The Best Upholstery Cleaners We’ve Ever Tested

Final Verdict

The Bissell SpotClean Pro Portable Carpet Cleaner is our top pick because it offers the best performance at the best price. During our tests, it effectively removed most stains in just a few passes. It’s also easy to use, thanks to its dual-tank design, long power cord, and built-in handle.

Our Testing Process

To find the best upholstery cleaners, we tested 23 upholstery cleaning machines, upholstery cleaning solutions, and leather cleaning solutions side-by-side in our Lab. To start, we followed assembly instructions for each device, timing how long each took to set up and noting any complications. 

We then applied orange juice, red wine, and coffee to a series of carpets and couch cushions, letting some dry completely and others sit for 15 minutes. For the fresh stains, we used each machine on its own carpet and couch cushion, noting how many passes it took to lift each stain and how damp it left the upholstery. We did the same with upholstery cleaning solutions, measuring how long they took (in seconds) to remove each stain.

We also tried out any attachments that came with each cleaner and noted their effectiveness, as well as if any smells and/or sticky residue remained after cleaning.  We repeated the process for the dried stains, trying out the cleaners on both furniture and stairs.

Meanwhile, we took note of each upholstery cleaner’s portability and usability, including its weight, whether or not it required frequent refilling of the tank, and how difficult or simple the refilling process was. We also measured the noise level of each upholstery cleaning machine with a decibel reader. Afterward, we saw the price of each cleaner, and scored its overall value.

We previously tested 10 upholstery, carpet, and steam cleaners in our Lab using a similar system. The day before that test, we stained light-colored cushions with 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.

How to Shop for Upholstery Cleaners Like a Pro

Type

Most upholstery cleaners are small, handheld appliances that lift stains using cleaning solution, water, and scrub brushes, and then remove that liquid using vacuum suction. These devices are often effective and easy to use, and many come with accessories that make them more versatile. There are also solvent-based cleaning solutions that use oils, but these are “very flammable and are not used by most homeowners or professionals,” warns Mount.

You can also find upholstery cleaning sprays, which are lightweight, budget-friendly, and easy to use. These rarely come with accessories or suction elements, so you’ll have to scrub the stains away and blot them dry yourself.

For heavy-duty cleaning jobs, you can find upright upholstery cleaners, which resemble vacuum cleaners, and are designed to tackle wall-to-wall carpeting. You can also find some steam cleaners that are safe to use on upholstery. Just be sure to always refer to the manufacturer's guidance to see which surfaces a device can be used on. If you’re working with a particularly delicate fabric that you’re worried about potentially damaging, Mount suggests simply spot-cleaning the area “with a cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol,” and gently rubbing it into the upholstery.

That said, given their versatility, we think portable upholstery cleaners are the best choice for most residential cleaning jobs. But upholstery cleaning sprays are a budget-friendly alternative, while steam cleaners are the most versatile option since you can often use them on upholstery, carpets, and different types of flooring. “Work within your budget to find a machine that is comfortable, lightweight, and can be used for what you need it for most,” says Cohoon.

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 that 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.

If your upholstery is made from delicate fabric like silk or velvet, you’ll want to use a gentle cleaning solution that won’t cause any damage (while still checking for its code), or just spot-clean by hand. For more robust types of fabric like cotton or microfiber, you can usually use cleaners with more powerful settings. With leather, however, you’ll want to reach out to “a company that specializes in leather cleaning and repair,” Mount suggests, otherwise you might risk hurting the fabric.

Size and Portability

Large upholstery cleaners tend to have longer cords, more powerful motors, and bigger tanks, so they can travel farther, clean faster, and run longer between refills. But according to the two experts we spoke with, portability is just as important as power. Lightweight machines are easier to use, carry around, and maneuver, helping you clean upholstery in hard-to-reach areas.  

“With upholstery cleaners, portability is key,” Cohoon says. “So before buying one, make sure you can pick it up and maneuver it.” Look for a lightweight upholstery cleaner with a long power cord, or find a cordless option (like a cleaning spray or battery-powered handheld model).

Attachments

“Attachments are essential for versatility,” Cotter says. “So look for a cleaner that offers a range of attachments suitable for different surfaces and cleaning jobs.” Most upholstery cleaners come with at least one attachment, like a stain tool that sprays cleaning solution, a scrub brush that deep-cleans stains, or a crevice or hose tool that targets hard-to-reach areas like stairs and nooks. If the fabric you’re dealing with is covered in pet hair, a brush tool may be more up your alley.

