Coffee stains can be very tricky when it comes to cleaning them, without being cautious when cleaning, they can easily spread to other areas. Therefore, in order to assist you in getting rid of coffee stains, this article explains how you can get rid of coffee stains on your carpet.
Are coffee stains permanent?
Coffee stains are not permanent. Whether the stains are fresh or old, there are certain ways that can be used to remove these stains. However, old coffee stains are difficult to remove as compared to fresh stains.
How to Clean Fresh Coffee out of Carpet
To clean fresh coffee stains out of the carpet, you will need to have the following items:
- Paper towels or cloth
- Coldwater
- Stain Remover
1. Blot the Moisture
The moment you spill coffee on your carpet, immediately get a paper towel or a white cloth. You should apply this to the coffee stain and let the cloth or towel absorb as much coffee as possible.
Do not use the cloth to scrub or rub the area because this will cause the stain to spread. Rather, press the cloth or paper towel into the carpet to allow it to absorb or soak up the moisture. If the towel has absorbed so much, replace it with a new towel and continue to do this, only stop when most of the liquid has been absorbed.
2. Dilute the Coffee
Once you notice that the cloth is not soaking up any more liquid, get a new one. After that, get a small amount of water and pour it over the coffee stain. Make sure to not overdo this, because your goal is to only dilute the coffee rather than soak it.
Using your cloth, blot the stain. Make an effort to absorb as much water as possible. You may also have to repeat the process several times to get the desired results.
3. Apply a Stain Remover
Once you are satisfied that the water has done its work, it is now time to add a stain remover. Here, any brand of your choice can be used. However, if this is your first time using the product, a patch test should be done.
Follow the instructions on the bottle, spray the stain but do not go overboard. Some cleaners can get trapped in your carpet and might collect dirt, therefore, making your carpet look unclean. Rinse the carpet with water. After rinsing, use a towel to blot it. Repeat this process as needed until the product is gone.
4. Dry the Spot
Always allow your carpet to dry completely after applying water or other substances to it, never leave it with a wet or moist base as this might cause mould or mildew to grow. You can use a paper towel or a ceiling fan. After it has dried, you can restore its texture using a vacuum. You can also use a hairbrush to separate the fibres.
How to Get Old Coffee Stains Out of Carpet
Getting rid of old coffee stains is a little bit harder as compared to getting rid of fresh stains. The following are the materials you will need to deal with old coffee stains:
Clean cloths
Dish Soap
Carpet stain remover
Coldwater
Ammonia (optional)
1. Dampen the Stain
It is critical to soften the stain first before you begin cleaning. Take a small amount of water and apply it to the spill. Then wait a few minutes so that the stain can loosen up.
Next, take a clean cloth and press it on the stain to soak up the liquid. Keep dabbing the cloth until all the liquid has been transferred onto the cloth or towel. If the stain disappears, you can go to the drying step as explained above. However, if it is still there, you will need to use something stronger to get rid of the stain.
2. Dishwashing Detergent Solution (for Wool Carpets)
If your carpet is made of wool or wool mixture, try combining mild dishwashing detergent with water. In a cup of water, add about three drops of the detergent. Then, soak a cloth in the mixture and use this cloth to sponge the stained area.
Work in an outward blotting movement to the centre, leave the area untouched for approximately 5 minutes before taking a new cloth to remove the liquids.
3. Ammonia Solution (for Non-Wool Carpets)
This is a very good choice if your carpet is not made of wool or wool blend. To use ammonia solution, you add one tablespoon of ammonia to a cup of water. A patch test is recommended before you do it on the whole carpet because not everything works well with ammonia, a patch test will ensure that you don’t cause damage to your carpet.
To your patch test area, apply a small amount of the solution and let it sit for 20 minutes. I do not notice any reaction, then you can go ahead. To treat your stained area, take a clean cloth and soak this in the solution. Next blot the stained area to cover it and allow it to sit for about 3 to 5 minutes.
Next, take two clean towels, one should be dry and another should be water drenched. Blot the area with the dry towel and the wet towel in an alternative manner. This will help to rinse out the mixture.
When the ammonia solution has been rinsed out, take another clean towel. This should also be used to soak the area until the liquid is completely gone. More than one clean cloth may be used.
4. Dry and Finish
Let the carpet dry completely once everything is completed. You can also use a wet vacuum to dry the carpet if it is available.
