How to Remove Tea and Coffee Stains from Your Carpet

Nothing ruins tea time like a nasty stain on your carpet. Whether you prefer tea or coffee as your morning (or afternoon – I’m not judging) pick-me-up, spills can be a serious problem.

Cleaning coffee and tea stains from your carpet is not as easy as it may seem. If you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a great chance you’ll bring your favourite floor covering’s untimely demise.

On the other hand, if you don’t act quickly, the tea or coffee stain may become a permanent fixture in your home, which most people want to avoid. So what can you do?

In this article: 

• Why do coffee and tea leave stains on your carpet?
• Can coffee stains be removed from carpet?
• How to clean tea and coffee stains using baking soda
• How to remove coffee stains using white vinegar
• How to get tea and coffee stains out of your carpet with dish soap
• How to clean hot drink stains using a commercial detergent
• Conclusion

Why do coffee and tea leave stains on your carpet?

Why are coffee stains so hard to remove? The short answer is “tannin”. The long answer involves a verbose scientific exploration of biochemistry, which for the purposes of this article can be boiled down to a few key points.

Tannins are naturally occurring chemical substances. You can find them in many fruits, trees, and other plants. This includes coffee and tea.

Tannins are natural pigments. They’re great at binding with a variety of substances (including the fibers your carpet is made of). As a natural consequence, once the stains set in, they’re almost impossible to remove.

Think about it – if tannin can stain your cups, you’re hardly going to remove it from your carpet or rug. The good news is that stains don’t set in right away. Even in the darkest of hours, hope shines through. Let’s talk about some cleaning methods.

Note: If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s best to leave this job for professionals. Many people attempt to clean coffee and tea stains from their carpets, only to ruin them in the process. Ask yourself if saving a few pounds is worth the risk. If the answer is “yes”, read on.

Side note: Whatever cleaning method you choose, it’s best to test it on an inconspicuous area of the carpet or rug. This way, if things go sideways, you won’t have to replace your floor covering. 

Can coffee stains be removed from carpet?

Are dry coffee stains a permanent fixture on your carpet or rug? The answer in most cases is a resounding “No”. Very rarely are tea and coffee stains impossible to remove. And oftentimes, the problem is caused by using the wrong method when trying to remove them, rather than the stains, themselves.

There are plenty of methods you can use to remove coffee stains from your carpet. Baking soda, white vinegar, and even dish soap are only some of the suggestions you’ll find below.

How to clean tea and coffee stains using baking soda

Baking soda is a staple in eco-friendly cleaning. It’s an effective solution to many problems. Tea and coffee stains on your carpet are one of them. 

To turn baking soda into the perfect carpet cleaner, here’s what you’ll need: a cup of baking soda, a damp cloth, a clean cloth (dry), and a bowl.

• Step 1: Pour the baking soda into the bowl.
• Step 2: Take the damp cloth and dip it into the baking soda.
• Step 3: After you coat the cloth with baking soda, buff the stained area of the carpet.
• Step 4: Rinse with cold water.
• Step 5: Repeat the steps above until you’re satisfied with the result.
• Step 6: Give the area a final rinse and dry it with the clean cloth.

Note: You can use baking soda on most carpets and rugs. But just to be sure, check in with your manufacturer’s notes. And, as always, before applying the solution to the stains, test it out on a small area out of sight to make sure you won’t ruin your floor covering.

How to remove coffee stains using white vinegar

Here’s what you’ll need: white vinegar, a spray bottle, a clean cloth, and warm water.

• Step 1: Mix a 1:2 solution of white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle.
• Step 2: Spray the tea or coffee stain.
• Step 3: Gently rub the solution into the fibres with the cloth. Do it a few times, if necessary.
• Step 4: Rinse with cold water.

If there was sugar or milk in the coffee, you’ll need a separate solution to clean that stain. An enzyme cleaner would work best. Simply mix the enzyme cleaner with warm water according to the instructions and dab the stain. Once you’re done, dab it with a dry cloth and dry it out.

How to get tea and coffee stains out of your carpet with dish soap

To remove tea and coffee stains from your rug using dish soap, here’s what you’ll need: a tablespoon of dish soap, white vinegar, warm water, a microfibre cloth, and a sponge.

• Step 1: Blot the stain as much as you can with a damp cloth.
• Step 2: Mix a solution of a tablespoon of dish soap and 2 cups of warm water. Add some vinegar to strengthen the solution.
• Step 3: Apply the mixture to the stain and scrub with the microfibre cloth until the stain is a distant memory.
• Step 4: Rinse the solution with cold water using the sponge.
• Step 5: Blot the area dry with another cloth.

How to clean hot drink stains using a commercial detergent

This is probably the easiest and most straightforward method for cleaning coffee and tea stains. Here’s what you’ll need: a suitable carpet cleaning detergent and a couple of rags.

• Step 1: Blot the stain with a clean rag.
• Step 2: Pour a bit of warm water over the area to dilute the stain.
• Step 3: Spray the detergent directly onto the stain.
• Step 4: Leave the product for a couple of minutes.
• Step 5: Rinse the area with cold water.
• Step 6: Repeat if the stain is still visible after drying out.

Note: Carefully read the label before you use any type of cleaning detergent. Make sure it’s suitable for your particular carpet and that you’re using it correctly.

Conclusion

Tea and coffee stains don’t have to be the end of your carpet. There are plenty of methods you can try if you feel like dealing with the stains yourself. And if not – you can always give us a call.