The 7 Best Upholstery Cleaners of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Bissell 2117A SpotBot Pet Spot and Stain Portable Deep Cleaner

5

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Stubborn stains can be a real nuisance, requiring vigorous scrubbing, re-treatment, and a lot of persistence. The Bissell SpotBot Pet is specifically designed to minimize the need for any effort and elbow grease while it takes out stains—that's why it's our top pick.

In a home setting, we challenged this carpet and upholstery cleaner with removing the evidence of salsa spills, crayon marks, and other stains left on the couch by kids and pets. It was up for the challenge, and we were impressed with its effectiveness and easy-to-use design. The built-in handle allowed for easy positioning over spots to clean, as well as moving it around when necessary. Plus, it's a light enough to lift and stow away on a shelf.

Like other models in the Bissell SpotBot lineup, this version features automatic and manual cleaning modes. With dirty couch cushions, we used the manual mode and the included tough stain tool (which is conveniently stored on the SpotBot, along with the hose). The trigger made it easy to dispense cleaning solution when necessary, though working on vertical surfaces (like the back of the couch) required a little effort to keep the solution from running down the couch. After some trial and error, we found that it was easiest to dispense just a small amount of solution and quickly work that into the upholstery with the cleaning tool rather than saturate a larger area.

In automatic cleaning mode, the Bissell SpotBot Pet impressed us with its hands-free cleaning ability. A motorized, rotating brush dispenses cleaning solution from the on-board tank and adjusts brush speed to thoroughly agitate carpet fibers. After six minutes on the deep clean setting, the SpotBot beeped to indicate its cleaning cycle was complete, and we were delighted to see that the spot had disappeared. The only drawback is that this machine can only clean spots 5 to 6 inches in diameter at a time. Otherwise, it's an easy-to-use and effective machine that's perfect for stain-fighting pros and new users alike.

Price at time of publish: $186

_{Type: Machine | Dimensions: 13.5 x 17 x 9 inches | Weight: 14 pounds | Capacity: 30 ounces | Cord Length: 15 feet | Heat Time: Not applicable | Run Time: Not listed | Surface Type: Carpet and upholstery}

Best Handheld

Bissell 2837 Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Scent
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Power
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

A handheld upholstery cleaner is a great option for cleaning furniture, pet beds, car upholstery, and more. The Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush is an excellent choice if you're looking for a cordless, lightweight model.

Resembling a handheld vacuum, this upholstery cleaner uses a powered brush to agitate soiled surfaces, lifting stains and dirt from fabric or carpet fibers. The 8-ounce tank—which is filled with cleaning solution—is smaller than what you’ll find on portable or full-size upholstery cleaners. On the plus side, that does help make it one of the lightest models on the market, at just 4.4 pounds. A built-in handle gives you the leverage and control you need to clean sofas, stairs, and car seats, without the need to manage attachments and hoses. The Bissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrush is also cordless, giving you the ability to use it anywhere that stains or spills pop up.

One of its specific uses is cleaning up pet messes, so the single included attachment is a stationary pet brush with rubber bristles for grabbing pet hair. There are no additional attachments for purposes like reaching into crevices or beneath low pieces of furniture or seats in your car. Still, it makes an effective grab-and-go option for cleaning up messes, and it stores easily.

Price at time of publish: $134

_{Type: Machine | Dimensions: 8.5 x 16.46 x 5.67 inches | Weight: 4.4 pounds | Capacity: 8 ounces | Cord Length: Cordless | Heat Time: Not applicable | Run Time: 20 minutes | Surface Type: Carpet and upholstery}

Best for Stains

Bissell 1400B Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Setup
  3.5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5

The Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner is not only adorable, it's also an excellent upholstery cleaner. We're impressed that it weighs less than 10 pounds and is easy to carry. When we put it to work cleaning sauce and soil stains from upholstered cushions, the product's usability really took center stage. It's easy to maneuver and features a handle, earning it a perfect rating for portability. We also didn't need to make a lot of adjustments or attachment swaps, unlike with other cleaning machines we tested. When removing dirt from a cushion, the Bissell Little Green initially seemed to be spreading the dirt around. To our pleasant surprise, it went on to clean the mess in an impressive one minute and 15 seconds.

This upholstery cleaner wasn’t as speedy at cleaning up a sticky ketchup stain, requiring about two minutes of application and some hands-on scraping, so we docked points for that. Expect to put in more work to pre-treat sticky stains, and spend a few extra minutes when using this upholstery cleaner, but we think that's a reasonable trade-off given how effective and compact it is.

Setting up the appliance for the first time also took longer than expected, but that was partially because we accidentally filled the wrong water tank. We can’t fault the machine for not heating up as quickly as expected (the process took about 13 minutes), but the instructions could be clearer. Keep in mind that this is designed for cleaning soft surfaces only, but if that matches your needs, it's a worthy choice.

