Unsure which type of upholstery cleaning machine to get for couches & chairs? We compare the two best upholstery cleaner machines (steam cleaners vs extractors), and help you decide the best type for your needs.
Steam cleaning is an excellent way of removing years of built-up dirt, grime, and debris. The high temperatures of the steam, allow it to penetrate deep into the pores of the material and force out dirt and grime that is hidden deep within. Countless upholstery cleaning services rely on both steam extractors and steam cleaners for furniture cleaning.
A search for upholstery cleaning machines will turn up hundreds of models, labelled as ‘steam extractor’ or ‘steam cleaner’. Are they the same device or different, and how does the $100 option differ from the $1,000 one?
In this article, we explain the difference between steam extractors and steam cleaners, and the features to look for in the best upholstery cleaner machines, to help you choose the best type for your own chair and couch cleaning needs.
The information in this article is also suitable for CAR and CAMPER seats
Types of Upholstery Cleaner Machine for Couch & Chair
The two types of upholstery cleaner machines for couches, chairs and other furniture that you will encounter are steam cleaners and extractors.
Steam or hot water extractors are what you think of when you think of a carpet steamer. They usually have a smaller in-line boiler that generally does not heat the water to a high enough level to create “steam”. They spray the hot water onto the fabric/carpet then have a built in wet/dry vacuum that sucks most of the moisture and grime off the surface. This leaves the upholstery/carpet feeling wet for several hours as the remaining moisture evaporates.
Steam cleaners look more like a high pressure washer and have a similar looking nozzle. But rather than spraying water, they spray high-temperature steam. These generally have a boiler tank which superheats the water before it is sprayed. The spray from these cleaners is almost completely steam, with minute amounts of moisture. Steam cleaners do not have a vacuum built into them and you will need to wipe the surfaces after spraying them. Detailers use a special brush to scrub the surface and sweep away debris that is brought to the surface or broken free by the steam.
What are the Best Upholstery Cleaner Machines for Couches & Chairs?
Steam Extractors: Best Machine to Clean Upholstery Fabric
Hot water extractors (also known as extractors or steam extractors) are highly effective at removing dirt and grime from just about any fabric upholstery. For fabrics, it is certainly the best machine to clean upholstery in the home or car.
Most traditional extractors make use of an in-line heating element and a sprayer head that ejects the high-temperature vapors as a finely dispersed mist. Because of the higher temperatures, the limited levels of water used by a steam extractor also evaporate fairly quickly.
Hot water extractors are one of the most commonly used deep cleaning tools by upholstery cleaning professionals. They feature a very straightforward design that is easy to use and includes wet vacuuming capabilities. The streamlined nozzles are capable of fitting into tight spaces, which allows them to clean those hard-to-reach places around the back of your couch or recliner.
The extractor works by spraying the fabric with a fine mist of high-temperature water which helps to loosen up any stuck or caked-on dirt or grime. The extractor includes a vacuum system that can suck up the water along with the dirt and grime. For most upholstery, it only takes a few passes to restore the fabric to a like-new condition.
Pros
- Perfect for Dirty Chores
- Great for Cleaning Carpet
- Can Loosen up Caked-On Dirt and Grime
- Rinse the Fabric of Any Buildup
- Fast and Effective
- Does Not Require A Lot of Skill to Use
Cons
- It Takes Time to Dry the Fabric
- Mold or Mildew Can Grow in Hot Climates
- Interior Glass Can Condense in Cold Climates
- Limited to Fabric Surfaces Only
For a video demonstration of an extractor in action, see this clip Deep Cleaning Carpet on YouTube.
STEAM EXTRACTORS are the best upholstery cleaner machines for fabric.
Steam Cleaners: Best Machine to Clean Upholstery Leather
Unlike extractors, steam cleaners can be used on just about any surface both inside and outside of the home. Steam cleaners use a nozzle sprayer which allows the user to inject the high-temperature steam onto just about any hard or soft surface. The fine vapors of the cleaner can draw out dirt and grime embedded deep below the surface.
