It has happened to everyone: you are sipping your morning espresso, getting ready for the day, and one slight slip of the hand results in a coffee-stained carpet.
Fortunately, even though coffee has a high potential for permanent staining, a coffee spill doesn’t have to result in a ruined carpet. There are some reliable and easy ways to get coffee stains out of a rug, whether you act fast or are returning to an old stain. Keep reading for our top five insider tips on how to remove coffee stains from carpets.
1. Blot, Don’t Rub
The worst mistake you can make when trying to get rid of a coffee stain is to start rubbing it. A rubbing motion will spread the stain and will cause the coffee to get stuck in the carpet fibers.
Instead, use a blotting motion to remove coffee stains. Select a clean white cloth and blot at the fresh coffee stain until no more coffee is being transferred onto your towel. Then, repeat the process with another clean towel and some cold water.
2. Work From the Outside
While blotting, work from the outside of the stain in towards the center. Sometimes, spilled coffee will pool where it has been spilled. This means that rapid blotting may cause the coffee to spill over and spread.
If you do this, your coffee stain will become even bigger! Avoid that by starting at the outer edges of the stain.
3. Make Your Own Cleansing Solution
If blotting with cold water doesn’t remove the stain, you can use a store-bought cleaning solution. You can also clean up coffee stains using ingredients found in your house.
Try mixing 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water. Blot it onto the stain, and remove it by blotting again with cold water.
You can also try a recipe of 1 cup hydrogen peroxide with half a teaspoon of dish soap. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before blotting it out. Just check your carpet label first to make sure the color won’t be affected by hydrogen peroxide.
Pro-tip: if your coffee had cream and sugar in it, try mixing 1 cap-full of enzyme laundry detergent with one 1 cup of warm water. This will help break down the milk and sugar.
4. Use a Wet-Dry Vacuum
Not everybody has a wet-dry vacuum on hand. But if you do, you can use it during a coffee stain emergency. After dabbing on your solution of choice, you can use the wet vacuum setting to clean it up. Hopefully, the coffee stain will come out right away!
5. Call the Pros
The above tips are all highly effective, but some coffee stains are just too monstrous to get out by yourself. When this is the case, it’s time to call a professional.
Most professionals can make your carpet look as good as new. Additionally, hiring an expert is much cheaper than buying a new carpet!
How to Remove Coffee Stains From Carpets: DIY Solutions
Most people think that a coffee stain means they have to get rid of their carpet, but that’s not the case! The above five tips will help you figure out how to remove coffee stains from carpets like a pro.
Unfortunately, coffee isn’t the only carpet criminal out there… keep reading our blog for solutions to other troublesome stains!
