If you have no intention to hire professionals to clean upholstery furniture for any reason, you can do it yourself in the home. Several upholstery cleaners are available at stores. Rather than getting one from shops, you can make use of products at home which you come across every day.
1. Homemade alcohol and Vinegar upholstery cleaner:
It is quick and easy to prepare. Mix half a cup of rubbing alcohol, half a cup of distilled white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil. Take the mixture in a small spray bottle. Apply the cleaning mix over the stubborn stains like ink on your upholstery furnitures like sofa and couch. The rubbing alcohol dissolves the stains, whereas the white vinegar removes dust, dirt, food crumbs and so on. Using essential oil is purely optional. As it gives a pleasant odour you can use it if you wish. The cleaning process is quite cheap.
2. DIY Upholstery Cleaner for pet urine:
Pet urine stains and the odour resulting from it can ruin your furniture. However, with proper home care, upholstery furniture can be salvaged. Mix a half cup of water and two tablespoons of vinegar and using a piece of cloth, dab the mixture sparingly at the stain. After a few minutes, clean the area worth a dry cloth. You can add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide if you want to get rid of the odour. Sprinkling baking soda over the acidic urine stain not only neutralizes the urine but also deodorize the fabric.
Bottom line:
Professional upholstery cleaning and for that matter, professional carpet cleaning are the best ways to kill the allergens and bacteria and keep the place healthy while DIY helps to remove the stains that happen during normal day to day use.
If you do opt to clean the upholstery yourself, get good solid advice from a friend or family member who has done this before and can give you hands-on advice.
There are many people who have read tips on how to do it but have never cleaned any upholstery themselves. Needless to say, they should be avoided and their advice taken with a pinch of salt, as the saying goes.
Test a small area first before you tackle the parts that are visable and if in any doubt call in the pros who will definitely be able to help. After all, it is their job. Good luck with your project.