How to Use Products You Have at Home to Remove Spots from Your Carpets
One of the most common spots we encounter while cleaning carpets is coffee stains. Coffee can ruin a pristine carpet or oriental rug. Many of our clients worry about these stains and ask how to clean a coffee spill to prevent it from becoming a permanent stain. If not addressed immediately, coffee spots can become permanent. Here’s how you can effectively spot clean coffee spills.
How to Remove Coffee Spots from Your Carpet Using Household Products
Knowing how to handle coffee spills can save you money on service calls and help prevent permanent stains. As professionals, we have access to specialized products and training to remove nearly any spot from your carpet. However, as a homeowner, you can still take effective steps with common household items. Learn how to remove a coffee spot to save on carpet cleaning services.
Remember, the key to effective coffee stain removal is acting quickly. Fresh spots are easier to clean than dried ones.
Using too many cleaning solutions can turn a coffee spot into a stain. Over the years, we’ve learned that stain removal cannot be guaranteed.
First, Determine If the Coffee Was Hot or Cold
If the coffee was hot, you’ll need to be more cautious, and the cleaning process will take more time. Hot coffee on colored carpets or oriental rugs made of wool or silk might cause bleeding. Conduct a bleeding test before spot cleaning to ensure the dyes are stable.
Materials Needed for Coffee Spot Removal
- 2 spray bottles with nozzles
- Dish soap (Dawn Soap is recommended)
- White paper towels (avoid colored towels)
- Patience
You’ll need plenty of paper towels for this task.
Why Use White Paper Towels for Spot Cleaning?
Using colored paper towels can transfer dye to your carpet or rug, causing additional stains. This is known as dye migration. For oriental rugs with bright colors, especially if the coffee was hot, using white paper towels helps prevent color bleeding and damage.
How to Prepare Your Spotting Solution
Fold a white paper towel and apply pressure to the spot to blot up the coffee. You’ll need a lot of paper towels. Continue blotting until you remove as much coffee as possible. Be sure to use clean sections of the towel to avoid spreading the stain.
After blotting, mix 16 oz of water with a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. Shake well to combine. Spray the solution onto the spot, working it into the fibers with a butter knife. Wait for about 5 minutes, then blot the area repeatedly until no more coffee color comes out. Always work from the edges of the spot towards the center and avoid scrubbing, as this can damage the fibers.
Be patient; this process may take time and repeated effort.
Why Rinse with Water After Spot Cleaning?
Leaving detergent residue can lead to quicker re-soiling. Rinsing with clean water helps dilute and remove the soap residue, ensuring a longer-lasting clean. Blot the area dry and, if possible, use a carpet cleaner, shampooer, or shop vac to speed up drying.
Conclusion for Coffee Stain Removal
Here’s a summary of the steps: use paper towels to blot the spot, apply your homemade spot cleaner, work it into the fibers, blot the area, rinse with clean water, and blot again. Keep working on the spot until it is clean. If you need assistance or don’t have the time to clean the spot yourself, call Rodriguez Cleaning & Restoration, your Louisville professional carpet and oriental rug cleaning experts.
