Want a device that will actually clean your car seats, chairs & couch upholstery properly? Get clean and save time, with our best steam cleaners for upholstery seats.
Whether you are trying to maintain the current clean condition of your seating, want to clean it up a bit to sell it, or refurbishing an older furniture piece, steam cleaners play an important role in ensuring that you are able to remove most, if not all of the stains on your chair, couch or car seat coverings.
Fortunately, a steam cleaner for upholstery is a device that, along with being time-saving, is also quite affordable, with most costing between $100-200. Not only that, but as well as furniture upholstery, they can handle various other household and car cleaning tasks on both soft and hard surfaces, making them a great general-use appliance to have.
While there are tonnes of machines out there, the models shortlisted here are some of the best steam cleaners for upholstery seats specifically, whether in your car, comfy chair, chaise or sofa.
But first, let’s look at why a deep steam clean is a better cleaning option for your upholstery seats, rather than shampooing, soap or spray upholstery cleaner.
Information and products in this article are equally suitable for CAR and CAMPER seats.
How Do the Best Steam Cleaners for Upholstery Work?
In order to function properly, the highest quality and best steam cleaners for upholstery (aka upholstery steamers) rely exclusively on the high temperatures of steam as a means of breaking down the dirt, grime, as well as stains.
Generally, these steam cleaners are chemical free, which also makes them eco-friendly. Although they do not use cleaning chemicals, the high temperature steam is also capable of disinfecting the surfaces that are clean. With a high quality device, used properly, the high temperatures of the steam are capable of effortlessly dissolving stubborn stains and getting rid of odors, which leaves your chairs feeling fresh and looking great.
Cheaper devices may not reach the temperatures and power required to cut through stains properly, therefore investing in a reliable steamer is important.
Why Use a Steam Cleaner for Upholstery Couches & Chairs?
Due to the sheer amount of use that your seats go through, whether in your home, car or camper, they are prone to spills and accumulating layers upon layers of dirt. While it may be possible to clean some away using traditional cleaning methods, these often leave behind residues that may actually damage the upholstery in the long term. Steam cleaners on the other hand have several distinct advantages that make them a perfect option.
Top Reasons to Use a Steam Cleaner for Upholstery Seats
Efficient stain removal
The best steam cleaners for upholstery are able to penetrate deeply within the fabric, allowing the steam to break down and lift stubborn stains from their roots. This allows the steam cleaner to do a more thorough and efficient job which will leave your chair or couch looking as if it just came home from the shop.
Gentle on fabrics
When using harsh chemicals, it’s possible to easily damage upholstery seats and other fabric on your furniture, due to the strength of the chemicals and the scrubbing action. Steam cleaners on the other hand are gentler on upholstery materials, which reduces the amount of fading and deterioration. As a result, it is more suitable for just about anything within a home interior, as well as your car, RV or camper.
Allergen and odor elimination
If you suffer from allergies or have found your couch to gives off a less-than-desirable odor, then a steam cleaner is the perfect option. Not only is steam capable of cleaning, but is also excellent at disinfecting. The high temperatures quickly kill off any microscopic critters, bacteria or viruses within the upholstery, which is important if you have any furry friends who enjoy your couch as much as you do. Say goodbye to awful odors, as a steam cleaner will leave your seats smelling fresh and clean every single time.
Environmental friendliness
If you are concerned about environmental friendliness, then the concept of using a chemical free cleaning method is the perfect choice. Just about all steam cleaners operate without any chemicals at all, and rely purely on the power of steam. This makes them an environmentally friendly option.
What to Look for in the Best Steam Cleaners for Upholstery Seats
While there are a number of excellent steam cleaners available on the market today, knowing what to look for when selecting the best steam cleaner for upholstery seats and couches can save you a lot of money.
How to Choose a Good Steam Cleaner for Upholstery Seats
Steam Temperature and Pressure
When cleaning seats made from tough fabrics – such as outdoor lounges, car seats and camper benches – the upholstery material is much more durable. Conversely, some chairs are made with more delicate fabrics for comfort and decorative purposes. As a result, when selecting a steam cleaner for use on seats, make sure to choose one that comes with both high temperature as well as several pressure settings. This will give you more control as you tackle the tougher stains on your outdoor seating, while allowing you to turn down the power on softer chair fabrics as needed.
Attachments and Accessories
Attachments and accessories play a pivotal role in choosing between the best steam cleaners for upholstery, as you will need a wide assortment of attachments to get into all of the nooks and crannies of your couch and recliner. Not only should you get the standard suction nozzle, but you also want attachments such as brushes and wands, to clean the hard, caked-on dirt on the armrests and chair legs.
Water Tank Capacity
Keep in mind, that the size of the tank in the steam cleaner will also play an important role in tackling any upholstery project. Choosing a steam cleaner that has a larger tank, will allow you to go for longer periods of time without needing to refill. Take the time to consider how inconvenient refilling your steamer may be, depending on the proximity of your furniture to the water tap, and then choose a steam cleaner with an appropriate tank capacity.
