Best Vacuum For Upholstery Reviews Of 2020

Even if you can't see the dust and dirt, you must look after your upholstery routinely to ensure a healthy and quality life of your family. 

However, the good news is, cleaning and maintaining upholstery is relatively easier than your floor surface.

For that, you need a vacuum that's specifically designed for upholstery, or it just won’t cut it.

The market is flooded with vacuum brands claiming to be the best, but very few actually live up to their claims.

After personal use, extensive research, and reading numerous customer testimonials, we have come up with our list to help you find the best vacuum for upholstery. We’ve also included a buying guide so that you’ll know exactly what features to look for when you purchase your upholstery cleaner.

Through our years of experience dealing with vacuums and cleaning tools, we know exactly what features are essential in the best upholstery cleaner machine.

In our review, we paid utmost attention to these features, and you must, too, when you shop for your unit. Its also recommended that you compare various units and get the one with the most useful features.

Type Of Vacuum:

When it comes to cleaning upholstery and furniture, you need to be very mindful about selecting the right type of vacuums. There’re many types of vacuum cleaner model available in the market right now including, stick, handheld, upright and canister. But, the fact is not every type is suitable for cleaning upholstery and furniture.

Before buying a upholstery vacuum, make sure that the unit features these 3 key things: 1) Portability 2) adjustable suction power 3) Ease of use

Handheld units are super lightweight, easy to use, and can get into tight corners and spaces where larger units struggle. However, they lack the capacity and power of other models.

Stick models come with a tall body and a powerhead, and you don't have to bother bending over. They are convenient to use but lacks the suction power of conventional units.

Canister vacuums are best for maneuvering around tight corners and under furniture but aren't as portable as handheld or stick units.

Upright vacuums can stand on its own and excel at cleaning carpets, but they can be heavy units.

For vacuuming upholstery, we recommend you to go for either handheld or stick units. They are portable and easier to use around various upholstery. In addition they also come with decent suction power for removing dirt and debris of all kinds.

Size, Weight, And Mobility:

Portable and lightweight vacuums are always easier to deal with, especially for cleaning upholstery—generally, vacuums weight between 13-18 pounds. If you have back problems or need to carry your vacuum a lot, like up and down the stairs, go for the lightest one available. Also, look at the frame of the unit; slender units are always easier to maneuver and carry around.

Other than that, the mobility of a vacuum is also important. You don't have to worry about this with handheld and robotic units, but if you opt for more traditional vacuums, ensure that they come with smooth and durable wheels.

The more power your vacuum possesses, the better it'll be able to lift and suck-in dirt and debris. Airflow in vacuums is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the CFM, the more powerful the suction. CFM of vacuums typically ranges between 50-100. Generally, canister units pack the most power. Make sure that your unit has enough power for your cleaning requirements.

Its also best if you go for a unit with a variable power setting. This allows you to adjust the suction power according to your tasks. For instance, if you're vacuuming fabrics, cushions, and curtains, it's best that you do it in the lowest setting possible, or it'll just suck them in and ruin them.

Bagged Or Bagless:

When it comes to vacuum cleaners, it can be confusing whether to opt for a bagged or bagless unit. Regardless of which unit you choose, they both have their advantages, and it depends on your preferences. 

With bagless vacuums, you don't have to bother purchasing and changing dust bags. They are more favorable for the environment, and if you ever suck up something accidentally like a jewelry piece, you can easily take them out. However, when you empty bagless units, they can expose you to allergens.

On the other hand, bagged units are less messy, and since the dust is contained inside the bag, this type of vacuums are excellent options for asthma and allergy sufferers. They also have a larger capacity than bagless options. However, they can be quite pricey in the long run as you'll have to continuously buy bags. They can also be detrimental to the environment.

Corded or Cordless:

Cordless units are becoming a more popular option. They are lightweight, come with various attachments, and some can even be converted into handheld units. Since they are cordless, they are easier to maneuver and store as well. However, they typically feature a smaller dust capacity and is limited by battery life.

Corded units sport more power than cordless units, and since there's no battery, you can vacuum as long as it's connected to a power source. But its drawback is that your reach will be limited by the power cord. 

For vacuuming upholstery, we recommend a cordless unit as they are more portable and offer more flexibility. Particularly for vacuuming up the stairs and inside cars, a cordless unit is a must.

