DIY Upholstery Cleaner vs Bissell Cleaning Solution: What Works Better
Should you use a DIY upholstery cleaner solution or a name brand cleaning solvent like Bissell? Will a homemade upholstery cleaning mix really work as well as a store bought one? Well, we have your answers!
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Why We Needed An Upholstery Cleaner
Due to an unfortunate accident involving half of a medium milkshake, my 10-year old, and the back seat of my car, we recently became the proud owners of a Bissell Spotclean Proheat Pet carpet and upholstery cleaning machine.
It was about 6 pm on a Saturday night when the milkshake incident occurred. We were driving home from Sonic when I heard the ominous calls of "Oh, no!!!" coming from my back seat.
When I pulling into my driveway, sure enough, my worst fears were realized. My child had somehow lost his hold on his half full milkshake, spilling the contents ENTIRELY onto the cloth seats in the back of my car.
I immediately starting calling around, trying to find a detailing shop that could clean my seats ASAP, before my car started stinking like sour milk.
Of course, since it was after 5 on a Saturday, the few places that were still open were unable to clean the upholstery of my car until Monday or Tuesday, and were quoting us prices of anywhere from $85 to $125 to shampoo the seats.
So it was on to plan B.
The Bissell Spot Cleaner
We quickly ran out to our local Walmart and purchased a Bissell Spotclean Proheat Pet for around $100. I was looking for a Bissell Little Green Machine, but our local store was completely out of those.
I figured if it saved the back seat of my car for the same price as a one time professional cleaning, it would be well worth the purchase.
We brought it home, and got to work immediately, using the samples of the cleaning solution provided with our new Bissell.
The Bissell Spot Clean Proheat worked like a DREAM! It cleaned all the milkshake residue and left my car smelling lovely.
Just to be sure it wouldn't stink, we cleaned the entire area twice, and never had any bad smells in my back seat.
I HIGHLY recommend this machine! We've used it all over the house, including cleaning my dining room chairs, a sofa, several lounge chairs, and the ottoman in this experiment (more on that in a minute!)
You can get your own Bissell Spotclean HERE!
Why We Created A DIY Upholstery Cleaning Solution
While the Bissell machine itself was affordable and worked very well cleaning up the milkshake mess, the upholstery cleaning solution sold by Bissell seemed kinda pricey and didn't go very far.
After using up the sample sizes on that first emergency clean up, I discovered that refill bottles weren't cheap. They run around $10 a bottle at our local Target or Walmart.
Now that I was on a roll and wanted to "clean all the things," $10 a bottle just wasn't going to cut it for me. So I started doing a little research.
After cruising around the internet for a while, a found a formula for a DIY upholstery cleaning solution that I thought would work just as well as the Bissell version for my purposes.
It used ingredients I already had on hand and was EXTREMELY cheap to make. So I decided to give it a shot.
Putting Our DIY Upholstery Cleaner To The Test
To test out this new-found formula, I decided to clean the dirtiest piece of furniture in my house: the dog ottoman.
This grungy piece of furniture started out as a lovely pale green velvet ottoman that coordinated with a lovely pale green velvet chair.
But when we adopted a small beagle from a local rescue, she quickly claimed it as her own, to spend her days lounging on it, gazing out the window at the squirrels.
She spent hours at a time rolling around on it, really grinding in the dirt and germs.
She also made a habit of chewing her favorite toy on top of it, leaving little bits of whatever it was for her to lick up later.
As you can see from the picture, it really was quite gross after she'd been using it for about a year.
Being that it was the most disgusting piece of furniture in my house, I figured it would make a good test subject for these two different formulas of upholstery cleaning solution.
I sectioned off three areas of the top of the ottoman to help me compare my work. One section for the Bissell brand cleaning solution, one section for the DIY cleaning solution, and one section left dirty as a "control" ('cause I'm scientific like that!)
I covered whatever area I wasn't cleaning with plastic wrap to try to prevent bleed over from the other area and get a good comparison of the different solutions.