Price at time of publish: $124

_{Type: Machine | Dimensions: 12.5 x 17.25 x 8.25 inches | Weight: 9.65 pounds | Capacity: 48 ounces | Cord Length: 15 feet | Heat Time: Not listed | Run Time: Not listed | Surface Type: Upholstery and carpet}

Best for Pet Owners

Hoover FH14050 CleanSlate Carpet & Upholstery Pet Spot Cleaner

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  3/5
• Versatility
  3/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Assembly
  5/5
• Noise Level
  2.5/5

Instead of banishing your four-legged friend from the couch, you might want to get the right equipment to keep your furniture clean. And because heat is generally not recommended for most pet messes (it can actually set in certain stains and odors), that rules out most steam cleaners as a good pick for pet-related stains. Enter this handheld machine. The Hoover CleanSlate Pet Carpet Spot Cleaner was comparable to a “water vacuum” in our experience, and it performed well on soiled surfaces during testing.

We prepped cushions with two different types of stains—a saucy, sticky stain and a dirty spot. Removing the soil stain was actually a fun experience, with one member of our testing team describing the process as being like “a car wash for a cushion.”

In just one minute and 30 seconds, the dirt was gone. It took more than a few passes (and quite a bit of solution) to remove the ketchup. We were still overall satisfied with the process, but we docked a few points to reflect the extra effort required to remove a sticky stain—but it’s nothing that would hold us back from recommending this model.

During use, we especially liked the 7-inch wide cleaning tool. It distributed cleaning solution well and was a good choice for sofas or other large areas. This upholstery cleaner is only designed for use on soft surfaces and includes a bristle brush for reaching tight spots. Compared to other upholstery cleaners, it’s less versatile, but it was still easy to use and very portable.

Price at time of publish: $140

_{Type: Machine | Dimensions: 13 x 10.5 x 14 inches | Weight: 9.4 pounds | Amount: 40 ounces | Cord Length: 18 feet | Heat Time: Not listed | Run Time: Not available | Surface Type: Carpet and upholstery}

Best Spray

Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Oxy Stain Remover

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

For some people, owning another fancy gizmo is just another storage headache. That's why we also considered sprays and other cleaners as potential upholstery cleaning remedies.

Hands down, the Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. Oxy Stain Remover blew us away with its effectiveness at removing all types of stains. The oxygen-infused formula helps to lift even the oldest of stains out of fabric for an easy, no-scrub process. This remover only took 12 minutes to remove all of the spots in our testing—barbecue sauce, dirt, urine, pre-treated wine stains, and mud!

While it needed a second spray on gooey barbecue sauce and mud stains, we don't consider that a drawback, as our testing method did not call for any pre-removal of staining agents before applying the remover spray.

In addition to this spray's effectiveness, we were pleasantly surprised by its minty aroma. Compared to the smell of harsh chemicals, the subtle, clean scent was nice. Although this spray is slightly more expensive than others, the amount you receive in a bottle, coupled with its effectiveness, make it definitely worth the price.

Price at time of publish: $20

_{Type: Spray | Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 2 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Amount: 32 fluid ounces | Cord Length: Not applicable | Heat Time: Not applicable | Run Time: Not applicable | Surface Type: Carpet, upholstery, and laundry}

Best for Leather

Weiman 8 oz. 3-in-1 Deep Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Cream

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Leather might not absorb all stains as easily as fabric, but it can still become dirty, stained, dull, or cracked. Steam cleaners saturate leather with too much moisture, and the same is true of most spray formulas. To properly preserve the appearance of leathered pieces, we recommend using a specifically formulated product. One of our top recommendations is Weiman Deep Leather Cleaner & Conditioner Cream.

While we didn't test this pick at home or in The Lab, we do love that you can also use it on shoes, bags, or car seats, making it a versatile product. Our research shows it to be effective and easy-to-use, because you don't need to buff or rinse after applying it to your beloved surfaces. (This saves you time and elbow grease for other tasks!)

Despite this shorter cleaning routine, the cream effectively removes dirt and residue, while also using natural oils to condition and restore the appearance of leather. When doing so, it doesn't darken the surface color or alter the look of your furniture. It’s safe for use on finished leather, but should not be used on suede, nubuck, or unfinished leather. In addition to the cream, Weiman carries leather conditioning wipes and sprays.

Price at time of publish: $15

_{Type: Cream | Dimensions: 7.87 x 3.54 x 2.64 inches | Weight: 0.5 pounds | Amount: 8 ounces | Cord Length: Not applicable | Heat Time: Not applicable | Run Time: Not applicable | Surface Type: Leather}