Steam cleaners generally have their own built-in boilers, and while the extractors do get hot, they do not get anywhere near as hot as a steam cleaner. Most professional cleaners will use steam cleaners (aka steamers) to loosen up caked-on dirt and grime from the fine nooks and crannies. They can even remove that sticky substance from the bottom of your car cup holders.
When used in conjunction with a hand-cleaning brush, steam cleaners can rejuvenate just about any tough upholstery surface. They can be used on glass, leather, vinyl, and a wide variety of plastic trim. Special precautions must be taken when using a steam cleaner, because the temperatures may be too much for more sensitive vinyl and plastics.
Pros
- Great for Cleaning Hard Surfaces
- Can Clean Painted Surfaces
- Works on Leather, Glass, Carpet, and Plastics
- Removes Particles from the Ventilation System
- Great for Cleaning Out Cupholders
- Can Be Used on Door Hardware
- The Steam Dries Quickly
- Kills 99.99% of Germs
Cons
- Some Steamers Do Not Get Hot Enough
- Steamers Tend to Lose Pressure Quickly
- Many Steamers Have Low-Water Capacities
- Low-Pressure Steamers Are Ineffective
- Limited Additional Accessories Available
STEAM CLEANERS are the best upholstery cleaner machines for leather, vinyl and carpet.
Related Article: 10 Best Steam Cleaners for Couches and Chairs
Choosing the Best Upholstery Cleaner Machines
What are the Best Upholstery Cleaner Machines for Couches & Chairs?
- Steam extractors are perfect for working with fabrics such as carpets, seats and soft furnishings, but are ineffective on hard surfaces.
- Steam cleaners on the other hand are the right choice for cleaning leather and vinyl, as well as hard surfaces.
Both steam cleaners and extractors play an important role in home cleaning applications. When used together, both steam cleaners and steam extractors can help rejuvenate just about any surface throughout your car and home, from furniture to floors and walls. Steam extractors are used to clean the floor carpeting and fabric upholstery, while the steam cleaner is used to clean off all of the vinyl, leather, plastic, and glass surfaces.
The question of which types are the best upholstery cleaner machines for couches and chairs specifically, comes down the the material your furniture is covered with – fabric, leather or vinyl.
Features to Look For in the Best Upholstery Cleaner Machines
To ensure that you get the best results every small time, it’s important to take the time to figure out just how you plan on using the machine, and how much you are willing to spend. After all, your goal is to get the highest quality product for the lowest price possible.
Once you have figured out how you intend on using your upholstery cleaning machine, you can begin to look at features such as hose length, load capacity, power ratings, and the wide assortment of attachments that will help you clean more effectively. Features to look for in the best upholstery cleaning machines for couches and chairs include:
Durability & Repairs
All too often, people buy the cheapest steam cleaners and extractors that they can find. And while this may seem like an excellent way to select a product, you only get what you pay for. Therefore, it is worth making sure that the unit you are purchasing is not just durable, but also easy to repair.
Moreover, when something breaks on a low-end unit, it is usually cheaper to simply throw the unit away rather than attempt to repair it. If you’re environmentally conscious, you may prefer the repairable option to avoid throwing yet more junk in landfill.
Some questions to ask when looking over the best upholstery cleaner machines are, whether an extractor or steam cleaner:
- Can the device be pulled apart and repaired?
- Is it glued together and need to be thrown away if it breaks?
- Is it possible to buy spare parts?
- Does it have a warranty?
Water Capacity & Temperature
Most of the lower-end units do not hold very much water and they generally do not get anywhere near hot enough to clean most interior surfaces properly. Take your time to ensure that the option you select can get hot enough, and hold enough water to clean all your furniture in one session. Some questions to ask yourself in this regard, include:
- How much upholstery cleaning are you doing at one time?
- Will you be cleaning a large area or several chairs at once, and need a large capacity of water?
- How close is the water tap to your cleaning if you need to refill?
Attachments
What sort of attachments will you realistically use? Having a large assortment may seem attractive, but do you need them all? For couches and recliners with nooks and crannies, and tricky to reach places, attachments to fit in small places are very useful.
With regard to hose length, you should also make sure that it has enough length for your tasks. Think about where you will be using it, and where you will place the machine. Will the machine be right next to you, or does the hose need a bit of extra length to reach around your furniture?
