The DIY Recommended Upholstery Cleaner You Need Right Now

June 6, 2024/24 Comments/in Automobiles, Cleaning, DIY, Home & Family /by Mary Hunt

While we have lots of DIY cleaner recipes in our EC arsenal, a good, reliable upholstery cleaner was missing. Now, we can check that off our list with this new, highly recommended DIY recipe. Our powerful and affordable solution will keep your furniture spotless. Easy to make and highly effective, this homemade cleaner uses simple ingredients to tackle even the toughest stains.

We’ve all been there—spilled coffee on the sofa during a morning rush, or a rogue crayon masterpiece courtesy of the little ones on the armchair. Upholstery stains are inevitable in a busy household, and they always seem to happen at the worst possible times. But finding an effective cleaner that doesn’t break the bank or use harsh chemicals can be a real challenge.

That’s where a reliable DIY upholstery cleaner comes in handy. Not only does it save you money, but it also gives you peace of mind knowing exactly what’s in your cleaner. No more worrying about harmful ingredients around your family or pets. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about tackling those stubborn stains yourself and seeing your furniture look as good as new.

What You’ll Need for the Best Upholstery Cleaner

This DIY recipe is easy to make, super effective, and (you know what’s coming…) cheap!

Cheese Grater

To finely grate the Fels Naptha soap, ensuring it dissolves easily.

Egg Beater or Whisk

For thoroughly mixing and whipping the ingredients into a foamy consistency.

Medium Mixing Bowl

To combine all the ingredients and allow them to gel properly.

Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap*

A powerful soap known for its stain-removing capabilities.

Borax*

A natural cleaning agent that boosts the stain-fighting power of the mixture.

Boiling Water

To dissolve the grated soap and borax, creating a smooth, effective cleaner.

* Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap and Borax are available in most supermarkets in the laundry aisle, or online using the links at the bottom of this post.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Own Upholstery Cleaner

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients (Fels Naptha, borax, and boiling water), place them all in a medium mixing bowl. Using an egg beater or whisk, carefully mix until everything is dissolved and well incorporated.

Let the mixture sit on the counter for about 30 minutes, allowing it to cool and begin to gel. Patience, my friends—good things come to those who wait (or to those who find something else to clean in the meantime).

Once it’s ready, grab your egg beater, whisk, or an electric mixer, and whip the mixture until it transforms into a foamy consistency, like whipped cream or shaving cream. At first, it will be bubbly, but keep going until it turns into a thick, luscious foam. Just don’t mistake it for dessert!

Using Your DIY Upholstery Cleaner: Hand vs. Machine

By Hand

I started with a clean white terry cloth, dipping it into the foamy cleaner and applying it directly to a stain on my white sofa. I scrubbed the stain in a circular motion, really working the cleaner in.

For those particularly stubborn stains, you might need to bring out a brush. Once I was satisfied, I followed up with a wet, clean white terry cloth to rinse the area, then let it air dry. Simple and effective!

By Machine

BISSELL Little Green Proheat Portable Spot Cleaner

For a more automated approach, I turned to my trusty Bissell Little Green Spot Cleaner Machine. I filled the machine’s reservoir with clean water, then applied some of the DIY cleaner foam to a stained upholstered chair seat.

Here’s a little trick: I used the machine without pulling the trigger, relying on its scrubbing action alone to work the foam into the stain. In just a few seconds, the spot was gone! Finally, I pulled the trigger to dispense clean water and used the machine’s suction to rinse thoroughly. It worked like a charm!

Storing Your Homemade Upholstery Cleaner

This recipe makes a generous batch of DIY cleaner, so you’ll have plenty for future use. After whipping up your batch, transfer any remaining foamy cleaner to a food storage bowl with a tight lid. I’ve kept mine stored in a cupboard in my laundry room for 18 months now, and it’s still as fresh and effective as the day I made it. No separation or turning to liquid—just a ready-to-use cleaner whenever I need it. Talk about a long-lasting solution!

Adjusting the Recipe for Smaller Batches

If you prefer to make only what you need for a specific job, it’s easy to scale down this recipe. Simply halve the ingredients (3 tablespoons grated Fels Naptha, 1 tablespoon borax, 1 cup boiling water.) This scaled-down version ensures you have just the right amount of cleaner for your immediate cleaning needs, without any waste.