I started by filling the tank with the recommended ratio of hot water to Bissell cleaning solution. Then I sprayed the entire dirty area with the solution from the machine, and got to work with the brush and the suction.
I only used tools included with the machine. No additional brushes or scrubbers were used to clean any part of the areas.
Between sections, I ran hot water through the machine to make sure I flushed out any residue from the Bissell solutions.
I then repeated the process with the DIY solution. I took about the same amount of time to clean both sides (possibly a little extra time on the Bissell side)
What happened astounded me.
The DIY Upholstery Cleaner vs. Bissell Solution Results
The Bissell solution did a decent job of removing the grime. It still looked a bit dingy to me on that side once it was completed and dried.
But the DIY upholstery cleaner solution did a tremendous job of cleaning the ottoman.
As you can see in the picture, the DIY section looks tons better than the section left in original condition. And I can promise you, it smelled better too!
It also seemed to take less elbow grease to get the intended results. I'm all for working smarter, not harder!
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!
You can get the full recipe for the cleaning solution on the printable card at the bottom of this post.
I was scared they peroxide might bleach out my furniture, but it was so watered down, it didn't do anything of the sort.
Once I saw the results, I went back and cleaned the entire thing with the homemade solution. Here's the before and after picture of the completed project:
I can definitely tell you, I'll never go back to using the store bought formula!
You can use this formula in just about any upholstery cleaning machine, the Bissell ProHeat, the Little Green Machine, or whatever upholstery cleaning machine you own.
The results of this little experiment made me super happy! I cleaned the entire chair and brought it completely back to life with this inexpensive DIY formula.
Mix up this DIY Upholstery Cleaner to use in your Bissell carpet or upholstery cleaning machine! Save money and clean efficiently! As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.DIY Upholstery Cleaner
Materials
Tools
Instructions
Recommended Products
I've used this DIY upholstery solution to rehab so many pieces, and it has never failed to clean really well for me.
I've removed weird stains and smells from lots of vintage pieces, and enabled us to really get a mid century look to our home by using actual vintage furniture.
Try it on your dirtiest piece of furniture! Let me know how it works in the comments!
Check out my other post on how to instantly remove permanent marker from your skin!
I now know what I want for my birthday!
Your post is very thorough. Well done! I am trying this right now on or sofa & loveseat. I have the Bissel “PROheatPET” for both carpets & upholstery. It occurred to me (only after I started) that I should have clarified with you on whether to use the solution in the small soap tank, still filling the main tank with plain hot water or, using the soap mixture in the plain water tank. I put the 6 cups cleaning mix directly into the plain water tank. Hope that’s what you meant! It seems fine - not too soapy, which would be bad - you don’t want soapy residue on carpets or upholstery, as that actually attracts dirt. My furniture is not terribly dirty, but our giant puppy dog has recently decided he likes sleeping on the sofas, and much as I love him, I don’t want them to smell! I mention this because I thought of sending before/afters, but it’s not going too look noticeably different - and no smell-o-vision yet!
Hi Sandy!
Glad the mixture is working for you. It sounds like you did it exactly the same way I did. Just put the mixture recipe from my post directly into the tank, no additional water needed. Dogs are the best, just a little on the smelly side sometimes! Happy cleaning!!
I absolutely love your GREAT words of advice on cleaning. I have 5 more adults and a cat and dog. This sounds amazing to do and cleannnnn.
Thank you kindly.
Can this be used on carpet?
I have never used it on carpet myself, so I can't really give you a definitive answer on that. You could give it a shot, but I'd try it in a closet or something to make sure it doesn't cause any problems. If you do use it, let me know how it turns out!
I do not have an upholstery cleaner. Would this solution work in a spray bottle and use a clean cloth or brush to work it in? Also, does it remove body oils as well as dirt from upholstery? Thanks.
I haven't tried it that way, but it might work. The issue you might run into with just a spray bottle and a brush is removing the solution. Using a cleaning machine of some type sucks out the dirty water and cleaning solution from the furniture, leaving the furniture clean. Without that feature, the mixture might just sit on the furniture and not work as well.
