How to Remove Coffee Stains from Your Carpet

Coffee stains in your carpet can be an unwelcome blemish on an otherwise lovely carpet. However, it can be remedied by taking the proper steps, even if you do not have a carpet cleaning machine or spot cleaner. Here are steps on what to do next.

Step By Step Process Of Cleaning Out Coffee Stains

Here are five simple steps to help you remove coffee stains on your carpet. For most effective results, make sure to clean out spills and stains immediately as they occur, to the most practical extent possible.

Of course, you might not be realize a spill has occurred until later. Things like this happen all the time. No matter how hard you try to keep your carpet clean, dirt and stain somehow find their way in. Set-in stains may require additional applications, or using the alternative method explained at the end of this article.

A word of warning whenever you try a detergent or cleaning solution on your carpets: Try it on a small hidden area first. Some cleaning solutions can damage or discolor carpets instead of cleaning them.

Step 1: Treat the stain right away

Coffee stains on your carpet are not difficult to remove if you act quickly. Leaving the coffee stains untreated will only make things worse and more difficult to remove. Attend to it while the stain is still wet.

Step 2: Absorb the stain

Absorb as much as possible. Immediately blot as much of the spilled coffee as possible with paper towel or an absorbent towel or rag. Repeat this step until there is no more wetness on the paper towel or rag.

Step 3: Clean the carpet with a detergent solution

Combine lukewarm water and ¼ cup of dishwashing liquid in a basin. Use a clean white cloth or a household sponge and dip it into the solution. Before dabbing this on the stained area, perform a patch test on a hidden area of the carpet to make sure the solution would not damage the carpet. When you start cleaning the stain, start from the outside of the stain and work towards the center.

Step 4: Apply white vinegar to the spill

Next, mix 1/3 cup of white vinegar or lemon juice and 2/3 cup of water on a basin. Dab it onto the stain and leave it for at least 10 minutes. Remember to take extra care for this solution may leave a residue. Some people skip this step but it can give an extra boost of cleaning power.

Step 5: Rinse and dry

Blot the area of the spill until dry, and rinse it with water. You may use a mister bottle or a clean sponge.

For Aged Set-In Coffee Stains

There are times when the coffee stain is left untreated, so that the stain sets in, making it harder to remove. Or sometimes, the stain is just really stubborn. Here is another step by step instruction to help you remove dry coffee stain:

Step 1: Make a paste of baking soda and water

Create a paste by mixing baking soda and water in a basin. Remember, coffee is an organic product, and so it responds well to organic cleaners.

Step 2: Spread the paste onto the stain

Cover the coffee stain with the mixture. Cover as much fibers of the carpet as possible.

Step 3: Let the paste dry up and lift the stain particles out

After spreading the mixture, allow for at least 3 to 4 hours for the baking soda paste to work its magic and lift the old set-in coffee stain out of the carpet. If it’s not too much trouble, leave it overnight.

Step 4: Remove the dried paste

You should see the baking soda paste turning dark in color as it absorbs the coffee stain particles. Not only does baking soda remove stains, it also removes bad odors.

Brush up the paste residue and voila, your carpet is clean! Sweep out the residue as much as possible. You may consider using a vacuum cleaner at the end, but make sure it is only to clean up the finest leftover residue of the dried out paste. Otherwise, it may clog your vacuum cleaner.

Other tips when cleaning carpet stains:

1. Vinegar is the most reliable cleaning agent for stains. It may stink a little at the beginning, but there is no need to worry since the smell of vinegar quickly fades away.

2. Never rub in the cleaning mixture for it may cause a bigger problem. Just dab the mixture lightly on the carpet to clean out the dirt.

3. Before using any cleaning solution, try it on a small hidden area first. This is recommended because some cleaning solutions actually damage carpets instead of cleaning them.

If the mentioned ways still did not work, do not worry because there are stain-cleaning products sold in the local supermarket. The most recommended are oxygen style removers because they have the ability to eat away stains without harming the fabric.

More tips on removing carpet stains.

Man vs Machine

Cleaning carpet stains manually is possible, but it can be physically taxing and time consuming. Many find the use of carpet cleaning machines produce better results with much less physical exertion and time. If you are curious, here is more information about home carpet cleaning machines.