Especially if we drink it black, coffee stains can be some of the most obvious household spillages. If we have a light carpet in the room, the stains are even more visible. Although coffee can stain clothes, upholstery and even wood, coffee stains on the carpet are one of the most common. This is mainly due to the size of the carpet and the fact that gravity draws the coffee to it.
At oneHOWTO, we provide 10 effective tips on how to remove coffee stains from carpet. You will see that these can work wonders on restoring a white carpet's original brilliance, but will be also be great on many other textiles as well.
Hydrogen peroxide
Coffee stains on white carpet must be treated gently to keep the carpet's color. For this reason, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent household cleaner. Use the product by following these steps:
- Apply the hydrogen peroxide directly to the stained area of the white carpet with a clean cloth.
- Wait 10 minutes for the product to act on the fabric.
- After this time, wash the area with a suitable cleaner.
Hydrogen peroxide is also used for bleaching hair and other things, but we need to note that we cannot use the same solution for all surfaces. When using it to clean your carpet, use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. It's not just great for cleaning carpets, as you can see in our article on different household uses for hydrogen peroxide.
Soda water
Need to find out how to remove coffee stains fast? Using soda water only works if you take immediate action. If you let the coffee stain seep into the carpet, it won't be effective.
- Apply the soda water to the coffee stain to clarify it.
- Leave it for a few minutes for the sparkling water to work, preventing the stain from settling into the fabric.
- To completely remove the stain, wash with your regular carpet cleaner.
Egg yolk
Egg yolk is effective in removing sticky coffee stains on wool carpets and similar textiles. You just need to dilute the egg yolk with water and rub the solution gently on the clothing stain.
After rubbing the stain with the diluted yolk, wait a few minutes for it to work with the fabric. Afterwards, wash with normal carpet cleaner. This will not work on bright white carpets as they can yellow a little.
Salt and dish soap
Another effective trick if used quickly is to use salt and dish soap (Dawn brand is particularly good). Immediately after the spillage, pour over the salt to the coffee stain. This will help absorbe the liquid and prevent it from seeping into the carpet fibers. Leave it on for about 10 to 15 minutes (longer if it is a big spill) and wash with dish soap solution. Do not apply the dish soap directly.
If you have spilled coffee on somewhere other than your carpet, you can try this article on how to remove coffee stains from your shoes.
Ice, water and alcohol
Ice and alcohol will help you remove coffee stains on synthetic fabrics. You should rub them with cubes or crushed ice to remove the stain. Afterwards, rinse with a brush soaked in water and a few drops of cleaning alcohol. Finally, wash the carpet as you would normally.
Bicarbonate of soda
Bicarbonate of soda (or baking soda) is effective in removing coffee stains from carpets, although it can also be used on fabrics of all kinds. Leave the baking soda on the coffee stain as with salt, let is absorb and clean with your carpet cleaner.
Bicarbonate of soda can be used on a variety of textiles, something you can learn about more in our article on how to clean a mattress using baking soda.
Alcohol and white vinegar
A mixture of alcohol and white vinegar is effective in removing coffee stains from carpets and rugs. First, rub the surface stains with cold water to absorb the coffee and remove the larger remains. Then follow these steps:
- Rub the stain with a dry sponge.
- Rub the stain again, but in this case with a soft bristle brush dipped in the mixture of white vinegar and 90º alcohol. The mixture must be balanced, i.e. in a ratio of equal parts.
- Spread the solution in the direction of the carpet fibers. Occasionally, reverse it so that the mixture runs through the inside of the stain, while avoiding spoiling the surface.
- Finally, dry the carpet or rug with a clean, dry cloth.
Carpets are not the only type of flooring you can clean with vinegar. Check out our article on how to clean marble floors with vinegar to learn more.
Commercial stain remover
The stain removers you will find in stores supermarkets also work to remove coffee stains from carpets. Apply them by following these steps:
- Pour a small dose of the stain remover on the affected area of the carpet.
- Wait a few minutes for the product to act.
- Rub to finish off the coffee stain.
- Clean the carpet with a more general carpet cleaner.
See how to remove other tough stains from the floor with our article on how to clean vomit stains from carpets.
Baby wipes
Although the uses of baby wipes are wide-ranging, few people know that they are used to remove coffee stains from upholstery and carpets. They manage to absorb stains and moisture caused by almost any liquid.
Although a good alternative for upholstery, use baby wipes on fresh coffee stains. If you let time pass and they dry out, it will be more difficult to remove them with these wipes.
Hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice
Finally, one of our most effective tips to clean a carpet is to add a little lemon juice to your hydrogen peroxide solution. Lemon is nature's cleanser and its acidic nature can help counteract the coffee stain in the carpet. You could add to the stain if you put the lemon juice on directly, but mixing it with hydrogen peroxide not only helps clean tough stains, but it will help to leave the carpet smelling fresh afterwards.
Now you know how to clean coffee stains from carpets, you may have another stain you want to get rid of. See how to clean blackcurrant juice from carpets for more information.
If you want to read similar articles to How to Remove Coffee Stains From Carpet, we recommend you visit our Home cleaning category.