I’ve got a rug and mattress that I’m trying your solution on today. Can’t wait because I totally agree with you about the price of store bought solution. It goes way too fast for me! But do you have a recipe or trick for removing “red” punch stains out carpet? For some reason I can never get ALL the color out and it’s only the red ones.
Red is SO tough! I haven't found one yet, but if I do, I'll be sure and share it!
@Danielle Ardoin, I once called a carpet cleaning company for advice on red stains and was told that red food coloring is permanent after 10 minutes. So I told my kids that if they spilled, the best thing to do is pour a glass of water on the spill, then sop it all up with a towel. No more red stains!
@Danielle Ardoin, did u tried it on carpet? how did it go?
Do you know if this will work as well with pet accidents, like urine and vomit? Looks like it's great with dirt/grease, but I'm wondering how it does with pet odors and bacteria. I'd love to not have to buy the expensive solutions! Also, has it hurt your machine at all? Bissell says not to use other solutions, but of course they want you to buy their stuff. Thanks
Hi Wendi! The ottoman I used in the pictures smelled really bad before I cleaned it. It was our dog's favorite hang out spot. I have to say the smell was WORLDS better after I used this solution on it, and it didn't smell chemically or weird. I haven't used it on her urine or vomit, but I would expect the same results.
I've been using this solution in my machine for about a year now and have noticed zero issues with my machine. I do run some plain old water through my machine every time I'm finished to clean it out, but otherwise, it still works great.
I hope this helps!
Hi there,
How big was your water tank? I'm trying to figure out if I need to add more for a 96 oz tank on the Bissell SpotClean Pet Pro machine.
I have the 37 oz tank on my machine. I hope that helps.
Is this good for colored odomens? I have a blue one and I am trying to get a stain out and clean it properly.
We've used it on lots of different colors of fabric, and it's done well on all of them.
Hi! After adding the mixture to your machine, and applying it to the furniture, do you need to let it sit for a few minutes? Or immediately suck the mixture up?
I've done it both ways, even scrubbing a little bit on super dirty areas for extra cleaning. For the post videos and pictures, I didn't let it sit. I sprayed and then sucked it up immediately.
Also can this be used to mop hardwood floors?
I have never used this solution on hardwood floors, so I can't recommend it. Hardwoods can be tricky, so use caution in whatever you put on them.
After making your Bisell mix.
Did you use this mix straight or did you add water to the mix as you would the purchased product.
Thank you.
I use it straight. No additional water needed.
Hello there and thank-you for this information!
When you mention: Active time 30 minutes, do you mean the product will be effective for 30 minutes?
Thank-you
That's just an estimate of how long it took to clean the chair with the mixture. The solution should be effective indefinitely.
We have this machine and already think it’s amazing! My son just got his first car and the front passenger seat had a huge stain that looked like coffee. We didn’t have the manufacturer cleaner so I found this recipe. It literally went away before our eyes! Thank you for sharing this.
I'm so glad it helped you out! It's truly been a lifesaver for me.
In the video it shows you use vinegar also, but in the recipe, it doesn’t tell how much vinegar to use. How much vinegar do I use or do you not use vinegar anymore?
The vinegar has proven unnecessary, so I don't include it anymore.
@Louise Emery,
Thanks!
I have the Bissell pro heat carpet cleaning machine. Do I put the DIY mix in the water bag or the small mixture compartment on the back of the machine?
Since I don't have that type of machine myself, I can't really give you an authoritative recommendation as to what you should do. My best guess would be the water bag, but again, I don't know how that machine operates to give you good instructions.
Oh wow...two outdoor cats and a couch eater that doesn't use a plate...worked like a charm.The 40 yrs old sofa is now showing its true colours. I have an old green machine and your formula turned it into a super power! Thanks for sharing the formula.
Yay! I am SO happy it worked for you!!
Thank you for putting up this post. Any suggested adjustments if I want to use your formula in a Rug Doctor Pro Portable Detailer & Spot Cleaner Machine (the tank holds 1.5 gallons of clean water)?