Attachments:

Most vacuums come with attachments designed for various cleaning tasks. Attachments allow you to personalize your unit and offer more flexibility for your vacuuming needs. Some vacuums come with attachments, particularly for upholstery. 

If you're looking for a vacuum for upholstery, some must-have attachments include a mattress tool, car upholstery tool, and attachment for cleaning stairs. It's also beneficial if it comes with a tool bag so that you can organize and store your attachments when not in use. Make sure your unit comes with the required attachments for your upholstery.

Your Budget:

Ultimately, it comes down to how much you want to shell out for your unit. If you don't vacuum on a daily basis or have heavy-duty cleaning tasks, a basic vacuum with basic features will do just fine. However, make sure they come with upholstery attachments. 

On the other hand, if you have a lot of upholstery to vacuum, you must go for a more premium unit. If you want to get a decent unit, a price range of $100 to $200 is a safe bet. You’ll have to spend a little more if you want high-end features. 

However, the price isn’t the only factor. There are numerous expensive units that are sub-par. Make sure you do proper research before buying your vacuum.

1. Dyson V7 Animal Pro: Top Pick

Best Vacuum For Pet Hair On Upholstery And Couch

With plenty of features to tackle any vacuuming needs, the V7 Animal Pro is a top of the line vacuum from Dyson. It sports a slender frame, and at 9.28 pounds, it was a breeze maneuvering it around the room and carrying it upstairs. 

Being a cordless unit, you don’t have to bother with messy cords as well. We were particularly impressed by the performance of the mini-motorized tool in picking up pet hair from carpets and couches. If you want to get your hands on the best vacuum for pet hair on couch, the Dyson V7 Animal Pro is a solid choice.

This vacuum from Dyson can also be converted into a handheld unit which is very useful for cleaning car upholstery and vacuuming hard to reach places. 

Unlike other similar cordless vacuums, this unit comes with a docking station to store and charge the unit, and it can even hold attachments. We were, however, disappointed with the battery life as it could barely sustain 20 minutes of run time on a full charge, but we don't think it'll be a big problem for most tasks.

Our Verdict:

The Dyson V7 Animal Pro is perfect if you’re looking for a pet vacuum for upholstery. The mini-motorized tool effectively removes pet hair of all length effortlessly.

2. Bissell 33A1 Pet Hair Eraser

If you want a lightweight vacuum for tackling pet hair and messes, the Bissell 33A1 Pet Hair Eraser is a must-have. It has a simple design, and at just 4.2 pounds, it's one of the most lightweight units we've come across. 

Even when we carried the unit up and down numerous stairs, we experienced no fatigue. This vacuum is a corded unit and comes with a 16 feet power cord, which isn't the longest but will be adequate for vacuuming most average sized rooms.

As it's a handheld unit, it's super easy to use it for vacuuming couches and car upholstery. If you're on the hunt for the best vacuum for couches, this unit can be a top contender. 

What makes the Bissell 33A1 Pet Hair Eraser stand out from its rivals is that, it sports a specialized rubber nozzle and, in our test, it effortlessly sucked up dirt and pet hair from all sorts of upholstery. A limitation of this unit is that its quite loud, which some people might not like.

Our Verdict:

If you want a handheld vacuum for pet hair and messes, the Bissell 33A1 Pet Hair Eraser is an excellent choice. The handheld design makes it easy to maneuver, and the specialized rubber nozzle picks up all sorts of pet hair and messes.

3. Shark WV201 WANDVAC: Best Handheld Vacuum For Upholstery

If you want a portable yet powerful unit, you must consider the Shark WV201 WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum. It has a super sleek modern design, and at just 1.4 pounds, it's super easy to carry and maneuver this unit. It's very well-built, and we have no doubts that it'll last for a long time. 

The Shark WV201 WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum is fitted with a high-speed brushless motor, and it does a fantastic job of picking up all sorts of dirt, debris, and pet hair from upholstery. If you want the best handheld vacuum for upholstery, this unit is a good choice.

We tested the multi-surface pet tool, and it easily lifted up pet hair of various lengths from carpets and couches. Thanks to the duster crevice tool, this handheld unit vacuums tight corners and areas efficiently, unlike other similar handheld models. 

Customer reviews praised the lightweight design and the inclusion of a compact docking station that supports fast charging. However, some customers were displeased with loud operation.

Our Verdict:

If you carry your vacuum around a lot for various tasks, the Shark WV201 WANDVAC Handheld Vacuum should be at the top of your list. With a compact design and weighing just 1.4 pounds, its super lightweight.

