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Mar 17, 2025

The Best Upholstery Cleaners We've Ever Tested

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. You no longer have to be afraid of snacking on your couch. In This Article Real

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

You no longer have to be afraid of snacking on your couch.

In This Article

Real Simple

Your upholstery goes through a lot every day — especially if you have kids and pets or snack on the couch. That’s why having an upholstery cleaner on hand can make all the difference when it comes to prolonging the life of your upholstery and keeping it pristine.

We tested different types of upholstery cleaners for months, narrowing it down to the nine that best squandered tough stains like spilled wine, soda, marinara sauce, and pet messes, and were the easiest to hold and move around the house. Whether you need to get a deep-seated stain out of your leather couch or spot-clean your car, prepare to get your hands dirty and check out our top picks.

The wide nozzle can cover bigger surfaces and it comes in two modes: eco for gentle cleaning and turbo for stubborn stains.

It struggled with removing wine stains, even on the highest mode.

Keeping your couch clean may be easier than you think if you have the viral Bissell Little Green Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner 3682. After six months of testing, we wish we knew about this device sooner, as we might have saved ourselves from spending on new upholstery when we bought our new puppy. It effectively deep-cleans spills and stains off surfaces, and is cordless, making it easily maneuverable for cleaning your car and other small spaces. We liked its ergonomic size and shape and appreciated the two different modes: eco for gentler cleans and turbo for tougher stains.

We found the wide nozzle great for covering bigger surface areas albeit less concentrated if you’re targeting specific spots. Still, it sucked all the moisture out, leaving our couch cushions slightly damp by the time we were done. While it worked beautifully on juice and marinara stains, it only lightened the wine stain when it was in turbo mode. For everyday messes though, this machine does the job.

Weight: 7 pounds | Surface Compatibility: Upholstery, carpet, patio furniture, car interiors | Tank Capacity: 34 ounces | Attachments: Upholstery brush, crevice tool, extension wand, pet tool

It has motorized brushes that boost suction power, easily pulling up dirt, dander, and pet messes.

Because it’s a spot cleaner, it’s not as effective on larger, older stains.

Over months of testing, the Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner proved to be powerful in scrubbing dog pee stains and smells, plus vomit off our area rugs. The motorized bristles boost suction power, so you can easily pull up dirt and embedded stains, even if they’ve been there for weeks. We also love the retractable suitcase handle and wheels that make it easy to pull around.

Its small size makes it convenient for storage and easy grabbing whenever we need it. As it’s a spot cleaner, it’s not as effective on older, bigger stains. Keep in mind that the tank has to be upside down if you want to add water and soap. We had to have another person help us fill it up because we were worried it would tip over

Weight: 18 pounds | Surface Compatibility: Carpet | Tank Capacity: 1 gallon | Attachments: n/a

It comes with a ready-to-use cleaning solution that helps remove odors.

The handle wasn’t very comfortable to hold.

Over a period of months, we effectively tackled old and new stains alike with this Bissell. It completely erased fresh coffee and wine stains, and lightened older ones, which we loved, considering how hard older stains are to get out.

Despite the cleaner being for pet messes, its small size and portability make it great for car upholstery, stairs, and other small spaces, especially since it’s cordless. We appreciated the easy setup, as it came with clear instructions. We think a softer grip and finger grooves on the handle could’ve made holding it feel more comfortable but that’s a small gripe compared to its convenience and easy storage.

We like that it comes with two 8-ounce bottles of cleaning solution instead of the usual single bottle that other brands have. Plus, it’s not a water-based solvent so you don’t have to dilute it with water when you clean.

Weight: 3 pounds | Surface Compatibility: Carpet, upholstery, floor | Tank Capacity: 8 ounces | Attachments: Brush

You can use it on all types of leather surfaces and products, including couches, bags, jackets, boots, and car interiors.

The kit comes with no instructions so you’ll need to experiment with which solution and sponge is best for your upholstery.

Leather couches aren’t like other couches—they need a little extra TLC, which means you need a specialized upholstery cleaner that won’t discolor or damage it. We couldn’t find a cleaner that performed as well as this kit did. Using it left our couch buttery soft and looking better than new. The kit consists of a cleaner, leather protection cream conditioner, and sponges. We used it on sunscreen, foundation makeup, and syrup stains; not only was there no sticky residue, water rings, or blemishes left behind, the kit was surprisingly more effective than a DIY solution like vinegar and water.

Plus, we love that it’s not just compatible with couches: you can use it on leather shoes, jackets, bags, and car interiors. It carries a subtle, citrusy scent and doesn't leave the leather looking as dull as our DIY cleaner did. The downside is that no instructions come with it, so you have to experiment and figure out the correct sponges to use for each product yourself. If you want to keep your leather furniture and accessories looking fresh for years though, this kit is worth buying.

Weight: 17 ounces | Surface Compatibility: Leather

It’s quick to remove long-existing stains on carpeting, stairs, and other upholstery, and those sensitive to smell will like that it has no strong scent.

It struggles with deeper, embedded stains.

Pre-treating stains with a cleaning spray like the Bissell Advanced Oxy Stain Pretreat can help your upholstery cleaner work better; in fact, sometimes the spray is all you might need. This spray completely removed our marinara, wine, and soda spills. All we had to do was spritz and wipe the area with a damp cloth and the blemishes and funky odors disappeared. We were able to use it not just on upholstery but also on car carpeting, car seats, stairs, and more. We also appreciate that it’s unscented so you’re not bombarded with strong chemical smells.