Since I don't have that machine, I couldn't tell you definitely, but my best suggestion would be to significantly lower the amount of water you use in the mixture. How much brand name cleaner do they suggest you use? I'd put that much water in with the other ingredients and go from there. Let me know how it turns out if you decide to go that route!
I tried this on my light beige carpet with my Little Green machine. Worked like a charm! Thank you!
Could you add a couple of drops of essential/scented oils for a "fresh" fragrance?
I've never tried that, but I'm sure you could.
@Mark, I was thinking the same thing but worried the oils could stain. Did you try that out?
Hi can this be used on suede furniture
I wouldn't recommend it for suede. Suede and leather require special care, and this mixture probably wouldn't be appropriate.
@Louise Emery, I have microfiber suede furniture. Do you think this would be unsafe for it? I need to clean where the dogs lay and slobber on the furniture.
I'm not sure. I've never tried it on microfiber. Maybe test in an inconspicuous area first?
Hey I wonder if substituting vinegar for the peroxide would work well. Might have to try!
On the video, the picture shows vinegar… is it part of the solution?
It was originally in a very small amount, but we determined it's just as effective without it.
Hi! When you say "hydrogen peroxide" do you mean the 3% hydrogen peroxide solution that one might purchase at the drug store in the first aid section? Or is there another format it is available in that I am unaware of!?
Yes. That is exactly what I'm talking about.
Hey there! Have you tried this solution on white fabrics? My mom was concerned about the hydrogen peroxide turning things a yellow-ish colour... have you ever had any issue with this or with it bleaching darker colours?
You can always try it without the peroxide. You still might see some good results.
The homemade solution worked great! I used 1/4 cup vinegar instead of peroxide and it still worked great! Rented a Little Green machine and cleaned upholstery on my dining room chairs and other upholstered chairs- they came out like new!
I just finished cleaning a couch and ottoman with your diy solution! It worked great! I had a strong patchouli smell to get rid of, not so much dirt or stains, and wow! Everything smells fresh and clean again!!
Thank you!!!!!!
HI, what percentage is the hydrogen peroxide you use? Most of what we can get is 3% Thanks.
That should work just fine. Low percentages still work well in this solution.
Giving this DIY solution a try on a couch. It seems to be working great but it’s very sudsy. Even after rinsing a second time with plain water lots of bubbles are still coming up and I worry about soap residue attracting dirt. I’m using Dawn Platinum Advanced liquid. Should I be using less of the Dawn? Thanks!!
It's probably the higher end Dawn doing that. It's probably more concentrated. I'd definitely use less.
@Louise Emery, hi was curious what specific dish soap you use? TIA
I used Gain.
There is a need to be careful with hydrogen peroxide on colored fabrics as hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent
There's so little of it in the recipe. In my experience I've never had anything become discolored using this formula.
Can I use this solution for my Bissell quick steamer multi surface? It's similar to a vacuum cleaner.
I don't have that model, so I'm not sure.
It's not too soapy? That's a lot of dish soap....but I cannot argue with your success! I just picked up a used (like new!) Bissell SpotBot and I have no cleaning fluid at all, so I guess yours gets first shot. Thanks for this.
We didn't find that 1.5 tablespoons in 6 cups of water to be too soapy, but some dish soaps are more concentrated than others. Feel free to decrease the amount if you're seems too soapy.
In your video is says you used vinegar but in this post it's not shown. I'm so confused, do I use the vinegar or not?
I'm trying to clean a recliner that was gifted to me that smells very musty, like old basement.
After some trial and error, I realized that the vinegar isn't really needed. I amended the recipe, but I haven't re-edited the video. Just make it according to the recipe on the post. Hope it works for you!
Thank you! Worked great!
Awesome! So glad it helped you!
Thank you soooo much for this post. It's almost 20 dollars a bottle up her in Canada 🇨🇦.
You are a life saver; bonus for being able to choose one's own preferred dish detergent fragrance!
