The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (2024)

The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (1)

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Soft upholstery is a magnet for the stains and odors that are a natural part of every household. From food and drink spills to cooking odors to the shoes that family members forget to leave at the door, upholstered furniture gets more wear and tear than you might think. Regular vacuuming removes loose dust and dirt, and if you are a pet owner, a pet hair removing tool or a vacuum that excels at sucking up pet hair is a must. But in most homes, that's not enough. A good upholstery cleaner or appliance that refreshes and restores your couch, dining room chairs and even the seats in your car assures that these essential home furnishings stay stain and odor-free and look their best.

Our top picks:

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, we rigorously test all kinds of products and appliances for taking care of household and clothing fabrics, whether they can be laundered in a washing machine or need special attention with a portable carpet cleaner, full-size carpet cleaner, a carpet stain remover or even a fabric steamer or fuzz and pill remover. We test them for how well they perform their intended tasks, how easy they are to use and store, safety on surfaces, clarity and completeness of the instructions and more.

Below, you'll find the best upholstery cleaners from our testing, no matter what type of treatment is safest for your upholstered pieces. Whether you plan on deep-cleaning a fabric couch or spot-cleaning a leather chair, we have a recommendation for you. After our picks, keep reading for more about how we test these cleaners and how to find the safest cleaners for your upholstery fabrics.

    1

    Best Overall Upholstery Cleaner

    Bissell Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (8)

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (9)

    Pros
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (10)Works on large and small areas
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (11)Easy to carry and store
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (12)Powerful suction
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (13)Comes with a tool to rinse the hose after use
    Cons
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (14)Somewhat loud

    Easy to store and easy to tote from room to room, Bissell's Little Green can remove just one stain or clean an entire sofa. We first tested this little social media star many years ago and have continued to recommend it in our roundups because it never fails to impress. Simply fill the clean tank with water and one of Bissell's cleaning formulas and switch it on. Then, spritz the solution onto the fabric through the nozzle at the end of the hose, gently scrub with the soft brush and vacuum it all back into the dirty water tank for easy emptying.

    In our tests, this portable cleaner made quick work of stains without damaging fabrics (or carpet), and it picks up spills faster and more thoroughly than you can with a cloth. We found the tanks easy and mess-free to fill, and the wand was comfortable to hold. Even if it is somewhat loud, we like that the long, wrap-around hose and compact nozzle make it easy to get into tight and curvy spaces, like armrests. Its slim, oblong footprint fits on a stair step and slips into the tight backseat space of a car.

    Read More: As a Cleaning Expert, Here's Why I Recommend Bissell's Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner

    TypeElectric appliance
    Size9.56 lbs
    Works on carpet and upholsteryYes
    Best for fabrics codedW and WS

    2

    Best Upholstery Cleaner Spray for Stains

    Woolite INSTAclean Permanent Stain and Odor Remover, Pack of 2

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (15)

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (16)

    Pros
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (17)Contains oxy ingredients to lighten stains
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (18)Works quickly
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (19)EPA Safer Choice certified
    Cons
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (20)Should be tested for color safety in a hidden spot
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (21)Not for silk, velvet, vinyl or leather upholstery

    Woolite's Instaclean stain remover contains ingredients that penetrate and dissolve stains on contact. Hydrogen peroxide in the formula acts like a fabric-safe bleach to remove the remnants of colored stains like tomato sauce, coffee, fruit juice and more without damaging or changing the color of the upholstery. Simply apply the EPA Safer Choice certified formula, let set for one minute and blot.

    In our tests, Woolite's line of carpet and upholstery stain removers worked quickly and thoroughly without the need for extra rinsing or blotting. Even though the oxy bleaches in Woolite's Instaclean are color-safe, it's best to test it on a hidden spot before treating any stain just to be safe. It should never be used on silk, velvet, vinyl or leather upholstery.

    TypeSpray
    Size 22 oz.
    Works on carpet and upholsteryYes
    Best for fabrics codedW and WS

    3

    Best Plant-Based Upholstery Cleaner

    Method Stain and Odor Treatment Spray

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (22)

    Pros
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (23)Removed old, stubborn stains in our tests
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (24)Contains plant-based cleaning ingredients
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (25)Dispenses neatly for targeting stains
    Cons
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (26)Needs 10 minutes to work

    We've tested many of Method's dish liquids, laundry detergents, all-purpose cleaners and more. They all use plant-based ingredients in their formulas and have all proven to be effective cleaners in our tests. But this Method Stain and Odor Treatment is the first one in the line to tackle and remove stains from un-washable household fabrics like upholstery and carpeting.

    The formula is clear, not sudsy and only requires spritzing on a stain, waiting 10 minutes (a bit longer than others) and blotting. In our tests, it completely removed an old stain from a white damask dining room chair seat (pictured) that nothing else our tester tried could budge. And it removed stains from wool carpeting too. We found the formula easy to rinse and blot from fabrics even after several applications, and we liked the Spearmint Sage scent. Even though old stains needed a few attempts to be totally removed, the success impressed us so much that we named it a winner of a .