The spray did struggle with mustard stains and older blemishes but we think we should have left the spray on for longer. If you need a deeper clean, use this spray to pretreat before cleaning with an upholstery cleaning machine and your item should be in tip-top shape. We think it’s a fantastic spray to include in your cleaning routine for keeping your upholstery looking its best at all times.

Weight: 22 ounces | Surface Compatibility: Carpet, area rugs, upholstery

The Bissell Little Green Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner 3682 came out on top thanks to its deep-cleaning ability and portable, cordless design, letting you clean a variety of surfaces like carpet, upholstered furniture, and your car. If you’re a pet owner and need a unit specifically for animal messes and odors, the Rug Doctor Pet Portable Spot Cleaner is our favorite. We like its compact size, letting us grab it whenever needed, as well as the motorized brushes that amplify its suction power for stubborn stains.

To find the best upholstery cleaners, sprays, and leather cleaning kits, we tested different models over a period of several months. We had them face off with four different stains: marinara sauce, red wine, dark soda, and mustard, which we intentionally spilled on rugs and couch cushions. The stains sat for 20 minutes before we put the machines and sprays to work.

We experimented with different attachments the cleaners came with to find the best one for each blemish, recording what worked best. We also tracked the number of passes it took to remove each stain, and scrubbed rugs with a DIY cleaning solution to compare its results with the cleaner.

The leather cleaning kit and sprays required a different approach: we stained leather upholstery with foundation, chocolate syrup, and sunscreen, and wiped with a damp cloth after two minutes. If the stain lingered, the process was repeated up to five times, and once again, we compared its effectiveness with that of our DIY cleaning solution.

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The Bissell ProHeat is deceptively simple to use and much more compact compared to standard upholstery cleaners, making it easier to maneuver and store. The Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner is ideal for everyday dirt, dust, and dried stains; we also like that it’s effective at removing odors. The Shark StainStriker Portable Carpet Cleaner PX201 performs best at stubborn stains that other cleaners may struggle with, like red wine. It also weighs under ten pounds, so you can move it around easily from space to space.

Upholstery cleaners can be one of two types: a machine cleaner that does the work for you, or a cleaning solution that you spray or pour on the surface and clean by hand. Machine cleaners are ideal for tough stains lifting heavy grime from surfaces. Cleaning sprays and solutions are helpful for quick spot cleaning or pre-soaking a stain to break up the dirt beforehand. As long as the type you’re using is appropriate for the fabric, you should be able to clean upholstered furniture effectively.

Using the wrong cleaner can damage your upholstered furniture so it’s crucial to check if the fabric is compatible. Some materials are designed for water-based cleaners, while delicate fabrics like leather, silk, or velvet need more specialized solutions. If you’re unsure, we recommend checking the label on your furniture for cleaning codes that specify how to clean it safely.

Here are common codes you might see:

W: Safe to use with water-based solutions.

S: Only safe with solvent-based cleaners. Do not use water.

WS: You can use either water-based or solvent-based cleaners.

X: Vacuum only or dry brush without water to keep it clean. Using liquids may stain or damage the fabric.

Many upholstery cleaners come with accessories, such as brushes, crevice tools, extension wands, and pet attachments for targeted areas and hard-to-reach spaces. According to James King, operations manager at Deluxe Maid, having attachments on your unit makes it all the more multifunctional, allowing you to clean couches, behind furniture, rugs, dining chairs, and more. “The more tools, the better. You can adjust for different fabrics, tight corners, and even spot-clean rugs,” he says.

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For deep cleans and tough messes, an upholstery cleaner is best, as they’re designed for tackling both fresh and stubborn stains, as well as pet accidents and lingering odors. Our top pick, the Bissell Little Green Cordless Portable Carpet Cleaner 3682, is perfect to incorporate in your everyday cleaning routine, as it effectively deep-cleans liquid spills and messes, and has two cleaning modes. It’s also cordless so you can easily use it for cleaning small spaces.

If you’re spot cleaning upholstery or dealing with minor staining, a cleaning spray is a practical choice as you can treat blemishes immediately or pre-treat by letting them soak in the solution before using the upholstery cleaner. We like the Bissell Advanced Oxy Stain Stain Pretreat; it quickly removes new and old spots and smudges from a variety of surfaces, including car seats, furniture, and carpets. Plus, it doesn’t leave behind a strong chemical scent like so many other cleaning sprays do.

Keep in mind, though, that if you’re dealing with leather, the above methods won’t work. Don’t grab just any cleaning spray, since harsh chemicals will damage or dry out your leather item. Go for a cleaner specifically made for leather, like the Furniture Clinic Large Leather Care Kit. This kit made our couch look new again, and the best part? You can use it on all types of leather items, including jackets, boots, and car seats.

Avoid using upholstery cleaners on delicate fabrics like velvet, silk, and linen; the chemicals in the solution can cause damage. Always check the label of your furniture or carpet too. If there’s an ‘X’ on the label, for instance, that means it should only be vacuumed without water or solvent-based cleaners, which will damage the fabric.

Be sure not to use a machine cleaner for leather either, as that can cause the leather to crack. Instead, opt for cleaners specifically made to clean these fabrics. For example, the Furniture Clinic Large Leather Care Kit is specially made for leather items, restoring shine and softness and helping remove spills and stains.

Nor’Adila Hepburn is an expert at finding the best home products to make your space shine. For upholstery cleaners, she spills the tea on the most effective cleaners on upholstery based on our testing. To find the best upholstery cleaners, we tested a variety of upholstery cleaners and sprays over a period of six months, assessing how well they dealt with tough stains and pet messes and how easy it was to maneuver them around different spaces. We also consulted James King, operations manager at Deluxe Maid, for expert insight.