So glad it's helpful!
Thank you! for all your wisdom on cleaning sofa's. I will dry your formula I haven't been impressed with the store bought for the Green Machine.
Go Cowboys!
Grady O'
Thank you for the great DIY cleaning idea. What % of Hydrogen Peroxide did you use? I see in Walmart they sell 3% solution, but you can get 5% and even as high as 12% on Amazon.
Thanks!
I used 3%. Just the common household type is fine.
I received the little green Bissell machine last week. First time used their product on my couch. I didn't do such a great job and noticed when dry my errors. Then I used this formula on same couch and could tell it worked BETTER than Bissel's product. I became a cleaning machine myself after that. Personally, I will use a bit less dish soap. I spray, scrub, suck dry. Happy! Thank you.
P.S. Vinegar is a great odor eliminator. Where/Could you add/substitute in your mix?
So glad it worked so well for you!
What kind of dish soap? Would dawn be too bubbly?
Any kind you want to use should work.
Hi. It's important to know what's actually in the Bissell cleaning fluid to better understand the process. H2O2 is a bleaching agent. Thanks.
I tried it.....IT WORKS GREAT!!!!
Try spraying the furniture or rug with the solution and using only warm h20 in the machine to flush it out it really works better and your machine will live much longer.
Great idea!
Thank for this! I have a question, did you use any dish soap or dish washer soap (which doesn't create foam)?
Definitely dish soap for the sink, not dishwasher detergent.
I tried it and found the dish soap way too sudsy, so the second round I used liquid laundry detergent for a far better result.
Interesting! Glad the adjustment worked for you.
What dish soap did you use?
Dawn, but I've found that any dish soap has worked for me.
Thank you so much for this DIY upholstery cleaner. I will will be getting the the Bissell Little Green Machine delivered from Amazon soon & was shocked when I priced the cleaning solution.
What a blessing to find your video & get your recipe! I'm looking forward to trying it out!
Do you have any other DIY recipes?
Have you tried this DIY recipe for powdered "All Purpose Cleaning Powder" that can be used for laundry detergent, dishes, scouring.....? It only has three ingredients, 1c. salt (cheap salt, whatever salt you want to use), 1 1/2c. washing soda & 1 1/2c baking soda. Mix & store in a glass jar. Use 1-3 TBSP per load of laundry. It cleans my laundry better that my former laundry detergent, my laundry is softer & it removes smells. It also takes up less space on my shelf.
This recipe comes from another YouTube video.
I'll have to give that one a try! Thanks!
I can't wait to try this on our sofa.
? Did you soak your ottoman/ sofa cushions with solution and the use machine to immediately soak up water? And it's normally still damp after a clean did you air dry each piece or just keep using machine till almost dry. I'm afraid of the cushions not getting dry all.the way through if they get soaked.
We did not soak it in the solution, just applied it generously, and almost immediately used the machine to suck up all the solution. We always just let it air dry as the machine removes almost all the wetness.
Hello,
Just curious where the white vinegar comes in? Also does the peroxide “bleach” the upholstery? I don’t want it to go that. Otherwise this sounds pretty easy to use! Thanks!
After publishing, we learned that the vinegar might possibly react with the peroxide, so we took it out of the recipe. We've used it many times without the vinegar with the same results. Vinegar was just for deodorizing. I've never had the peroxide bleach anything in that small of an amount in the mixture.
I used this on my couc with a bissell little green multi clean. There was enough solution to do 2 rounds of cleaning. Before sucking the liquid back up, I used a cleaning brush in circular motion and my couch now looks new again. I wish I could send pics bc the change was DRASTIC!! Our light blue couch had nasty black liquid stains all over it from food/soup and diaper accidents and more. And now it looks totally new
Thabks for the info, this is exactly what I was looking for. I assume you used store bought 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. Is there a specific blend/concentration you used in the 1/4 cup?
Not sure about this; the dish soap caused far too many suds for it to be good for my machine. I’ll try substituting dish soap for wool wash as it doesn’t cause as many suds.