4. BLACK+DECKER MAX Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum

Stick vacuums pack a lot of power, and the Black+Decker 20V MAX Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum is a fantastic option. The first thing you'll notice about this unit is the compact design, which is quite different from other stick models, and it's durable as well. 

It has powerful suction, and the 4ft flexible hose provides ample reach for cleaning tight corners and high shelves. Thanks to the lithium-ion batteries, we didn't experience any fade power, and it scored a continuous run time of 45 minutes.

The pet brush attachment makes this vacuum very suitable for vacuuming upholstery. In our testing, it effortlessly picked up pet hair and other dust and debris from various upholstery. 

The Black+Decker 20V MAX Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum also comes with a charging base, which is quite rare for similar stick models at this price point. Customers particularly loved how easy and quick it is to empty this unit, but some complained about the capacity of the dirt chamber.

Our Verdict:

The Black+Decker Cordless Stick Vacuum is a top choice for those looking for a cordless unit with solid battery life. The lithium-ion battery prevents fade power and can last up to 45 minutes on a single charge.

5. BLACK+DECKER dustbuster Handheld Vacuum: Best Sofa Vacuum Cleaner

The Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum is another fantastic offering from Black+Decker. It's very well-designed and weighs just 2.6 pounds, so we didn't face any problem carrying it around. 

The slim nozzle makes it very suitable for cleaning various upholstery, and since its capable of rotating, it makes vacuuming tight corners a breeze. If you’re looking for the best sofa vacuum cleaner, this unit can be an excellent option. We also love that this vacuum is easy to empty; it takes just the touch of a button to access the dirt tray.

The powerful suction makes it very advantageous for deep cleaning upholstery. In our testing, it sucked up pet hair, crumbs, and debris effortlessly. This unit comes with a charging base and charges in about 2 hours, which is much faster than similar models .On the downside, the battery life left us wanting more as it lasted just 20 minutes on a full charge.

Our Verdict:

The powerful suction of the Black+Decker Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum is the biggest selling point. The rotating slim nozzle also makes it applicable for various tasks.

6. Shark Rocket Ultra-Light HV292: Best Vacuum For Couches

We were also impressed with the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light HV292. It's very compact and lightweight but comes with powerful suction. This handheld vacuum comes with various attachments, making it a very versatile unit, and we particularly loved the performance of the TruePet motorized brush.

In our testing, it easily lifted away all sorts of dirt and debris and performed particularly well with pet hair. The extension hose also provides ample reach for vacuuming stairs.

The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light HV292 comes with a 15-foot power cord, which will be sufficient for most average-sized homes. The powerhead of this unit swivels, and it does an excellent job at cleaning edges of carpeted stairs where similar models generally underperform. 

Customer reviews and testimonials praised the bagless design and powerful suction, but some were disappointed that it didn't come with the HEPA filtration system.

If you want an uninterrupted operation, the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light HV292 will be the best bet for you. The corded design ensures that you have an unlimited power supply, and the 15-foot cord will provide good reach.

7. BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser: Best Vacuum For Furniture

The BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser comes with plenty of useful features to cut your vacuuming session in half. We love the ergonomic design, and it's very durable as well. 

It comes with various attachments, and we were particularly impressed with the upholstery tool as it did a fantastic job of removing all sorts of dirt, debris, and pet hair from furniture and other upholstery. If you're on the hunt for the best vacuum for furniture and pet hair, the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser will be your best bet.

It also comes with a crevice tool for cleaning tight corners, and we found it very useful for vacuuming sofas. This handheld vacuum supports 4 lithium-ion battery and, in our testing, it survived for 20minutes on a single charge. 

The BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser also comes with a triple-level filtration, which most similar models lack. On the downside, it takes time for this unit to recharge.

Our Verdict:

For those looking for a versatile unit, the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser is a no-brainer. The inclusion of numerous useful attachments like the crevice and upholstery tool makes it a great pick.

Final Verdict:

This brings us to the end of our list of the best vacuum for upholstery. All the above-mentioned units will make vacuuming upholstery easy-breezy. It's hard to choose a top pick, but if we had to, it'd be the Dyson V7 Animal Pro thanks to its built, powerful suction and the dedicated mini-motorized tool.

If you want a more affordable option, the Bissell 33A1 Pet Hair Eraser is a solid value for money and performs better than many high-priced units.