Annie Collyer
As Ideal Home's Cleaning Editor, it's literally my job to know the ins and the outs of the cleaning world - and a huge part of that is testing the best upholstery cleaners out there. After all, a simple spray and wipe of any of these solutions will turn your carpet and upholstery from drab to fab in minutes.
And while there are so many of the best cleaning products out there, most of them aren't equipped to deal with muddy paw prints, clumsy children, stubborn stains or the general cleaning of the often-delicate fabrics of carpets, rugs, sofas or curtains.
That's why I've pooled together the best upholstery cleaners on the market today, so you can make your upholstery last longer and freshen up your home without having to spend a fortune. And I hate to brag, but there are some good'uns on the list.
Quick list
Best overall
Our top choice is this offering from Astonish, which can be used on various upholstery and carpets around the house. It's completely vegan, but still extremely effective for everyday cleans or for tackling deeper stains. The spray bottle makes it easy to apply, too.
Best for carpets
If you need to tackle stains on your carpets, you can't go wrong with Dr. Beckmann's Carpet Stain Remover. The built-in applicator means that you can apply it directly onto any stain, and it's gentle enough to be used to clean wool carpets, too. The only downside is that it can't be used on water-sensitive fabrics.
Best eco-friendly
If you care about your impact on the environment and want to ensure you're only using the most natural, eco-friendly materials, you can't go wrong with the Ecover brand. Despite being gentle and made from plants, it's still effective at cleaning upholstery (and stains).
Best for pet owners
New puppy? Senior cat? Pet with a funny tummy? This upholstery cleaner will be your new best friend. Not only will it clean tackle messes like vomit and urine, but it will also neutralise the odours so your furry friends will be less likely to return to the scene of the crime and repeat the process.
Best for stubborn stains
If you have stubborn stains that just won't budge (and other upholstery cleaners have quite cut it), I can almost guarantee that the HG Stain Remover Extra Strong will solve your problem. Just be warned that this multi-use stain cleaner is strong stuff, so always test an inconspicuous area first, just to be safe.
Best spot cleaner
The best carpet cleaners and spot cleaners are perfect for cleaning upholstery, and this steam-powered spot cleaner is extremely powerful. It can tackle everything from your carpets to your sofas and even your tiles, and you don't even have to use the cleaning solution if you don't want to as steam alone works a treat.
The best upholstery cleaners
Best upholstery cleaner overall
We've tried, tested, and we love this upholstery cleaner. You can use it on pretty much anything from long-pile rugs to short-pile rugs, linen sofas, clothes and more. It also boasts odour-neutralising technology, should you be cleaning something that's smelly.
This upholstery cleaner is, in our eyes, a cupboard staple, and it's incredibly easy to use. Simply spray it on the area you need to clean, let it soak in and dab it with a cloth. Then, if you have time, vacuum over the area to remove any excess to protect pets or children.
What we love most about it, however, is the fact that it can be used as an everyday cleaner to give your carpets a clean or can be used to tackle the odd stain, like a spilt coffee or a pet accident. This spray upholstery cleaner is vegan and cruelty-free, and it even comes in a recyclable bottle. And if you ask us, the Lotus scent just can't be beaten.
Best upholstery cleaner for carpets
Dr. Beckmann's Carpet Stain Remover, hence the name, is our top pick of cleaner for carpets. Why? It features a built-in brush for targeting tough stains and specific areas, which means you can remove stains from carpet in a matter of minutes.
The solution itself is also both odour-neutralising and powerful, so it can tackle anything from red wine to pet urine and more in just three minutes. All you need to do is shake the bottle, place the head firmly on the stain, squeeze until liquid comes out and lightly scrub. Leave to work for 3 minutes, then pat dry with a cloth. It can even banish dried-in stains, but you may need to leave it a little longer to work its magic in this case.
But what makes this one of the best upholstery cleaners is the fact that it can't just be used for carpets. You could also use this for car cleaning, or you can obviously put it to use on a sofa, armchair or whatever else.
Best eco-friendly upholstery cleaner
The Ecover Stain Remover is our top eco-friendly pick, and you'll love it if you love a natural cleaning hack. This stain remover boasts a built-in applicator to make removing stains an easy process, while it can be used on everything from upholstery to rugs and clothing.
This eco-conscious spray requires you to dampen the area before use, but other than that, it's easy to apply – squeeze some of the solution out through the brush head, work it into the stain and then wash away or clean with a damp cloth.
The Ecover stain remover is plant-based, vegan, and cruelty-free. It's also made using biodegradable ingredients. The bottle itself is made of 100 per cent recycled plastic, too. However, it's worth noting that it's not recommended for use on wool, silk and other delicate fabrics.
Best upholstery cleaner for pet owners
Perfect for use with one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair, the Simple Solution Extreme Pet Stain and Odour Remover is ideal if you have to clean up any pet messes. It can easily get cat pee out of carpet, and won't have any problems getting dog pee out of the carpet, either.
In fact, this spray can tackle stains and banish odours within minutes. It's obviously safe to use around your furry friend, while you can spray it on anything from carpets to upholstery, clothes and even bedding and blankets.
