Coffee stains on rugs and carpets: remove them using simple, home remedies
It's great to relax with a cup of coffee in the lounge, bedroom or sitting room. But what about when coffee accidently spills and gets on a valued rug or carpet. Acting promptly reduces the risk of coffee stains from becoming permanent, but what exactly do we need to do? Well, keep reading:
How to remove coffee stains from carpets
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As mentioned above, the key is to act quickly: the quicker you dab up the coffee with absorbent paper towels (or microfibre cloths), the better the chances are that you can prevent the spill getting deep into the carpet's fibers. NOTE: it is important not to rub the spill, but simply dab quickly and lightly to prevent the stain spreading.
Once you've done this, use a suitable carpet stain remover product on the spill. Use this as directed by the manufacturer's instructions. If you prefer a DIY stain removers, you can make one at home as follows:
- Mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with one tablespoon of white vinegar in half a liter of warm water;
- Spray this mixture on a soft, clean cloth;
- Use this cloth to gently rub the stain, moving from the edges to the center of the stain;
- Take a second dry cloth and dab the area until all the liquid residue is removed;
- Rinse with cold water, and dab dry.
And what about old coffee stains?
If the coffee stains are old and dried out, don't panic: there's still something you can do.
First, pour a small amount of hot water on the stain itself: this will help to dissolve the dried coffee. After you have left this hot water to act for a while (and without any dabbing/rubbing), you can try the above-described, stain-removing method.
If there is still some residue after this treatment, you can try using baking soda: when the stain is damp from the cleaning process, sprinkle a tablespoon or two of baking soda on it, then dab with a little of pressure try to get the soda into the fibers. Leave this to act for a while, vacuuming up when dry.
Two useful tools to try on carpet stains
If you have a steam iron at home, it can be a great ally in dealing with various types of stains, including coffee stains on the carpet. In fact, passing a steam iron over a fresh stain greatly increases your chances of completely removing it. And the same thing is true if you use a steam iron to treat an already-dry (old) stain.
If you often have to clean stains of various kinds from upholstery - on sofas, armchairs, mattresses, car seats etc - it is worth considering investing in getting a proper upholstery cleaner with its products kit (and which will be especially useful if you have pets in the home).
