Lots of us can’t function without our morning coffee – and that morning grogginess has led to more than a few accidents. One slip of our hands and our precious brew is suddenly all over the carpet, causing a terrifying stain.
Now: don’t panic! A coffee stain isn’t the end of the world, and can easily be cleaned.
How to get a coffee stain out of carpet? For fresh coffee stains, you can use white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or baking soda. Dried coffee spills will need to be re-wet before you can effectively clean them.
(You might also have to clean coffee out of your clothes, too.)
Set another batch to brew, then roll up your sleeves! It’s time to learn how to get coffee out of carpet.
Before Removing Coffee Stains
For fresh coffee spills, get into action immediately. Blot the coffee spill to absorb as much liquid as you can – the less coffee that soaks into the fibres, the better. Use paper towels or clean rags, and move to a fresh section once one part is soaked through.
Remember – to remove coffee stains, don’t scrub! You could damage the fibres and will just push the coffee into the carpet.
While blotting the stain, work from the outside-in to prevent spreading.
Once you’ve blotted the spilled coffee, it’s time to get the stains out of carpet. Before using any cleaning solution, test it on a small, inconspicuous area to make sure you won’t damage your carpet.
Check the material of your carpet and if it has any special cleaning instructions. In the case of delicate or specialised fibres, it may be better to hire professional carpet cleaners.
How to Remove Fresh Coffee Stains from Carpet
To remove a fresh coffee stain, use one of the following methods:
- White vinegar
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
Make sure the cleaning solution you choose will not damage your carpet’s fibres.
After using your preferred stain remover, you can vacuum the carpet to fluff it up and lift the matted fibres.
Remove coffee stains using vinegar
Start by diluting the coffee stain with water. Pour small amounts onto the stain, then blot all the liquid using a cloth. Repeat until there is barely any coffee transfer.
Mix 1 tbsp of vinegar and 1 tbsp of liquid dish soap in 2 cups of warm water. Do not use dish soap or detergent that has a bleaching agent.
Dip a clean rag or sponge into the mixture, and dab it onto the stain, working outside in. Be careful not to oversaturate the carpet.
Use another clean cloth to blot some clean water onto the carpet to remove any residue. Then let the carpet air dry, or use a dry cloth.
NOTE: This method will also work to remove coffee stains from wool carpet!
Remove coffee stains using hydrogen peroxide
You’ll want to be a bit more careful using this cleaning solution, so test first before applying! After you’ve blotted as much coffee as you’re able, mix 1 cup hydrogen peroxide with 1/2 tsp dish soap. Stir well.
Dip a clean cloth in the mixture and dab it onto the stained area. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes.
Use a fresh cloth dampened with clean water to rinse the area, then blot it dry.
Remove coffee stains using baking soda
Baking soda is also an excellent stain remover. Mix 1 part baking soda to 3 parts water, forming a paste. Apply the paste in a thin layer on the stained portion of the carpet and let it sit for 20 minutes.
Once the paste has absorbed the coffee and dried out, you can vacuum the residue. Repeat until the stain has lifted.
How to Remove Old Coffee Stains from Carpet
If you have dried coffee or an old coffee stain, don’t panic! It’s not necessarily permanent.
Start by rehydrating the stain using some warm water. Use a sponge to dab water onto the old coffee stains so that the residue loosens. This will also help lift some of the stain off the fibres.
Mix 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp dish soap, and 2 cups water together. Use a sponge to apply the solution to the old coffee spill, then rinse with a cloth dipped in clean water. Let the carpet dry fully.
How to Remove Coffee with Milk from Carpet
If you’ve mixed milk in your coffee, you’ll need an enzyme laundry detergent or similar enzymatic cleaner. These will break down the proteins in milk and prevent any unpleasant odours from building up.
Rinse the affected area and blot dry before using another carpet stain remover.
How to Get Coffee Stains Out of a Car Carpet
A lot of us have our morning cup on the go, which means we’ve had the occasional accident in the car. Fortunately, removing coffee stains from a car carpet is similar to removing them from a regular carpet.
Unless your coffee spilled while you were parked, you’re not likely to get to the stain right away. If the coffee spill is fresh, blot it up right away; if it’s dried slightly, re-wet it with some warm water and blot it afterwards.
Mix 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tbsp dish soap, and 2 cups of water. Apply the mixture to the stain using a clean rag or sponge, working until the stain has lifted. Then dab the area with water to rinse it before letting the carpet dry.
Keep Your Carpets Clean
It’s important to know how to get a coffee stain out of carpet, alongside other tips and tricks (removing red wine, for instance). But it’s also important to keep your living room neat and tidy – even if you clean the stain, if the rest of the room is dirty, well… that won’t look good.
TIP: Make things easier for yourself and get professional home cleaners to take care of that for you!
