Best Upholstery Cleaners In 2022
There’s something special about sinking into a new sofa, driving home in a nice-smelling car, or shuffling across the fluffy carpet. But upholstery doesn’t stay clean forever. Whether you spill coffee on your car seat, your pet has an accident on the rug, or your furniture gets dingy over time. Eventually, you’ll be searching for the best cleaner for upholstery.
Finding the right upholstery cleaner can get overwhelming, though. You might wonder what features you should look for in an upholstery cleaner. And with so many on the market, what are the best brands and models of upholstery cleaners? Whether you’re looking for an upright carpet cleaner, a portable cleaning machine, or a simple spray to spot clean your upholstery, we got you covered with the best upholstery cleaners.
The Best Upholstery Cleaner
1Bissell SpotClean Pro Portable Upholstery Cleaner
If you don’t want to push around a huge carpet cleaner for every little spot in your house, this Bissell SpotClean Pro Portable Upholstery Cleaner may be perfect for you. With a 20 foot cord and a five-foot hose, it is versatile and maneuverable. It also includes two attachments — a six-inch stair tool that offers a wide cleaning surface to clean steps and a three-inch tough stain tool to scrub stubborn stains.
Many reviews mention that the hose tends to crack due to the storage design. To avoid this issue, don’t coil the hose around the holder, to prevent unwanted pressure on the tube. Despite this problem, this portable carpet cleaner is incredibly handy to have around your house. You may also use it as a quality mattress cleaner.
Powerful and portable
Superior suction and scrubbing action
Professional cleaning solution
Stair tool and Tough Stain tool included
Deep cleaning action
Suitable for a range of materials
- BrandBissell
- Model3624
- Weight16.37 Pounds
2Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro Upholstery Cleaner
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro Upholstery Cleaner cleans both carpets and upholstery and can also handle any mess that pets leave behind. It includes a 2-in-1 tool with both a wet and dry mode for removing pet hair, stains, and even odor from upholstery. Plus, it comes with BISSELL’s Pet Urine Eliminator formula to test on tricky stains.
You don’t need a pet to appreciate this carpet cleaner. It comes with a CleanShot pre-treater that sprays a stream of carpet cleaning solution just where you need it. Plus, your carpets dry in about 30 minutes, so you don’t have to wait all afternoon to walk through your house again. If you’re looking for a tool that can clean both carpet and upholstery, especially if you have pets, this could be the cleaner for you.
Removes tough pet stains and odors
2-in-1 pet upholstery tool
EZ Clean brush roll
Lightweight design
30 minute dry time
Professional grade cleaning
- BrandBissell
- Model1986
- Weight17.5 pounds
3Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Upholstery Cleaner
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Pet Upholstery Cleaner comes with a Pet Stain Tool that sprays deep into your carpet to get rid of tricky stains and odors. It comes with spot-cleaning tools for upholstery that attach to a seven-foot hose. It also includes a couple of trial-sized formulas — BISSELL’s DeepClean + Antibacterial formula, as well as its PRO MAX Clean + Protect Formula. You can test out these formulas around for your house before buying the products separately. If you have a pet or are looking for a carpet and upholstery cleaner, this may be a good option for you, just like some of these amazing vacuums for pet hair from our list.
Easy to use and maneuver
Max Clean mode
30 minute dry time
Professional results and power
7 foot hose
Suitable for stairs, upholstery, pet beds
- BrandBissell
- Model1548F
- Weight24.4 pounds
4Bissell Big Green Professional Upholstery Cleaner
Bissell Big Green Professional Upholstery Cleaner is a heavy-duty, upright carpet cleaner. It does not produce steam but uses hot water extraction to remove stains. It has strong suction, which helps dry the carpet quickly. It comes with a nine-foot hose with a stain brush that can be used on upholstery as well. This carpet cleaning machine comes with three trial-sized PRO MAX Clean + Protect Formula bottles, so you can decide if you like BISSEL’s formula, or if you would rather find another brand to pair with your Big Green carpet cleaner. If you prefer cleaning with steam, check out our guide to the best carpet steam cleaners.
9 foot hose
10.5” cleaning path
Heavy duty suction power
Hot water extraction cleaning system
25 foot power cord
5 year limited warranty
- BrandBissell
- Model86T3
- Weight48 pounds
5Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Upholstery Cleaner
Many carpet cleaners have bits that break or attachments you’ll never use. But not this one. Bissell Multi-Purpose Portable Upholstery Cleaner is simple and straightforward. The two water tanks are removable so you can easily refill them. The compact design makes for simple storage. And since it weighs less than ten pounds, you can easily carry it to wherever you find a stain. The Bissel Multi-Purpose Portable Upholstery Cleaner is one of the lightest carpet and upholstery cleaners on the market, so if you’re lugging your carpet cleaner up and down stairs or are moving it around a lot, this would be a great choice. It comes with a trial-sized bottle of Spot & Stain formula as well, so you can test it out as soon as it arrives. You may also be interested in some of the top steam cleaners from our list, so check them out.