In a home environment, refilling often may be no problem, but in an off-grid cabin or camper refilling constantly may be a major annoyance. Bigger capacity is not always better, and with regard to capacity, the best steam cleaners for upholstery depend entirely on your personal situation.
TIP: High tank capacity means more bulk and weight, so an advantage of a smaller capacity is a more slimline, lightweight device.
Portability and Maneuverability
Because you will be cleaning your couch or large reclining chair exactly where it is, it is important to make sure that your steam cleaner is portable and easily manoeuvrable around, over and under the seat. While there are a number of great steam cleaners that are perfect for general use around the house, they may not be the best option when it comes to cleaning heavy furniture in awkward to reach places, or car seats, RVs and campers with all their nooks and crannies.
Durability and Brand Reputation
While it is tempting to buy the cheapest steam cleaner available on the market, always remember that you get what you pay for. When you choose a product that is known for durability, you will be able to use it for years to come. Brand reputation plays an important role when shortlisting the best steam cleaners for upholstery seats around your home, car and camper, so pay close attention to the reviews and feedback.
Best Steam Cleaners for Upholstery Seats (2024)
While there are many, many steam cleaners on the market, not all of them are made equal. Here, we have shortlisted the best steam cleaners for upholstery, with a specific focus on upholstery seating including car seats, chairs and couches.
In practice, this means, upholstery steam cleaner models that are capable of cleaning and removing deep stains from fabric, leather and vinyl upholstery materials, the added ability to clean hard surfaces such as chair legs and frames, and even the carpet throughout your camper, RV and car footwell.
10 Best Steam Cleaners for Upholstery Seats, Chairs & Couches
Ewbank Steam Dynamo Multi-Tool Steam Cleaner
The Ewbank Steam Dynamo is an extremely efficient and versatile steam cleaner that will help you remove even the toughest of stains from your seat upholstery. Not only is this steam cleaner quiet and easy to use, but it can effectively dissolve just about any stain in a matter of seconds. With a 50-ounce Tank capacity, the steam cleaner will run for about 45 minutes at a time.
Website: View the Ewbank Steam Cleaner on Amazon.com
Type: Canister
Weight: 13 pounds
Tank Capacity: 50 ounces
Cord Length: 8 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Carpet, upholstery, plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- Multiple attachments
- Long runtime
- Large tank capacity
Weaknesses:
- The cord is a bit short
Black+Decker 7-in-1 Steam-Mop (+Glove)
Nothing beats a multipurpose steam cleaner from Black+Decker. While not the best steam cleaner for upholstery when it comes to removing stains from fabric seating and thick carpets, it does an excellent job on vinyl, leather, and plastic surfaces. It is lightweight, which makes it an excellent choice for manoeuvrability, but the small tank capacity means that you will need to constantly refill when cleaning a larger area.
Website: View the Black+Decker Steam Mop on BlackandDecker.com
Type: Mop
Weight: 6 pounds
Tank Capacity: 19.5 ounces
Cord Length: 20 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- Lightweight
- Easy to maneuver
- Many attachments
Weaknesses:
- Not the best at removing stains
Steamfast SF-375W Deluxe Multi-Purpose Canister Steam Cleaner
The Steamfast Deluxe has an impressive runtime, providing users with 90 minutes of cleaning ability with every tank. While it is not the best option for cleaning upholstery fabrics, it outperforms many other steam cleaners when it comes to plastics, vinyl, and leather. The steam cleaner also boasts 18 different attachments many of which are perfect for detail work, and getting into the small nooks and crannies of your sofas, car/RV seats and camper seats.
Website: View the Steamfast Steam Cleaner on Steamfast.com
Type: Canister
Weight: 10.7 pounds
Tank Capacity: 48 ounces
Cord Length: 17 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- Large cleaning head
- 90-minute runtime
- 18 attachments
Weaknesses:
- Very Heavy
- Not the best on fabric upholstery
Pure Enrichment Rolling Steam Cleaner
With a tank capacity of 50 ounces, you will be able to run this steam cleaner for up to 45 minutes. The lightweight steam cleaner is excellent for cleaning just about any chair or couch, and thanks to its 16-foot cord, it is the perfect option for using on more distant furniture, such as in your yard or patio. While most other steam cleaners excel at cleaning hard surfaces, this particular model is great for both upholstery seats and hard surfaces.
Website: View the Pure Enrichment Steam Cleeaner on PureEnrichment.com
Type: Canister
Weight: 9.3 pounds
Tank Capacity: 50.7 ounces
Cord Length: 16 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Carpet, upholstery fabrics, plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Automotive Upholstery:
- 17 attachments
- Works well on any upholstery
Weaknesses:
- More expensive than other options
Bissell Revolution HydroSteam Carpet Cleaner
Weighing in at over 22 pounds, this particular steam cleaner is one of the heaviest on the market. However, the 128-ounce tank capacity lets it run for hours on end, and with 25 feet of cord, you can easily reach to clean your outdoor furniture, RV and camper seats out on the curb. While this particular steam cleaner is perfect for upholstery and carpet, it does not offer the best cleaning capabilities on plastic, vinyl, or leather.