    TypeSpray
    Size20 oz.
    Works on carpet and upholstery Yes
    Best for fabrics codedW and WS

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (27)

    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

    4

    Best Upholstery Cleaner for Pet Stains

    Bissell Professional Stain & Odor Remover

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (28)

    Pros
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (29)Contains enzymes to tackle bacteria and odors
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (30)Works on carpets, upholstery, mattresses and more
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (31)Removes pet, food and other stains
    Cons
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (32)For best results, it needs time to work

    If you own pets that have had accidents on your upholstery, carpets or bedding, you know that it's not just the stains that are problematic, but the lingering odors too. Left untreated, they can draw your cat or dog back to the very same spot. What we especially like about this Bissell formula — besides how well it removes stains — is that it contains enzymes to attack both the stain and the odor pet messes leave behind.

    After using it to erase the stain, place a moist cloth over the area and let it sit for 12 to 72 hours. This keeps the enzymes working to eradicate the smell from odor-causing bacteria. In our tests, it did a great job removing food stains too, and it works just as well on carpeting, mattresses and pet bedding. In fact, we recommend using it wherever pet stains happen. While it works quickly on visible stains, it's best to give it time to soak into the upholstery to completely erase odors.

    TypeSpray
    Size22 oz.
    Works on carpet and upholsteryYes
    Best for fabrics codedW and WS

    5

    Best Upholstery Cleaner for Delicate Fabrics

    Capture Carpet & Rug Dry Cleaner

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (33)

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (34)

    Pros
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (35)Safe for delicate fabrics
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (36)Doesn't cause water spots
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (37)Brightens fabrics and removes dirt
    Cons
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (38)May not remove old, set-in stains

    Delicate upholstery fabrics like silk brocade, while beautiful, can be problematic to clean. Silk is usually not safe for wet cleaning and can be damaged by the majority of upholstery cleaners on the market. And some water-based cleaners also caution against using them on velvet upholstery, whether silk or synthetic. As a result, furniture covered in delicate fabric is often labeled with the cleaning codes S or X, for solvent cleaning only or no wet cleaning at all.

    Regular vacuuming with an upholstery tool is essential to keep delicate fabrics looking good, but when it's not enough, a dry powder formula like Capture can freshen and brighten delicate fabrics or carpets without damage. To use it, liberally sprinkle the porous Capture granules on the cushions, back and armrests then gently work it into the fabric with a brush (pictured). Let sit 30 minutes to give the granules time to absorb embedded dirt and fresh stains, then vacuum. We like that it's easy to use and offers a dry, safe cleaning option for fussy fabrics. For very heavy soil and set-in stains on delicate upholstery, it's best to call in a professional.

    TypeGranules
    Size16 oz.
    Works on carpet and upholstery Yes
    Best for fabrics codedW, S, WS and X

    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (39)

    6

    Best Upholstery Cleaner for Leather

    Furniture Clinic Leather Care Kit

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (40)

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (41)

    Pros
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (42)Gently cleans without drying the leather
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (43)Protector makes future stains easier to remove
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (44)Kit includes an applicator and cloth
    Cons
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (45)A two-step process

    Many people think leather upholstery is delicate and needs special care when in reality, it can be more forgiving and easier to care for than fabric. As long as you keep it out of direct sunlight and away from sharp objects, spills can usually be blotted from it quickly and grime is easy to remove. That's where GH Seal star, Furniture Clinic Leather Care Kit, comes in. It's a one-two punch that removes dirt and conditions as well as helps protect against future stains.

    Though the system requires two steps, we think the extra effort is worth it. In our tests, the cleaner removed grime embedded in the leather's grain and even erased blue dye from jeans that had transferred to a leather car seat, eliminating the need for a specialty leather car cleaner. The protector left our leather seats, recliner and test swatches supple and shiny and helped make the ink marks we applied afterward easier to remove. The kit includes an applicator sponge and buffing pad. We also like that Furniture Clinic is not just for leather furniture: It's safe to use on bags, shoes, jackets and more.

    TypeCream
    Size17 oz.
    Works on carpet and upholstery No
    Best for fabrics codedN/A

    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

    7

    Best Upholstery Cleaner for Red Wine Stains

    Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (46)

    Pros
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (47)Works on contact
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (48)Rinses away easily
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (49)Works on red stains other than red wine
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (50)Comes in a variety of sizes, even for travel
    Cons
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (51)Requires washing or rinsing after use

    While we all know that drinking a glass of red wine on the sofa can be a recipe for disaster, we do it anyway. Fortunately, with Wine Away on hand, disasters can be averted. In Cleaning Lab tests, Wine Away was the best red wine stain remover we tested. It completely removed fresh stains and lightened set-in ones so well they could easily be rinsed away. Plus, the product works on other red-colored stains like berries and fruit juice.

    While fabrics need to be rinsed or washed after being treated with Wine Away, we found that the formula isn't sudsy, making it easy to remove without excessive blotting or rubbing. And don't just save it for upholstery stains: Wine Away works on clothing and carpet stains too. As soon as you spritz it on, the color starts to fade.

    TypeSpray
    Size12 oz.
    Works on carpet and upholsteryYes
    Best for fabrics codedW and WS

    8

    Best Multi-Purpose Upholstery Cleaner

    Lively Pet Multi-Surface Stain & Odor Remover

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (52)

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (53)

    Pros
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (54)Safe for both fabrics and hard surfaces
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (55)Continues working for up to three days
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (56)Works in only one to two minutes
    Cons
    • The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (57)Some users wish it had a scent

    Probiotics are fairly new ingredients in cleaning products. They penetrate surfaces and continue working even when you've finished cleaning. After they've done their initial work on a stain, probiotics continue to eat away at odor-causing bacteria for up to three days after use. We were so blown away by this cleaner's ability to eliminate pet stains like cat urine that we gave it a .

    What separates Lively from similar cleaning products that use enzymes? It works longer and on both soft and hard surfaces thanks to the inclusion of probiotics. Use it on upholstery, carpet, sealed floors, furniture, pet bedding and even your pet's crate. One of our consumer testers used it to clean up her toddler's accident and said it eradicated both the stain and the odor without excessive scrubbing. We think this pick is a must for homes with young kids, cats or dogs, though some users wish it had a scent.

    TypeSpray
    Size16 oz.
    Works on carpet and upholsteryYes
    Best for fabrics codedW and WS

    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (58)

    How we test upholstery cleaners

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (59)

    The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing upholstery cleaning sprays, creams and powder formulas along with upholstery cleaning appliances for years. And most of them are also designed to safely clean stains from carpeting. In fact, we first tested our best overall pick, Bissell, more than 20 years ago, well before it became a social media sensation. For our latest Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards alone, we tested nine products and appliances that could be used for cleaning upholstery.

    When our Home Care and Cleaning Lab experts test upholstery cleaners, we evaluate how well products remove food, dirt and oily stains we've applied to a variety of typical upholstery fabrics.

    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (60)

    We also check for any fabric damage the cleaners may cause and how easy the cleaners are to use and rinse away. We then assess how clear the directions are and check for any safety or cautionary warnings that must be on the product's label.

    For upholstery cleaning machines, we evaluate them as we do any appliance by following the owner's manual and testing all the attachments and included cleaning formulas to assess performance, easy of use, run time, capacity and how easy they are to maintain and store.

    Products are also sent to consumers and staffers to test on the well-loved couches and cushions in their own homes. We then gather feedback on how well they removed stains, eradicated pet messes, restored the look of fabrics and more.

    How to safely clean a fabric couch

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (61)

    Upholstery is trickier to clean than carpet because it can be made from a wide variety of fibers and fabrics. Some, like synthetic microfiber or cotton chenille, can be cleaned with most products. Silk damask, on the other hand, would be damaged when cleaned with a water-based method. So before you grab just any cleaner from your cabinet and start spraying, it's a must to know what type of cleaning formula is safest for the fabric covering your furniture.

    Check the care tag on your upholstered furniture before you clean it and look for codes that tell you how to proceed safely. A quick cheat sheet:

    Code W: Water-based cleaning solutions are safe to use.
    Code S: Only solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use.
    Code WS: Both water- and solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use.
    Code X: Neither water- nor solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use. Only vacuuming or professional cleaning is recommended.

    Always test any cleaning solution or method on a hidden spot first for safety.

    Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

    Why trust Good Housekeeping?

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (62)

    As its executive director, Carolyn Forté oversees all testing done in the Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Over the years, she has tested and reviewed hundreds of vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, upholstery cleaners, mops and other major (and small) home appliances. Most recently, she tested all of the stick, upright, canister and handheld vacuums that were submitted for consideration in GHI's Best Cleaning & Organizing Awards. She also spent 16 years as the director of the GH Institute's Textiles Lab, so she's very comfortable handling all kinds of fibers and fabrics and evaluating and assessing their care.

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (63)

    Carolyn Forté

    Home Care & Cleaning Lab Executive Director

    Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.

    The Best Upholstery Cleaners to Freshen Couches, Cushions and More (2024)

    References

    Top Articles
    Latest Posts
    Recommended Articles
    Article information

    Author: Golda Nolan II

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6298

    Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

    Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Golda Nolan II

    Birthday: 1998-05-14

    Address: Suite 369 9754 Roberts Pines, West Benitaburgh, NM 69180-7958

    Phone: +522993866487

    Job: Sales Executive

    Hobby: Worldbuilding, Shopping, Quilting, Cooking, Homebrewing, Leather crafting, Pet

    Introduction: My name is Golda Nolan II, I am a thoughtful, clever, cute, jolly, brave, powerful, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.