I Just Learned 6 Different Ways to Remove Coffee Stains from Carpet
There’s nothing like a good cup of coffee in the morning. But that peaceful calm can quickly be shattered when your cup tips over, especially onto your beloved carpet. All is not lost though. “Acting fast is essential,” says Galia Ivanova, founder and CEO of Cleaning Estimate. Here’s how to remove coffee stains from carpet.
6 Ways to Remove Coffee Stains from Carpet
Find out how to remove coffee stains from carpet by using one of the six methods below.
Blot with a cloth.
No matter what follow-up cleaning method you will choose, cleaning experts agree that you should always blot a stain first with a clean white cloth or paper towel to remove as much liquid as possible. Although it’s tempting, never rub or scrub at a fresh stain, as it’ll only serve to spread the mess further.
If you’ve jumped on a coffee stain immediately after a spill, it’s entirely possible that blotting alone could be enough to absorb it. But if not, move on to one of the stain removal options below.
Note: For stubborn stains, you might need to try a cleaning method more than once, or combine it with others for best results. When using commercial products, read the labels carefully to avoid mixing ingredients that shouldn’t be combined.
Try dish soap.
The same stuff you’d use to wash your coffee pot might work just as well on a coffee stain. Dilute a bit with water first — this is a must if you’re using colorful dish soap on a light-colored carpet — and apply to the stain, then dab with a clean cloth until removed.
Apply white vinegar and warm water.
Ivanova recommends mixing white vinegar and warm water in a one-to-two ratio, then applying it to the affected area. The acid in the vinegar will work to dissolve the stain, so blot it with a clean cloth until it is removed.
Follow up with an enzymatic cleaner.
If needed as a follow-up to the white vinegar and warm water mixture, Ivanova likes to use an enzyme-based cleaner, which she calls a “secret weapon” for removing organic stains, like food and drink. As the name suggests, enzymatic cleaners, like this one, contain enzymes, usually lipase and/or protease, that work to dissolve stains and remove odors.
Use baking soda.
Jennie Holmes, branch manager of ServiceMaster Clean, suggests making a paste from baking soda and water and applying it to the affected area to absorb the stain. Once it dries, vacuum up the powder. Holmes notes that while this often does the trick, you might need to repeat the application for better results.
Baking soda is powerful, but you might need a combination of methods for better results. Ivanova likes using baking soda after applying vinegar and/or enzymatic cleaner to the stain. She skips the paste and just sprinkles baking soda over the stain, lets it absorb, and then runs the vacuum. “I once used [this method] in a high-traffic apartment where multiple coffee spills had built up, and this combo saved the day,” Ivanova says.
Go for a commercial carpet treatment.
Reaching for a store-bought carpet cleaner might not be the most surprising tactic on this list, but with so many available on the market, you might not know which one to choose. Taylor Riley, founder of Boom. Facility Service Advisors, swears by Folex Carpet Spot Remover.
After blotting the stain — Riley suggests using a white microfiber cloth — saturate the affected area with Folex. Let it sit for about a minute, then blot again to remove as much of the stain as possible. “If necessary, gently agitate the area to help the stain remover penetrate the fibers, but avoid scrubbing to prevent damaging the carpet or spreading the stain further,” he says.
Mistakes to Avoid
To avoid making a bigger mess of things, take care when removing coffee stains from the carpet:
Always use a clean, white cloth to avoid dye or fiber transfer to the carpet.
Dilute any colorful dish soap first for the same reason.
Dab, don’t rub, so you don’t spread the stain further.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get dried coffee stains out of carpet?
Dampen the spot with a bit of warm water to loosen up the fibers, then dab at the stain with a white cloth and your preferred carpet cleanser.
Are coffee stains in carpets permanent?
They shouldn’t be if you act as quickly as possible to remedy them. However, most experts would say to avoid any treatment with high heat, as that will cause stains to settle into the fibers.
Further Reading
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Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
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