Website: View the Bissell Hydrosteam Cleaner on Bissell.com
Type: Carpet cleaner
Weight: 22.5 pounds
Tank Capacity: 128 ounces
Cord Length: 25 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Carpet, upholstery
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- All-in-one cleaner
- Can clean carpets, as well as car upholstery
- Great for all general upholstery cleaning
Weaknesses:
- Bulky
- Overpriced for what it is
- Not the best for hard surfaces
Karcher SC 3 EasyFix 1-Speed Multipurpose Steam Cleaner
When it comes to a lightweight steam cleaner that can run for a long period of time, nothing beats the Karcher with its large 34-ounce tank. In order to help you with just about any type of cleaning project, you’ll find that this particular steam cleaner offers 3 different speeds which provides you with excellent cleaning capabilities. It also has one of the fastest warm-up times on the market today.
Website: View the Karcher Steam Cleaner on Karcher.com
Type: Canister
Weight: 9.2 pounds
Tank Capacity: 33.8 ounces
Cord Length: 13 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Carpet, upholstery, plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- Large tank
- Long runtime
- Perfect for general upholstery cleaning
- Great on hard surfaces
Weaknesses:
- Tends to leak
- Not for suitable for spot treating
Bissell SteamShot Hard Surface Steam Cleaner
This lightweight steam cleaner is perfect for getting into those hard-to-reach areas. The long power cord allows you to work on your outdoor chairs and couches, whether it’s in the backyard or out at the curb. Although it is the most portable of the steam cleaners, it is not the best option when it comes to cleaning upholstery fabric or carpet. Nevertheless, its 1000 watts make it perfect for removing even the toughest of stains.
Website: View the Bissell SteamShot on Amazon.com
Type: Handheld
Weight: 3.83 pounds
Tank Capacity: 6.6 ounces
Cord Length: 20 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- Lightweight
- Long power cord
- Perfect for hard-to-reach areas
Weaknesses:
- Small tank capacity
Wagner 915e Spraytech On-Demand Steam Cleaner
If you are looking for the best steam cleaner for upholstery of all types, then look no further than Wagner. This lightweight steam cleaner will run for 40 minutes on a full tank of water, and thanks to the 18 attachments, you can deep clean even the hardest-to-reach places deep in the cracks of your couch, recliner, car or camper seats. Keep in mind that the length of the cord is rather short so you will need to use an extension cord when cleaning outside.
Website: View the Wagner 915e Spraytech on Amazon.com
Type: Canister
Weight: 13 pounds
Tank Capacity: 40 ounces
Cord Length: 6 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Carpet, upholstery fabric, plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- Lightweight
- Long steam hose
- 18 attachments
- All-in-one cleaning device
Weaknesses:
- Short power cord
PurSteam 10-in-1 Steam Mop
Although being one of the most portable steam cleaners available on the market today, you will only be able to use the PurSteam for 25 minutes at a time. It takes a mere 17 seconds to heat the steam cleaner, which allows you to spend more time cleaning your chairs, and less time waiting for the water. Thanks to the large assortment of attachments, you can tackle just about any cleaning job with ease.
Website: View the PurSteam Steam Mop on Amazon.com
Type: Mop
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Tank Capacity: 12.8 ounces
Cord Length: 15.9 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Carpet, upholstery, plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- Very efficient
- 27 attachments
Weaknesses:
- Small tank capacity
Daimer Steamer KleenJet Pro Plus 200S
When it comes to an all-around heavy-duty steam cleaner that can be used on various jobs around the home, as well as your car, camper and perhaps even your boat, look no further than the Daimer. This excellent steam cleaner can run for up to 4 hours on a single fill and also produces some of the hottest temperatures and highest pressures imaginable. Thanks to the 10-foot-long steam hose, you can even use this steam cleaner in a camper van or RV.
Website: View the Daimer Kleenjet 200s Steamer on Daimer.com
Type: Canister
Weight: 23 pounds
Tank Capacity: 135 ounces
Cord Length: 16 feet
Compatible Surfaces: Carpet, upholstery, plastic, vinyl, leather
Key Strengths for Chair & Couch Upholstery:
- Commercial grade
- 30 attachments
- Long-lasting
Weaknesses:
- Very expensive
- Heavy
Final Thoughts on the Best Steam Upholstery Cleaners
This wraps up our article on the best steam cleaners for upholstery seat cleaning tasks, whether for your home chairs and couches, or RV, camper and car seats. The main things to look for when purchasing a steam cleaner intended mainly for cleaning upholstery seating are:
- Portability. Consider whether you will need to take it outdoors and further from a powerpoint.
- Maneuverability. It needs to be easy enough to move in and around heavy pieces of furniture, without moving them.
- Attachments. Couches and recliners are full of awkward nooks and crannies; having an assortment of attachments will allow you to access them for cleaning.
For advice on other types of cleaning machines for your car, make sure to also check out our article on how to choose the best upholstery cleaning machine for your needs, where we discuss other devices to consider apart from steamers.
Or, if you’ve decided that a steam cleaner isn’t for you, but your seats still need a freshen up, then check out our article on how to clean upholstery seats, using inexpensive cleaners (plus a homemade cleaner recipe).