All you need to do is target the area you need to clean and switch the nozzle to what you desire. The foam will tackle tough, embedded stains and urine stains, the steam option is perfect for neutralising odours, and the steam or mist function tackles blood or vomit. Then, simply blot and vacuum over.
Best upholstery cleaner for stubborn stains
What this upholstery cleaning spray lacks in looks, it makes up for in power. Great for cleaning anything from red wine to coffee, mud and even grease, it's aptly called 'Extra Strong Spray' for a good reason.
This is the best upholstery cleaner to have on hand if you have stubborn stains that just won't budge, or you want to clean a sofa that's seen better days. But as it's so strong and effective, it's always best to do a patch test somewhere inconspicuous before use.
When you're happy, simply just spray this solution on the spot that needs to go, and leave it to work for around 5 minutes. Wipe the released dirt off with a clean cloth and ta-da!
Best upholstery spot cleaner
If you want to give your carpets and upholstery a clean without buying a full-size carpet cleaner, this spot cleaner is the perfect solution. It's completely steam-powered (so, similar to one of the best steam cleaners), but also comes with a cleaning solution to deep-clean anything in your house.
In fact, we've tested it on everything from sofas to rugs, pushchairs, kitchen tiles, and even kids' mucky trainers. And while it does have a power cord, which limits movement slightly, it's long enough to reach the nearest plug socket.
It can also serve as an everyday cleaning tool or a way to remove tough, stubborn stains from the upholstery in your home. And it won't leave it soaking, as it offers a quick drying time.
Read our full Bissell SpotClean HydroSteam review here
Best upholstery cleaner for large areas
The Vanish Carpet Cleaner + Upholstery is our top pick if you are cleaning or reviving a large area – perhaps an entire rug or a whole sofa – since it's a large bottle and it's very easy to use. You can use this cleaner on carpet and upholstery, and it's recommended for use in high-traffic areas such as hallways or the living room. It also works to neutralise odours at the same time.
How to use this powerful spray? You'll be happy to know that it's incredibly easy. Simply shake well and spray on the area you'd like to clean, work it in with a brush, then get your vacuum out to remove any dried powder.
This Vanish upholstery cleaner comes in a large bottle that ought to last a while, and this bottle is even widely recycled, too. That's why it's one of the best upholstery cleaners you can buy.
The best budget upholstery cleaner
White vinegar for cleaning upholstery? Stay with us on this one. That's because cleaning with white vinegar can be surprisingly effective - especially when trying to clean or get rid of stains on carpets, rugs, curtains and sofas.
It also works to neutralise odours, and it can work on the toughest of stains – especially those made from pets. Also, since it’s just vinegar, it’s safe to use around children and pets. You might want to open a few windows if you don't like the smell, though.
To use this vinegar spray, dab the area in which you are cleaning to remove any excess liquid or debris, spray a small amount of vinegar on it and leave it to do its magic. You may want to dab dry, but it should dry on its own. Obviously, you can then spray it with some sort of air freshener to remove the slight vinegar smell.
The best gentle upholstery cleaner
One of our favourite cleaning hacks is to use this Ecozone solution to give your carpet(s) or rug a gentle – yet new – lease of life. Use it manually or with a machine, and it can also be used to target spot stains.
A major perk is that it's cruelty-free and vegan, as well as anti-bacterial for your peace of mind. This plant-based formula will be kind to your surfaces, all whilst removing surface stains with little elbow grease required.
For gentle spot stains, dilute 10:1 and apply directly to the stain. Lightly scrub with a cloth and wipe residue away once the stain has disappeared. To use with a carpet cleaning machine, dilute the solution 8:1 and follow your machine's instructions.
FAQs
What's best to clean a fabric sofa?
If you want to clean a fabric sofa, you should first start by vacuuming your sofa to remove any lingering crumbs, dust, or even pet dander. This will ensure the upholstery cleaner you use can penetrate the fabric fibres as much as possible, offering a better clean.
You can then choose a suitable upholstery cleaner for the job, whether that's one that you buy from the shop or online, or whether that's one that you make yourself.
However, it's important to always test an upholstery cleaner on an inconspicuous area of the sofa first - especially if you haven't used it before. This way, you can be confident there'll be no adverse reaction.
Is professional upholstery cleaning better than doing it yourself?
Ultimately, professional upholstery cleaning will be more effective and less time-consuming than doing it yourself. These professionals will know exactly how to clean your specific upholstery and how to tackle stains quickly and efficiently, with very little input on your part.
However, it's also very expensive - especially if you only have a small amount of upholstery to clean. In this instance, it's well worth trying it yourself and finding the best upholstery cleaner to get the job done. Oftentimes, you won't need the help of any professionals.
What is the best homemade upholstery cleaner?
If you want to make your own upholstery cleaner, it's worth raiding your cleaning caddy for some eco-friendly washing-up liquid and white vinegar, and mixing with water. This will clean upholstery in seconds and even tackle stains, and is gentle enough to use around the house.
Always test this DIY upholstery cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area first though to ensure that it's suitable for your fabric.
