Vinegar. Baking soda. Dish soap.
Blot. Dab. No, not like that.
The discourse around the best way to get stains out of furniture (without renting equipment or paying a professional, that is) clearly depends on who you ask. But as much as cleaning TikTok or your grandmother swear by their home remedies, at the end of the day, the most versatile hack for cleaning your own upholstery might just be to get a real upholstery cleaning machine.
An upholstery cleaner might be as much of a staple as a vacuum
Graduating from a spray bottle to an actual upholstery cleaner shouldn't feel much more extra than using a vacuum instead of a broom and dustpan. Constant spraying and blotting is not only unnecessary work on your end, but could end up making the spots more obvious than before.
Homemade cleaning concoctions can be miracle workers in emergency situations, but probably aren't the most practical for regular tending to stains. The best ingredients to use and the appropriate amount of elbow grease to apply are heavily circumstantial, depending on the size, age, and type of the stain as well as the type of fabric. It often feels like what allegedly worked for one person on the internet just ends up aggravating your crime scene even more, like drawing a water ring along the edges of the dabbing area. Oh, and now your couch smells like dog pee and vinegar.
Commercial cleaning sprays come with their own set of caveats. More intense chemicals can be a little too good at lifting for more fragile materials like suede or linen, leaving behind discoloration or pilling to the point of no return. Many spray cleaners are foaming and recommend allowing the pile of foam to sit for minutes, which isn't the safest approach for homes with pets or children, anyway.
Cleaning by hand rarely reaches deep enough to affect set-in stains. That coffee spill from two years ago is perfectly comfortable as a permanent detail on your comfy chair, thank you for asking.
What is the best upholstery cleaner?
At-home upholstery cleaners come in two forms: ones that use suction and water and ones that use steam. Your biggest deciding factor will probably be the type of fabric you're dealing with. Most upholstery and rugs should have a tag or online manual laying out wash instructions, which often indicate if that material can get wet, if that wetness should water or some type of detergent, or if it should be steamed.
Even upholstery that can handle water or soap can still be damaged if it gets completely soaked. A good wet upholstery cleaner should have customizable moisture management that allows you to set the amount of water being dispersed. These administer vacuum-like suction as they clean, both to snag any solid debris from the spill and to help the puddle dry.
While ignoring "hand wash only" or "dry clean only" instructions on clothing may not show drastic consequences yet, furniture is a much bigger investment. So fabrics that prefer to not get wet at all, like suede or velvet, should be cleaned accordingly, with a high-heat, low-moisture approach. Steamers still have a water tank, but heat that water past its boiling point and force it through the attachment in the form of pressurized steam. The vapor is able to dig into fibers and not only loosen the stain, but can kill allergens like dust mites or bacteria that cause odor — a possible solution for those invisible stains that still reek.
Whether it's a West Elm splurge, antique velvet find, or the classic budget pick in college dorm grey, here are the best upholstery cleaners for keeping your furniture clean:
