How to Remove a
Coffee Spill or Stain
from Your Carpet

If you have a fresh new coffee spill on your carpet ...

... stop reading and gather some white paper towels (or a clean white rag) and blot up as much coffee as you can, immediately!

Then come back and read the rest.

Also: Please don't scrub carpet — scrubbing carpet could damage the fibers.
Always blot!

We love to enjoy a daily cup of coffee in our living rooms, or some other carpeted room.

But, someday you will inevitably end spilling that coffee or dropping a cup of java on your carpet.

But, because coffee contains a natural dye, a coffee spill on your carpet could leave an ugly, sticky stain if it's not properly handled quickly.

But don't worry. You can avoid a permanent stain if you take some action quickly.

This article is a guide for handling a fresh coffee spill on your carpet.

I can't impress upon you enough that taking action immediately — while the spill is still fresh — is your best bet to avoid a permanent stain.

I always recommend that you prepare a "carpet spill first-aid kit" in advance, and have it ready to go so that spills won't have a chance to set into a stain.

Warning: Always, before using any cleaning solution on your carpet that you've never used before on this carpet, it's important to test the solution for colorfastness on a small, hidden area of your carpet, or a remnant of your carpet, if you have one.

Note: Commercial products are available that can treat coffee stains — but in this article, we'll focus on a few items you may already have in around your home.

We will use:     

• hydrogen peroxide — 3% solution
• cold water
• spray bottle
• white towel or rag
• wet/dry vacuum (optional)

Blot the Coffee from the Carpet

Use a clean white cloth or purely white paper towels (not ones with fancy colored patterns) and gently blot up the coffee spill. Please don't scrub your carpet, as this could damage the fibers.

Once you've gotten most of the coffee spill up, pour cold water over the coffee stain to dilute it, and blot all the liquid up again.

If you have a wet vac, you could use it to help get up as much liquid as possible.

Next, we will use a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution

Using 3% hydrogen peroxide is an effective way to handle a fresh coffee spill on your carpets. Hydrogen peroxide, however, acts like a gentle bleach. As with any solution you use yourself, it's always a smart idea to test it on a small, hidden part of your carpet to make sure it doesn't do any damage to your particular carpet or affect its color.

Most carpets have a solution dye, so hydrogen peroxide won't affect the color.

Note: If you are at all in doubt about tackling this yourself, and if you want to talk to a professional, we would love to help! Give Flawless a call.

Now that you've tested for colorfastness, and you've blotting up as much of the coffee spill as possible, spray the area with the hydrogen peroxide. Spray a moderate amount, but please don't soak the carpet.

If you don't have a spray bottle handy, you can dab the hydrogen peroxide onto the stain using a sponge or light-colored towel.

Leave the hydrogen peroxide on the carpet to work its magic until it has dried.

Then rinse the spot by spraying (or dabbing with a towel or sponge) the area lightly with cool water. Blot again with a clean white towel, gently lifting and pinching the carpet fibers until the moisture is mostly removed.

Do you still see a stain? Repeat the steps above once more.

Conclusion

This "first-aid" method to remove coffee stains from carpet may be enough, but we can't guarantee any do-it-yourself methods.

For a stubborn coffee stain, you might need a professional carpet cleaner.

To arrange top-rated professional carpet cleaning, please give us a call at Flawless today for a free estimate.

831-632-2000

I serve fellow Monterey Bay area residents and businesses in Salinas, Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, and surrounding communities.

If you have any questions about this article, or anything related to cleaning carpet, upholstery, tile and grout, windows, and maintaining a healthy home, please feel free to give me a call, and I'll be happy to help.

To your clean and healthy home!

 
~ Raymond Romero, owner
Flawless Cleaning Systems
Salinas, Monterey, Carmel, Gilroy CA