Tackles tough spots and stains
Suitable for small and large jobs
Easy-fill removable water tank
Portable and compact design
15 foot power cord
Lightweight design
- BrandBissell
- Model1400B
- Weight9.6 pounds
6Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Portable Upholstery Cleaner
Bissell SpotClean ProHeat Portable Upholstery Cleaner works for upholstery, carpets, and car interiors. It comes with BISSELL’s Professional Spot and Stain + Oxy formula to remove stains. And as a bonus, the device itself is easy to keep clean as the hose comes equipped with the HydroRinse Self-Cleaning Tool, which rinses the hose to prevent a buildup of grime. However, the hose length isn’t perfect — many reviewers mentioned that the hose is shorter than they would like. It comes with a three-inch Tough Stain tool for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and hard to reach places, and a Deep Stain tool for stubborn stains. For more handy options to help you keep your home spotless, check out our guide to the best handheld steam cleaners.
Includes Professional Spot and Stain + Oxy formula
HydroRinse Self-Cleaning Hose tool, 3″ Tough Stain tool, Deep Stain tool
15-foot cord
- BrandBissell
- Model2694
- Weight11.88 pounds
7Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain And Odor Eliminator
If you don’t want or need a fancy, high-tech cleaning machine, many sprays and formulas work just fine. Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Stain And Odor Eliminator is a simple, easy way to eliminate stains and odors, especially those caused by pets. Spray it on the mess, let it sit for 30-60 minutes, and then blot up any residual moisture. Once the area air dries, the stain and odor should be gone, easy as that! Although you should always spot test a small area first, this spray should be safe to use on carpet and upholstery, as well as concrete, tile, hardwood, laminate, and even on your laundry. If you have a cat with a persistent pee problem or a puppy you are house training, you will want to have a bottle of this stain and odor eliminator on hand.
Spray nozzle
Designed for organic messes, such as those from pets
- BrandRocco & Roxie Supply Co.
- Modelfsec
- Weight32 ounces
8Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Upholstery Cleaner
If you want a more comprehensive carpet cleaning, this upright carpet shampooer from Hoover should do the trick. Hoover Power Scrub Deluxe Upholstery Cleaner is relatively lightweight and operates like an upright vacuums for a smooth, deep clean. Like many of these machines, it is primarily made for a carpet but has an eight-foot long hose with an upholstery tool attachment, so it is easy to use on upholstery, car interiors, and more.
The machine has two separate tanks for clean and dirty water so you can fill, empty, and rinse each tank quickly. The freshwater tank has an automatic detergent mixer, so you always get the right ratio of water to detergent. Included is a sample bottle of Hoover detergent so that you can try it out immediately. The machine also forces heated air onto the carpet to help it dry faster.
8′ ready-to-use hose and upholstery tool
Blows heated air at carpets to shorten dry time
Mixes detergent and water at the optimal ratio
- BrandHoover
- ModelFH50150
- Weight18.5 pounds
9Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro Portable Upholstery Cleaner
Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro Portable Upholstery Cleaner is lightweight and portable so you can easily clean your pets’ messes on carpet, upholstery, or even in the interior of your car. It comes with a three-inch stain tool, which has a brush to scrub and suction away tricky stains. The hose also has a Stain Trapper Tool attachment, which you can use on the worst pet stains. This handy tool captures the dirty liquid inside the device, so it doesn’t contaminate the inside of your machine. And with the two trial-sized bottles of BISSELL’s Urine Eliminator formula, you should be ready for any messes around your house. For the best solution for your car, check out our selection of the best car vacuum cleaners.
2 trial-sized bottles of PET PRO OXY urine eliminator
3-inch Tough Stain tool
Stain Trapper tool
- BrandBissell
- Model2458
- Weight13.2 pounds
10Bissell Proheat Essential Upholstery Cleaner
Bissell Proheat Essential Upholstery Cleaner has a gallon-sized tank, so you won’t need to refill water as frequently as smaller carpet cleaners. It also comes with a trial-sized bottle of BISSELL’s Professional formula to get you started. The machine comes with both a crevice tool, which can dig into the tight areas on furniture and other hard to reach places, as well as a Tough Stain tool, which can scrub and remove set-in spots and stubborn stains. The cleaner has a seven-foot hose for these attachments, giving you room to maneuver. This basic carpet, upholstery and rug cleaner is an excellent option to have on hand around your house.
