My husband and I started our marriage with very little furniture of our own. We had a hand-me-down couch, our bedroom furniture, and a tiny kitchen table inherited from his parents. We were DELIGHTED when we made our first “grown-up” furniture purchase… a dining room table and chairs!
Fast forward 18 years, our table and chairs have been through seven moves, two kids, and three pets. It’s served as a homework desk, a craft station, a Thanksgiving dining table, a birthday party location, and more. It was looking ready for Craigslist!
The cream-colored upholstered seats were dingy and spotted with food stains, blobs of color left by paint and markers, ink and pencil marks, grape juice splotches, and many more mystery spots. Before giving the dining set up for good I decided to give it a deep cleaning. Step one: Find a natural upholstery cleaner that would make the fabric-covered seats look new.
Upholstery cleaning can be a lot of work! It takes time and elbow grease to remove set-in stains and grime. I was determined to find an easy-to-use DIY cleaning solution that could remove stains and discolorations without using toxic ingredients. My search uncovered many conflicting opinions and cleaners with vastly different ingredients. What’s a green cleaning lover to do? Conduct a natural upholstery cleaner test! *I confess. I’m addicted to testing homemade cleaners! (I’ve also tested natural grout cleaners and non-toxic oven cleaners.) I love finding which of the cleaners work best and which are cleaning disasters.
Which Upholstery Cleaner Is Best?
There is a wide range of upholstery fabrics, chose the cleaner that works best for your fabric (be sure to spot-test all cleaners and check tags for manufacturer recommendations):
- The best general upholstery cleaner: 1 cup of water or club soda, ½ cup white vinegar, ½ tablespoon of natural dish soap (cleaner #10)
- The best brightening upholstery cleaner for light-colored fabric: 1 cup hydrogen peroxide (3%) mixed with ½ tablespoon natural dish soap (cleaner #9)
- The best dry upholstery cleaner: equal parts of baking soda and cornstarch (cleaner #6).
- The best upholstery spot remover: 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 cup of white vinegar (cleaner #4).
- The best way to clean car seats: Vacuum seats well, spray lightly with upholstery cleaner (1 cup of water or club soda, ½ cup white vinegar, ½ tablespoon of natural dish soap), let the cleaner sit for 5 minutes, rub fabric in a circular motion with a soft brush or clean microfiber rag. Spray lightly with water and suck dry with a steam cleaner or shop vac. Allow to dry. (This method should be used on fabric car seats only.)
- How to deodorize upholstery: There are 3 great ways to deodorize upholstery. 1) Spray with homemade refresher spray 2) Sprinkle with a mixture of cornstarch, baking soda, and a few drops of essential oils (get full instructions) 3) Spritz lightly with a 50% solution of white vinegar and 50% water (add a few drops of essential oils if desired), allow to dry.
- How to clean leather upholstery: I clean leather with this mixture. Be sure to spot-test and check tags for manufacturer recommendations.
The Winning DIY Upholstery Cleaners
The 4 best formulas from the test can be found below:
Ingredients: 1 c water or club soda (I tested both water and club soda, both worked well), ½ c white vinegar, ½ Tbsp natural dish soap
Directions: Mix cleaner in a spray bottle, spray onto upholstery until the surface is lightly soaked. Allow the cleaner to dwell for a few minutes. Scrub lightly with a brush or rag in a circular motion. Spray with water and suck dry with a shop vac.
Results: This is my revised version of cleaner #2. It is a water-based cleaner that works well and eliminates the problem of too much soap/foam. This is a great, general upholstery cleaner.
Why this cleaner works: 1) Water breaks up and dissolves substances allowing them to be swept away. 2) Vinegar is a mild acid that breaks down basic soils and neutralizes odor-causing particles. 3) Dishwashing detergent cuts through spills, dirt, and greasy grime.
Ingredients: 1 c hydrogen peroxide (3%), ½ Tbsp natural dish soap
Directions: Mix cleaner in a spray bottle, spray onto upholstery until the surface is lightly soaked. Allow the cleaner to dwell for a few minutes. Scrub lightly with a brush or rag in a circular motion. Spray with water and suck dry with a shop vac.
Results: This is my revised version of cleaner #1. It cleans and brightens well and eliminates the problem of too much soap. I would not use this cleaner on dark fabrics as it could bleach them too much. This is a good upholstery cleaner for light fabrics that need brightening and stain removal.
Why this cleaner works: 1) Hydrogen peroxide is a natural alternative to bleach that brightens fabric and lightens the color of tough stains. 2) Dish washing detergent cuts through dirt and greasy grime. 3) Water breaks up and dissolves substances allowing them to be swept away.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup cornstarch, a small amount of water
Directions: Combine the ingredients in a bowl with just a bit of water to form a thick paste. Apply to fabric and allow to dry (this should take about half an hour). When the paste is dry vacuum the fabric clean. (You can also omit the water; simply mix baking soda and cornstarch, sprinkle on fabric, wait about an hour and vacuum away.)
Results: This cleaner helps to lift stains and deodorize fabric. It is best for light cleaning and on delicate upholstery that should not get too wet.
Why this cleaner works: 1) Baking soda is a basic cleaner that is mildly abrasive so it breaks down acidic soils and odors. 2) Cornstarch is excellent at absorbing moisture, oil, and smells.
Ingredients: 1 c rubbing alcohol, 1 c white vinegar
Directions: Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle. Spray the stained areas with cleaner and allow it to dwell for 1-2 minutes. Blot or scrub with a dry cloth, then allow the fabric to dry. Repeat until the stain lightens.
Results: This mixture helps to remove the stains like paint and ink. Use it to spot treat difficult stains before applying one of the other homemade upholstery cleaners. (Warning: Do not use alcohol on acetate, triacetate, modacrylic, and acrylic fibers.)
Why this stain remover works: 1) Alcohol-based cleaners can effectively remove paint, ink, and tough stains from fabric. 2) Vinegar is a weak acid that breaks down basic soils and naturally eliminates odors as it dries.
How To Clean Your Furniture & Upholstery Like A Pro
FAQ
What is a good substitute for upholstery cleaner?
What household items can you use to clean upholstery?
What can I use to shampoo my couch?
Can you use Dawn dish soap to clean upholstery?
What is the best natural carpet & upholstery shampoo?
The best natural carpet and upholstery shampoo on the market is made by Puracy. This natural detergent deodorizes and removes stains and soil from even the dirtiest of carpets. The plant and mineral-based ingredients make it safe for your family and the environment.
What are the best substitutes for butter?
The substitute that you might want to use depends on what you are using butter for. In baking you can use any fat such as olive oil, nut butters, or even avocados. In baking you can also substitute non-fats for butter such as Greek yogurt, mashed bananas, pumpkin puree, or even applesauce. For replacing butter as a spread, you can use any fat, hummus, avocado, nut butter, or cheese. For cooking, canola oil can be a great sub, or avocado oil is also good because it has a high smoke point.
What are the best carpet cleaner shampoo alternatives?
Here are excellent carpet cleaner shampoo alternatives. The good thing is that they are easy to make. You will need ½ gallon of white vinegar and ½ gallon of water. Most carpets found in the home are made of synthetic or human-made fibers. This type of carpet is popular because they are affordable, stain-resistant, and durable.
What is This DIY upholstery cleaner?
I bet you’re wondering what this amazing DIY upholstery cleaner is! You’ll be amazed to know it’s made with just three simple ingredients you likely have around your home right now! It only takes hot tap water, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. That’s it!