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The upholstered furniture in your den, dining and living areas is made for, well, living. And with all that wear and tear, it’s bound to get dirty. Regular vacuuming with the upholstery tool is a must to remove dust and loose dirt from a fabric’s surface, but sometimes your upholstered furniture needs more.
When we test upholstery cleaners in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we evaluate how well they remove food, dirt, and oily stains we’ve applied to a variety of typical upholstery fabrics. We also check for any fabric damage the cleaners may cause, how easy the cleaners are to use and rinse away, how clear the directions are, and for any safety or cautionary warnings that must be on the product’s label. These are the best upholstery cleaners in Good Housekeeping tests for fabric and leather upholstery:
Best Overall Upholstery Cleaner: Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
Best Leather Upholstery Cleaner and Protector: Furniture Clinic Leather Care Kit
Best Upholstery Cleaner for Red Wine Stains: Wine Away Red Wine Stain Remover
Best Leather Upholstery Cleaning Wipes: Weiman Leather Wipes
Best Upholstery Cleaner for Pet Stains: Bissell Professional Pet Stain and Odor Remover
Best Upholstery Cleaner for Pet Hair: Scotch-Brite Large Surface Roller
Best Upholstery Cleaner for Stains: Woolite INSTAclean Stain Remover
Best Upholstery Cleaner for Delicate Fabrics: Capture and Rug Dry Cleaner
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, could be damaged when cleaned with a water-based method. So before you grab any old cleaner from your cabinet and start spraying, it’s a must to know what type of cleaning process is safest for the fabric covering your chair. Check the care tag on your upholstered furniture before you clean it so you know exactly how to clean your couch. A quick cheat sheet:
- W: Water-based cleaning solutions are safe to use
- S: Only solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use
- WS: Both water- and solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use
- X: Neither water- nor solvent-based cleaning solutions are safe to use. Only vacuuming or professional cleaning are safe.
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