The Best Upholstery Cleaners

Buying Guide

As part of your household cleaning chores, you dust your furniture and vacuum your carpets. But you may be missing a large part of your home while you clean. For many households, it’s easy to neglect the sofas and chairs that family members and guests use regularly. Chances are, you even drink and eat while seated in those places, leaving behind crumbs and sticky residue.

Sweeping away dirt and debris is as easy as swiping over it with the attachment tool that came with your vacuum cleaner. You may find it even easier to use a battery-powered handheld vacuum. Even a once-monthly cleanup can make a big difference in refreshing your fabrics and reducing allergens.

But suction can only remove dirt and debris. If you have stains, you’ll need some type of cleansing action to remove it. Finding the right cleaner that will do the job without hurting the fabric isn’t difficult. There are plenty of options that can do the job. You simply need to narrow it down to the type of upholstery cleaner you need.

For serious stain removal, you may want a piece of equipment that makes application easy. These cleaners are similar to vacuum cleaners and usually have brush attachments to combine suction with cleanser application. These can be more expensive and tougher to store, though.

You may find it easier to go with a spray or foam upholstery cleaner. The biggest benefit of these is portability. You can clean your car’s interior and furniture with the same bottle. Some even come with an attached brush to keep everything in one place. Before you buy one without an attached brush, make sure you have a hard-bristle brush to dig into those set-in stains and a clean, lint-free cloth for applying water to rinse the cleanser.

• If you go with a piece of equipment, consider how lightweight it is. One that is heavier in nature may pack more power, but you’ll also have to deal with carting it around while you work.
• In addition to removing the appearance of stains, make sure the cleaner you choose has active ingredients that eliminate odors.
• Some cleansers use enzymes to eliminate stains and odors without using chemicals. This makes it effective while also keeping it safe for pets and children.
• Before using upholstery cleaner, vacuum all dirt and debris from the surface. This will ensure you don’t grind dirt deeper into the fabric, creating more work for yourself as you clean.
• Make sure you check the fabric tag on your furniture before using a solution on it. The labels use code, but you can easily look up what those codes mean. A tag marked “W,” “WS” or “SW” means you should only spot clean using a specific type of upholstery cleaner. “S” means you should spot clean without the use of water, using a dry cleaning solvent, and “X” means you should never use water or solvent-based cleaner on the material.
• Whatever cleaning process you use, be careful not to over-moisten the area. Use only the amount of water or solvent you need to get the job done.
• After cleaning, let the sofa completely air dry before sitting on it or covering it. If possible, point a fan at the area to dry it as quickly as possible. If water soaks into the cushions without drying properly, it could lead to mildew.
• When using a new upholstery cleaner, test a small area before applying it more liberally. Choose a spot that is on the underside or in an area that is out of sight. This will help you ensure that it doesn’t discolor or change the texture of the fabric.