A piping hot cup of coffee is hard to beat, but in the event of an accident where the beverage spills onto a carpet, it's important to know how to remove the stain.
Here are the steps to take:
Dealing with fresh coffee stains Acting quickly is key when it comes to removing fresh coffee stains. Blotting up the liquid before it has a chance to set into the carpet fibers makes stain removal easier. Even if you don't have any specialized carpet cleaners or stain removal agents on hand, there's no need to panic.
All you'll need are some basic household items:
Absorbent paper towels
A clean, white cloth
Dishwashing liquid
White wine vinegar
To make a homemade coffee stain remover, mix equal parts vinegar and dishwashing liquid with two cups of warm water.
One tablespoon of each cleaning ingredient should suffice.
Step 1: Blot the spill Fold the paper towel a few times to increase its absorbency and prevent it from falling apart. Use the paper towel to blot up the spill. If you don't have paper towels, a clean, dry hand towel or dishcloth can be used instead.
Once most of the coffee has been soaked up, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Lift the stain Dampen the white cloth with the soap and vinegar solution and gently blot the stain.
Apply a small amount of the solution at a time and work from the outside of the stain inward to prevent it from spreading.
Avoid rubbing the area, as this can push the remaining coffee deeper into the carpet pile. Continue adding the solution and blotting until the stain disappears.
Step 3: Rinse and air dry Using a clean cloth or towel, liberally blot the entire area with cold water.
Once the soap and vinegar solution has been properly removed, open all the doors and windows in the room. This allows the carpet to air dry.
Tips for removing old coffee stains from carpet
Getting rid of old, dry coffee stains takes more effort and a slightly different approach. The first step is to dab the area with warm water. It moistens the stain and helps loosen its “grip” on the carpet. Continue blotting the area with warm water to remove as much of the stain as possible. Then clean and rinse the area using the same home remedy and methods outlined above.
You may have to rinse and repeat several times to lift a stubborn stain. If that doesn’t work, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda onto the dampened stain.
Once dry, vacuum the carpet.
Need help removing coffee stains from the carpet? We offer professional cleaning of carpets and rugs in Edinburgh. Contact us for more information or a quotation and we’ll be happy to help.