How to Clean Coffee and Cream Spills
You will require the following items:
Clean Cloths and Paper towels
Enzyme based carpet stain remover
Water
1. Blot the Spill
Start blotting the coffee spills with a dry cloth or paper towels if the spill happened recently. Make sure to soak up much liquid without scraping the carpet fibres.
2. Dilute With Water
If you are dealing with an old coffee stain or dried coffee, start by applying water in order to dilute it. Then go on blotting it. Apply cold water to the stain or spill. Next, use a paper towel or a clean white cloth to absorb the liquid by dabbing the cloth or towel on the spill. Repeat a couple of times and add some water and keep blotting.
3. Apply an Enzyme-Based Stain Remover
It is advisable to use enzyme-based stain removers since they contain protein. These work well to prevent odours and bacteria by breaking down all the proteins. Most stain removers perform really well.
Alternative Cleaning Solutions
Sometimes you may not have the right requirements to use the methods above. No need to worry, there are other alternative methods that can be used.
1. Lemon Juice and Water
Lemon Juice is a safe and effective stain remover. When used alone, it serves as a bleaching or whitening agent. Lemon juice can be used to get rid of stains from a variety of surfaces including cups, carpets and clothing. It is a very powerful agent, therefore, should only be used on white or light colours in order to avoid discolouration.
To make lemon juice stain remover, start by getting fresh lemons. After that, squeeze some of the juice (about a quarter) from the lemons into a cup. Get two cups of lukewarm water and mix this with the lemon juice. Then put this mixture into a spray bottle and use it as a stain remover. Remember to do a patch test before using it completely.
2. Club Soda
If you have soda readily available, then cleaning up stains will be easy for you. However, it is important to use basic soda instead of flavoured or coloured soda which your carpet won’t really like.
Here, you will need club soda. This can be poured directly onto the stain or you can put it in a spray bottle. After applying it to the stain, wait for some time. Finish up the process by blotting with a cloth.
3. Vinegar and Dishwashing Detergent
If you like to use vinegar, this is for you. Start by mixing 1 tablespoon of vinegar with one tablespoon of dish soap or detergent. Then put the mixture in a bottle and add two glasses of lukewarm water, stir the mixture.
Apply the mixture to the stain and allow it to stay untouched for a few minutes. Then use a cloth to blot the stain. This method of removing stains is also effective just make sure to test a small area first before you try on a large area.
How to Get Coffee Smell out of Carpet
1. Prep the Carpet
The first step is to prepare your carpet. This involves vacuuming the carpet once it has been completed after the stains have been removed. Ensure that you remove all the dirt from your carpet so that the treatment is effective.
2. Sprinkle With Baking Soda
After cleaning the carpet, sprinkle your baking soda all over the carpet, this should be done liberally. Make an effort to cover the area as much as possible. Let it sit for a few hours, you can also leave it overnight if possible. Baking soda can neutralize many smells including coffee smells.
3. Repeat With Vacuum
After the baking soda has neutralized the smell, you can now vacuum your carpet. When vacuuming, make sure to do it thoroughly without leaving any powder behind. Once this is done, your carpet should have retained its normal smell.
Does hydrogen peroxide remove coffee stains from the carpet?
Hydrogen peroxide is a very good cleaning solution that can also be used to clean coffee stains from the carpet. However, this agent is not suitable for all carpet types. To determine if you can use hydrogen peroxide on your carpet, be sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions before using it.
To use hydrogen peroxide to remove coffee stains, add ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap or detergent to one cup of hydrogen peroxide. Make sure to do a patch test first before using the mixture to be on the safe side. After that use a clean cloth and start blotting the area to get in as much liquid as possible and then use a sponge or a cloth to apply the mixture to the area. Keep changing the clothes if they get dry. Once the spot is gone, let the area dry out completely.
How do you use baking soda to get coffee out of the carpet?
Baking soda can be used to get rid of the coffee stains from the carpet while neutralizing the smell at the same time. To use baking soda, here is what you do:
- Use a cloth or a liquid to absorb the liquid on the area
- Add a small amount of white vinegar to the stain
- Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the stain and cover the whole stained area
- Leave it for about 15 minutes
- Vacuum the carpet and make sure all the baking soda is gone
- Dry the carpet completely using a fan or let it air dry