Cost Comparison: DIY vs. Store-Bought Upholstery Cleaners

When it comes to cleaning products, every penny counts. My actual cost to make the full recipe of this cleaner is approximately $1.25, and that’s a generous estimate. Now, let’s compare that to the average cost of a Hoover Upholstery Deep Stain Remover Aerosol Spray, which runs about $10. While it’s not an exact apples-to-apples comparison, the savings speak for themselves. For a homemade product that cleans just as effectively, if not better, making it myself is simply another smart way to keep more money in my pocket while ensuring top-notch results.

Before and After: Real Results with DIY Upholstery Cleaner

I’ll be the first to admit, when I stumbled upon this recipe and cleaning method, I had my doubts. It seemed almost too simple to be true. But let me tell you, it delivers results. Don’t just take my word for it—take a look at these before and after snapshots, captured by yours truly, a very amateur photographer:

Behold, the white sofa back cushion, before and after its transformation with our DIY upholstery cleaner.

Resources

While you can typically find most of these items in your local supermarket’s laundry aisle, we understand the convenience of online shopping. That’s why we’ve included handy Amazon links below for easy reference.

Fels Naptha Laundry Bar and Stain Remover, 5 Ounce...

Borax 20 Mule Team Laundry Booster, Powder...

Pyrex Essentials (3-Piece) Glass Mixing Bowls Set...

OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk

Urbanstrive Cheese Grater With Container Box...

BISSELL Little Green Proheat Portable Deep...

Print How-To Pin How-To

5 from 3 votes

Homemade Upholstery Cleaner

You could go to the store and buy a good upholstery cleaner, or keep the cash and make it yourself! This quick and easy recipe is surprisingly effective. Use it to hand clean or machine clean spots and stains on upholstered furniture.

Cook Time15

Cooling down30

Total Time45

Category: Housekeeping, Upholstery Cleaning

Cuisine: How-To

Yield: cups (approx)

Materials

6 tbsp grated Fels Naptha Laundry Bar Soap
2 tbsp borax
2 cups boiling water

Instructions

Place the Fels Naptha, borax, and boiling water in the mixing bowl.
Using the egg beater to whisk, carefully mix until all ingredients are dissolved and well incorporated.
Allow to sit on the counter for about 30 minutes, or until cool enough that the mixture begins to gel.
Using an egg beater, whisk, or electric mixer, whip the mixture until it looks like whipped cream or shaving cream. It will start out bubbly but then become foam.
Transferred the remaining amount of foamy cleaner to a food storage bowl with a tight lid and store in a cupboard.

Notes

If you don't want to make more cleaner than you need for a specific job, you can easily cut this recipe in half: 3 tbsp grated Fels Nathpa, 1 tbsp borax, and 1 cup boiling water.

Question: What’s the toughest stain you’ve ever tackled on your furniture? Share your cleaning victories and challenges with us.

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24 replies

Joyce Ryan says:
February 18, 2026 at 1:39 pm

Made half a recipe to use on several different upholstery areas in our motorhome (headrest, armrest, dinette benches, etc) Worked like a charm!! I also used it as a “spot cleaner” on a flannel pillow case. Worked like a charm!! Thanks, Mary.
Reply
Ellen says:
October 11, 2025 at 1:18 pm

This works amazingly good! Hubby spilled coffee (several times) on the seat of his new truck. We tried numerous commercial cleaners that never worked. I finally gave up-though since then I make him use a covered cup!
I ready Mary’s newsletter and tried the homemade upholstery cleaner. it was a miracle! I applied it twice to the coffee stain, and all we have is a slight shadowing where the stain was. Unless you know it was there, you cannot tell there was a stain! This recipe is absolutely amazing and so easy (and fun!) to make!
Reply
Estelle M. Chisholm says:
June 17, 2024 at 2:36 pm

How will this cleaner work for cleaning large areas on a sofa or chair? Spots are not the problem, but the overall grayish color on cushions from being sat upon for several years?
Reply
Is the Bissell the best upholestry cleaner mscinr says:
June 6, 2024 at 4:14 pm

Rank the best machine cleaner for fabric couches
Reply
Sue B says:
August 6, 2022 at 5:21 am

Thank you, Mary for all that you do! Does this work on microfiber upholstery? It seems everything is being made with it. Regards.
Reply
- Mary Hunt says:
  August 6, 2022 at 7:41 am
  
  Yes! Works great …
  Reply
Sandra says:
August 4, 2022 at 6:33 am

What is your regular maintenance recipe to keep drains running clear! Thanks!
(Been a faithful reader for years!)
Reply
- Mary Hunt says:
  August 4, 2022 at 8:50 am
  