8-ounces of professional formula
Spraying Crevice tool
Tough Stain tool
- BrandBissell
- Model1887
- Weight19.75 pounds
11Woolite Carpet And Upholstery Cleaner Stain Remover
If you don’t have the space to store a carpet cleaning machine, this Woolite Carpet And Upholstery Cleaner Stain Remover could be a good option for you. Each canister includes an attached, fabric-safe brush that you can use to scrub at the stains for better cleaning. Just spray the foam onto the stain, scrub at it with the brush, let it sit for a while, then blot it up. This stain remover should work on upholstery, carpet, other fabric, and car interiors. Although it would be somewhat time-consuming to clean an entire sofa this way, it is a low-hassle way to target specific stains.
Attached fabric-safe brush
Foaming cleaning formula
Pack of 4
- BrandWoolite
- Model83524
- Weight1 Pounds
12CarGuys Super Effective All Purpose Cleaner
If you are most concerned with keeping the upholstery in your car clean, this CarGuys Super Effective All Purpose Cleaner is one of the best upholstery cleaners for cars. It is specially formulated to clean much of your car’s interior, including the upholstery. It should work on the seats — whether upholstery, leather, or vinyl — car mats, rubber, and much more. You will want to test the spray on a small corner of your upholstery to make sure it won’t affect the color. If you’re looking for a simple spray that can clean most of your car’s interior and can be used for other upholstery spot cleaning, this all-purpose cleaner spray may be your ticket.
Multi-surface cleaner
Designed for cleaning car interiors
- BrandCarGuys
- Model8542145820
- Weight8.4 ounces
13Bissell Deep Clean + Refresh With Febreze Formula
Carpet and upholstery cleaning machines need a cleaning solution to work. This formula is made to pair with BISSELL cleaning machines, but can work with other brands. It is advertised as having twice the active ingredients of the leading competitive brand.
Bissell Deep Clean + Refresh With Febreze Formula works to remove tough stains — everything from red wine, coffee, make-up, and dirt. The dual-action formula works to remove both stains and odors. It has a pleasant Febreze scent to make your carpet or upholstery look and smell like new.
Febreze scent
Works in any BISSELL upright carpet cleaner
- BrandBissell
- Model1052
- Weight60 ounces
Upholstery Cleaner Buying Guide
Features To Look For In Upholstery Cleaners
You have a couple of different options when it comes to types of upholstery cleaners. You can go with a portable cleaner, an upright cleaner, or a spray or foam cleaner. In addition to your upholstery or carpet cleaning machine, you will need a liquid upholstery cleaner, either water-based or solvent-based (depending on the type of upholstery), which removes stains and spots. If you’re just spot-cleaning and not washing an entire carpet or sofa, then you may find a spray or a foam that you can use for targeted spot cleaning. If you are cleaning a large area of upholstery, you will want a detergent that you can use with an upholstery cleaning machine.
Cleaning performance - Some cleaning machines are slightly larger and meant primarily for carpet, but have hoses for upholstery as well. Others are smaller and mainly intended to clean upholstery, but can be used to spot-clean carpet and car interiors. Both will likely have hoses with special upholstery cleaner tools, such as a brush attached to it. Many of these machines rely on hot water to clean your upholstery and carpet.
Easy to use - If you do decide to invest in an upholstery cleaning machine, you will choose between two main options. An upright upholstery cleaning machine is more efficient for cleaning large carpets but may be bulky to use when spot-cleaning with a hose attachment. Alternatively, you can go with a portable cleaner, which is easier to use on furniture, stairs, and cars, but it is not ideal to use when cleaning an entire carpet. Portable cleaners tend to be smaller and easier to store as well.
Lightweight - Another thing to consider is the weight of your machine. If you are carrying it up and downstairs, you may want to prioritize finding a lightweight device. If weight is not an issue, you can focus on other features.
Effectiveness - For your new cleaning machine to be effective, you will need to use the proper cleaning solution. Not every cleaner for upholstery is suitable for every type of fabric. Your upholstery should indicate the type of cleaning product you will want to use. The tag on the handle should reveal what kind of cleaning its capable of:
- W means “wet,” and you can use water and water-based cleaning products, as well as steam-cleaning.
- S indicates “solvent,” and you should only use solvent-based cleaning agents; water can damage this type of upholstery.
- WS means “wet and solvent,” which means you can use both water-based and solvent-based cleaning products.
- An X stands for “no cleaning,” and this upholstery should only be cleaned by a professional, although you can vacuum or brush it.
No matter the code, it is always best to test your cleaning method in a hidden section of the fabric to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage or discoloration before cleaning the rest of the upholstery.