. We’ve included both cleaning liquids and electronic devices, allowing you to choose the right answer for your home upholstery cleaning needs.
1. Hoover Spotless Portable Upholstery Spot Cleaner
BEST OVERALL
By spraying, scrubbing and sucking, there’s not much the Hoover Spotless Portable Spot Cleaner can’t deal with on carpet and upholstery. This makes it an ideal addition for households with particularly accident-prone kids or pets. The cleaner is lightweight for greater portability and includes a dual-tank design to separate clean and dirty water. It also incorporates self-cleaning technology for effortless post-use cleaning of the device itself. Additionally, this Hoover product comes with a rubber nub tool to further encourage deep cleaning. It’s also antimicrobial itself.
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2. Bissell Pet Upholstery and Carpet Spotlifter
BEST BUDGET
At under $5, the Bissell Pet Upholstery and Carpet Spotlifter is a budget-friendly way to rid your upholstery of tough stains. The cleaner has been specially formulated to act against common pet stains, including vomit, urine and mud. For added convenience, the 12-ounce can incorporates a fabric-safe brush in the head. This also allows you to better reach contoured areas and crevices. Furthermore, the liquid boasts a patented odor eliminator, which also discourages your pets from re-soiling the same areas time after time.
3. Chemical Guys Lightning Upholstery Stain Extractor
BEST SPRAY
Once you’ve tried a product from the Chemical Guys, you’ll never choose anything else again. In this Chemical Guys Lightning Upholstery Stain Extractor, you’ll find a highly concentrated liquid that can be diluted down 20 times, ensuring you’ll have enough to clean plenty of messes whether you choose the 16 or 128 fluid ounce vessel. It comes backed by over 5,500 five-star ratings from Amazon users and effectively cleans a range of items, including fabrics, sofas and carpets. Additionally, the 16-ounce bottle features a handy spray top.
4. Hoover PowerDash GO Portable Upholstery Spot Cleaner
PET PICK
If you’re after a portable device for spot cleaning upholstery at a budget-friendly price, then the Hoover PowerDash GO Portable Spot Cleaner could be the answer you’re looking for. The compact device is ideal for households with or without pets, as it can handle any kind of stain. Its lightweight construction makes it come comfortable to move around with, letting you reach uncomfortable areas, like stairs and vehicle interiors without a problem. Furthermore, this spot cleaner utilizes a two-tank system, so the clean and dirty water never mix, providing a more effective clean. In addition, the device comes with a pet tool, a nub tool and a trial-size bottle of cleaning solution, so you’re ready to go on arrival.
Read more: Best Carpet Spot Cleaners
5. Bissell PowerBrush Portable Carpet Cleaner
PORTABLE PICK
By sporting a cordless design, the Bissell PowerBrush Portable Carpet Cleaner offers unbeatable portability. Whether you’re cleaning your stairs, your carpet or even your car interiors, this grab-and-go-style device makes the job simple. For effective cleaning, it includes a rotating DirtLifter PowerBrush which targets and removes stains. The rechargeable, lithium-ion battery boasts an extended runtime, while the included trial-size bottle of Pro Oxy Spot & Stain formula means you’re ready to go when the device arrives on your doorstep.
6. SteamFast Canister Steam Cleaner
MOST VERSATILE
The SteamFast Canister Steam Cleaner offers impressive, around-the-house cleaning versatility. In addition to upholstery, this well-reviewed device can be used to clean ceramic, tile, concrete, plastic and glass to name a few. And, as it only uses high-pressure, high-temperature water in the form of steam, the sanitizing and deodorizing process is chemical-free, too. For convenience during use, the device includes wheels, casters and a carrying handle as well as a six-foot, flexible steam hose for true precision cleaning. Furthermore, the 17 accompanying accessories ensure there’s almost no cleaning job this device can’t help with.
7. BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat Spot and Stain Cleaner
BEST TOOLS
The BISSELL SpotClean ProHeat Spot and Stain Cleaner is a portable device that is capable of permanently removing even the toughest stains. It comes backed by over 6,000 five-star ratings from Amazon users and utilizes advanced heatwave technology to maintain a constant temperature during use. The compact size is ideal for reaching remote upholstery, like stairs and car interiors, and taking up less storage space in your cupboards. Furthermore, this cleaner comes with a deep stain tool, a tough stain tool and a HydroRinse, self-cleaning hose tool along with a trial-size Pet Oxy Boost cleaning formula to get you cleaning straightaway.
8. Bissell SpotBot Pet Hands-Free Deep Cleaner
BEST HANDS-FREE
The smart design of the Bissell SpotBot Pet Hands-Free Deep Cleaner means it’s possible to place the device over the problem stain and let it do all the hard work for you. Simply choose between the quick and deep cleaning modes, and sit back and watch as it lifts tough stains from your upholstery. The upholstery cleaner comes with a long hose and a three-inch tough stain tool, which let you get to those hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, it’s supplied with a Pro Oxy Spot & Stain formula and, as with any Bissell device purchase, part of the proceeds goes to help save homeless pets.
9. McCulloch Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner
HEAVY DUTY PICK
From outdoor furniture to carpets, the McCulloch MC1275 Heavy-Duty Steam Cleaner can clean almost every surface in your home. The harsh, chemical-free process uses 1500 watts of heating power in the form of steam to remove stubborn stains. The built-in, 48-ounce water tank provides plenty of fuel for cleaning, while the 10-foot hose and 18 accompanying accessories ensure you will be prepared for every job. Furthermore, this well-loved device comes backed by over 6,500 five-star Amazon ratings.
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