How Much Do the Best Upholstery Cleaner Machines Cost?
Cost is very important when it comes to the decision-making process. While there are a wide array of different steam cleaners and extractors available on the market today, it’s important to always weigh the cost of the device with its quality and capabilities. The cheapest upholstery cleaning machines are for personal use only and have extremely limited capabilities. These are followed by commercial-grade units which are commonly found in offices, restaurants, and hotels. The most expensive units available on the market today, are the multipurpose units that are used by professionals in the janitorial and automotive detailing services across the country.
Cost of Upholstery Cleaning Machines for Personal Use
The cheapest units available on the market today are for personal use only. They are generally assembled using cheaper components, as they are not designed to run for long periods of time. They weigh less, which makes them easier for most people to use. However, because the units are smaller, they are unable to hold as much water and also cannot heat up as fast as the higher-quality commercial or multipurpose units can.
The average personal use steam cleaner or extractor can operate for no more than 30 to 40 minutes before you need to refill the water. They also tend to feature smaller boilers, which do not get hot enough for most work. The cheapest units start off at around $40, but units with the highest capacity and temperature ratings can cost as much as $400.
Cost of Upholstery Cleaning Machines for Commercial & Professional Use
The next grade up from personal use, is commercial grade. These units are much more capable than personal devices and can be used for hours on end without having to refill the water. Because they are generally larger, they are not as easy to transport or store as a personal unit. However, they are great for cleaning not only furniture, but just about any surface within a home, car or office.
While low-end personal units start off at around $40, the lower-end commercial-grade units will start at around $1000. As with most things, you always get what you pay for. Not only can these larger units provide you with higher pressure levels, but they also take less time to heat up, have higher water capacities, and can used all day long.
Multipurpose Units Exist, But Are Expensive
At this point, you may be wondering, shouldn’t the best upholstery cleaner machines combine the features of both a steam extractor and steam cleaner?
Good question, and the answer is yes, but only for commercial use at the time of writing.
The highest-grade steam cleaners and steam extractors available on the market today, are known as multipurpose units. These upholstery cleaning machines are capable of operating at more than 295 PSI. You’ll generally find multipurpose steam cleaners and extractors used by professional cleaners, restaurants, and hotels.
Low-end multipurpose units will start at around $6000, but can easily cost well over $10,000. They are the workhorses of the industry and are designed to run consistently, all day long. They are extremely durable, and as such, can last years with minimal regular maintenance. When something does go wrong, they are usually covered under extensive warranties, and replacement components and parts can be easily sourced.
Conclusion
Hopefully by now, you should have a clear idea of the best upholstery cleaner machines for your chair, couch and home furniture needs.
Perhaps it is not the advice you were hoping to hear, but for the best cleaning solution, both a steam extractor and steam cleaner is required. However, if you are on a tight budget, then here are some other solutions that don’t require buying both:
For fabric upholstery, choose a steam extractor
If the chairs and couches throughout your home are made up of fabric upholstery as many of them are, then opt for a steam extractor. The steam extractor is designed to clean fabric upholstery, and can also clean your carpets, but cannot clean other surfaces. When it comes to cleaning upholstery, however, fabric is the most difficult to clean. The hard surfaces can be cleaned by hand using detergent and warm water, as you have probably been doing already, even though a steam cleaner can speed this up.
For leather or vinyl upholstery, choose a steam cleaner
If your car interior upholstery is leather or vinyl, then go for a steam cleaner. A steam cleaner is more versatile, and can clean leather, vinyl and hard surfaces, as well as carpet. This single device can clean your entire home interior in addition to your leather or vinyl chairs and couches. However, steam cleaners can damage sensitive surfaces like some types of vinyl, in which case you may wish to continue cleaning by hand.
Or… clean it by hand
Of course, the last alternative is that you simply clean your upholstery by hand, the old fashioned way.
If you aren’t worried about a perfect result, this may be just what you need for the occasional freshen up. For instructions on correctly cleaning upholstery check out our guides to cleaning leather upholstery and cleaning fabric upholstery.
Happy upholstering!