Steam cleaners come with even more attachments, like brushes, mop heads, squeegees, and more. Just note, however, that upholstery cleaning sprays may not come with any attachments. All that being said, take into account what areas need cleaning beforehand so you know which upholstery cleaner has the right attachments for the job(s).

More Upholstery Cleaners to Consider

• Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner 1400B: We were excited to try this fan-favorite upholstery cleaner. And while we found the machine lightweight and easy to use, it didn’t live up to expectations. In previous tests, the machine effectively lifted wet potting soil and dried ketchup from upholstery. But in this test, it struggled to remove most of the stains we tested it on, and it left lots of moisture behind. That being said, you're better off opting for Little Green model that we recommended for our "Best Cordless" pick.
• Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner: Thanks to its ultra-powerful suction and rubberized pet tool, this upholstery cleaner not only lifts pet stains and odors, but pet hair too. In previous tests, the machine quickly cleaned up wet potting soil, but struggled to remove dried ketchup stains. For this reason, we think it’s an excellent machine for immediately tackling pet accidents. But you may need a different upholstery cleaner to handle set-in stains.

Questions You Might Ask

How do upholstery cleaners work?

“Most upholstery cleaners use a combination of water, cleaning solution, and gentle scrubbing to loosen dirt, stains, and odors from fabric,” Cotter says. The dirty water and solution is then extracted from the upholstery using vacuum suction.

Upholstery cleaning sprays work similarly: You spray stains with a cleaning solution and scrub them yourself. Steam cleaners, on the other hand, loosen dirt and disinfect surfaces using pressurized steam. (These generally don't feature vacuum suction because the high-heat steam dries very quickly.) “The specific mechanism varies, but the goal remains the same—to breathe new life into your upholstery and keep it looking its best,” Cotter adds.

How often should you clean upholstery?

Most upholstery cleaners are designed to spot-treat stains as needed. But to keep the fabric in tip-top shape, experts recommend deep-cleaning your upholstery twice a year. If you live in a home with kids, pets, or frequent visitors, you might want to clean it more often—about three or four times a year.

Waiting too long to clean your upholstery can cause dirt, dust, and odors to build up. But cleaning your upholstery too often can wear out the fabric. So the key is finding a cleaning schedule that works for you. “Strive for a balance, listen to your upholstery's needs, and adapt your cleaning routine accordingly,” Cotter says.

Is upholstery cleaner worth it?

“If you have upholstered furniture, especially in areas with high foot traffic, kids, or pets, owning an upholstery cleaner can be a game-changer,” Cotter says. “It gives you the power to tackle spills, stains, and accumulated dirt promptly, extending the life of your furniture.”

But if you don’t have much upholstery or would prefer to get yours cleaned professionally, an upholstery cleaner may not be a must-have. “It ultimately boils down to convenience, budget, and your personal preference for taking care of your upholstery,” Cotter adds.

What is best for cleaning a fabric sofa?

To clean a fabric sofa, Mount recommends putting a small amount of mild soap, or a few drops of dishwashing liquid on a damp cloth. ”Be careful not to overwet the fabric,” he notes. The amount of cleaning solution might seem minimal, but it’ll be very “effective to clean a small area,” he adds.

What do professionals use to clean couches?

Most professional cleaners have proprietary cleaning agents that eliminate most stains and odors. “They will rinse and vacuum the fabric with equipment that is 20 times more powerful than any home cleaning tool,” Mount explains. However, if your couch stain/mess isn’t deep set or huge, you can likely get the job done yourself using one of our recommended upholstery cleaners.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Melanie Fincher and updated by Lindsey Lanquist and Rachel Simon. To find the best upholstery cleaners, we tested 23 upholstery cleaners side-by-side in our Lab, assessing each model for effectiveness, ease of use, portability, noise level, and overall value. Using these insights—and results from previous upholstery, carpet, and steam cleaner tests—we made our final picks. We also tapped cleaning experts Kathy Cohoon of Two Maids & A Mop, Will Cotter of HappyCleans, and Jim Mount of Phoenix Cleaning Solutions for further advice and recommendations.

What Is Real Simple Selects?

Next to each product on this list, you may have noticed a Real Simple Selects seal of approval. Any product appearing alongside that seal has been vetted by our team—put through tests and graded on its performance to earn a spot on our list. Although we buy most of the products we test, sometimes we do get samples from companies if purchasing a product ourselves isn’t an option. All products go through the same rigorous process, whether they are purchased or sent by the company.

Love our recommendations? Check out more products that have earned the Real Simple Selects, from humidifiers to cordless vacuums.