  You can always jump over to EverydayCheapskate.com and use the orange search icon (upper right) to search the archive! All active posts are there (1000s of them!). Click on that icon, type in a keyword like … “drains” or “unclog” or “drains maintenance,” then hit enter. You’ll get a list of all posts with that subject. I did this for you and came up with this, from the post “Tips to Rescue Rust-Stained Sinks, Pitted Chrome, and Slow Running Drains”
  
  Clog-Free Drains
  
  Mix together 1 cup baking soda with 1 cup table salt and 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Keep it in an airtight, childproof container. To perform routine maintenance on all household drains: Every few weeks, pour 1/2 cup of this mixture into each drain, followed by a quart of boiling water. This process should keep you clog-free. As a regular practice, do your best to keep hair, grease, food, and other debris out of your sink drains in the first place.
  
  There’s lots more on this topic at “6 Ways to Unclog a Drain Without Using Caustic Chemicals”
  Reply
Anita says:
July 29, 2022 at 6:04 pm

Mary,
Is there another product to use instead of Fels Naptha as I am allergic to that product? I love all the recipes and cleaners you have given out over the years. Thank you.
Reply
- Mary Hunt says:
  July 30, 2022 at 10:29 am
  
  Zote is another brand of laundry bar soap, which might work better for you
  Reply
  - thriftysoul says:
    June 8, 2024 at 12:37 pm
    
    And Zote smells glorious!
Jeannie says:
July 29, 2022 at 8:33 am

Mary, thanks for this! So timely, as I have 2 upholstered chairs that need cleaning. Years ago, I purchased the Hoover Steam carpet cleaner that you highly recommended (and I LOVE it). Can I use the brush attachment (for the rinse part) for the arms of my chairs, as you described with your Bissell?
Reply
- Mary Hunt says:
  July 29, 2022 at 9:45 am
  
  Oh, yes! That will work super well 🙂
  Reply
Fantastic says:
May 4, 2021 at 10:53 am

I was just getting ready to buy new fabric for my kitchen stools, due to a stubborn stain on one of them. The fabric is beige, and one of them has been stained for years, and I had tried everything to clean it. When I saw your recipe, I figured I didn’t have anything to lose, so I mixed up a batch and brushed it on. To my complete amazement, the stain is gone! This stuff is incredible! I now have a jar of it in the refrigerator and trot it out whenever I encounter a stubborn stain. Works like a champ. Thank you so much!
Reply
Barbara says:
March 30, 2021 at 7:25 pm

How long will
This last once made!
Reply
Janet Hall says:
March 30, 2021 at 5:48 pm

A few weeks ago I purchased the same Bissell Spot Clean Pro for the upholstery in my car. I had tried several different over products but could not get the seats clean. I used hot water only in the canister and my seats look like new!
Reply
Jeanne Anderson says:
March 30, 2021 at 11:52 am

fels naptha and 20 mule team are my ultimate favorite go to products which have never disappointed me….thank you very much for all you do!!
Reply
Kristen says:
March 30, 2021 at 11:09 am

Mary, can you or one of your readers tell me if that upholstery cleaner would work on rugs as a spot cleaner? I have some area rugs that need spot treatment. Thank you!
Reply
- Mary Hunt says:
  March 31, 2021 at 7:09 am
  
  Kristen … give it a try! It can’t hurt and depending on what that stain is (remember a fresh stain is much easier t deal with than one that’s been there for awhile and settled in!
  Reply
Holly says:
March 30, 2021 at 9:35 am

Thank you for the recipe. I am eager to try it, but first I want to double check that it is OK to use my kitchen equipment that I use for food prep for mixing this up. It seems like it, but I’d love your opinion to be on the safe side.
Reply
- Mary Hunt says:
  March 31, 2021 at 7:11 am
  
  No problem just make sure you wash the items well. Borax and soap … items found in all kinds of cleaners including those for dishwashing!
  Reply
Elle says:
March 30, 2021 at 8:26 am

One thing I dislike about commercial cleaners is they seem to leave a residue, which acts like a dirt magnet, after the initial cleaning. Is that a problem with this DIY version?
Reply
- Mary Hunt says:
  March 31, 2021 at 7:12 am
  
  Make sure you rinse well with a clean wet cloth or spot cleaner machine.
  Reply
Gina Stevens says:
March 30, 2021 at 6:19 am

Mind reader! I’m ready to tackle cleaning my white sofa and chairs. Again, my gratitude to you, Mary!
Reply

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5 from 3 votes

The DIY Recommended Upholstery Cleaner You Need Right Now