Upholstery Brush

• This common vacuum attachment cleans your upholstered furniture.brush image by Albo from Fotolia.com
  
  Chances are, you already own the tool you need to clean your upholstered furniture. Most upright and canister vacuums come equipped with an attachment designed for this purpose. The attachment may have a small rectangular flat head or may be round and ringed by dense bristles intended to loosen any small debris from your furniture's surface; the upholstery brush provides reduced suction and the buffer of bristles to protect the fabric. By affixing this attachment to the hose, you can vacuum your chairs and sofas effectively.
  
  

Handheld Vacuum

• Instead of hauling your heavy upright or canister vacuum out of the closet each time you need to sweep the couch, you may wish to use a handheld vacuum. These small appliances plug in to an electrical outlet and are designed to be operated with one hand due to their lightweight and maneuverability. Less powerful than a full-size vacuum, a handheld vacuum can reach the crevices and curves of your furniture more comfortably in some cases.
  
  

Steam Cleaner

• When you need to remove a buildup of debris or a stain, a steam cleaner will provide both a suctioning action and a water-based solution to conquer discoloration of your upholstery fabric. Most rental steam cleaners have a small upholstery attachment that will enable you to address your heavier vacuuming needs that also require stain removal.
  
  

Wet/Dry Vacuum

• You'll find another option in your garage. Often referred to as a "shopvac," these indoor-outdoor powerhouses are as adept at vacuuming your upholstered furniture as they are at detailing your vehicle or cleaning up a spill. Select the upholstery attachment or the small rectangular vehicle interior attachment, and vacuum the surface of your soft furniture. The large capacity reservoir and long cord characteristic of the wet/dry vacuum make the task less arduous to complete by increasing your reach with the attachments.