Coffee stain on the carpet? Don’t panic, Black Gold Carpet Cleaning can help.

Did you know, Melbourne has recently been voted as having the world’s best coffee ? Ahead of places like Rome, Vienna and Sydney, voted by more than 1,000 booking.com travelers. I completely agree with this survey and I always start my day with a freshly brewed coffee. I have had my fair share of spills, and I am all too familiar with the horror of a dark brown coffee stain on the carpet.  What happens after you spill the coffee will make all the difference between successful stain removal or permanent stain.

Why does coffee stain fibre?

Coffee stains on the carpet are caused by the water-soluble substances (tannins) and  other acids present in coffee.  The permanence of coffee stains depends on the type of fibre it comes into contact with.  Polyester is more stain resistant to coffee stains than natural fibres like cotton or wool, which in turn are more stain resistant than nylon.

What removes coffee stains?

Coffee is an acid (Low PH), therefore the best process to remove a coffee stain on the carpet, is to dissolve the coffee’s acidic component with another acid, such as vinegar*.  Applications of diluted vinegar should be alternated with a diluted mixture of clear dish washing detergent and water (about one tablespoon per litre).  The vinegar dissolves the acidic stain and the dish washing detergent and water carry the particles away from the fibre.

*Vinegar can cause discolouration too, so you should always use white vinegar and it should be diluted with water (about 1/3 cup to a litre of water) and tested on an inconspicuous area of carpet first. Do not use vinegar on natural fibres such as wool.

What about the milk component?

If you spill a latte rather than a long black, then cleaning the process can be a little different. Milk is a protein. Therefore it changes the chemical composition of the stain.  This means, you may need to use something alkaline (High PH) like ammonia** to neutralise the Ph level before applying an acidic solution to remove the coffee stain on the carpet.

**Ammonia has a very strong odour and can cause health issues if not used correctly and completely removed in the rinsing process. Ammonia should never be mixed with chlorine bleach as the fumes can be toxic. Cats in particular are attracted to the smell of ammonia and it may cause your cat to urinate on the carpet if you do not rinse thoroughly. Always test ammonia on an inconspicuous area of carpet first.

Coffee Stain removal check list:

• Blot up as much of the liquid as possible with paper towel or clean white cloth
• Spray a mist of solution made from 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water on stain
• Gently blot stain with paper towel or clean, dry, white cloth
• Spray a mist of solution made from clear dish washing liquid (I tablespoon) and water (2 cups)
• Gently blot stain with paper towel or clean, dry, white cloth
• Alternate between vinegar and dish washing liquid solutions until stain has been removed.
• Finish by lightly rinsing carpet with water to remove vinegar and dish washing liquid residue and blotting dry.
• Never rub carpet, always blot from the out side of the stain moving inwards
• To neutralise milk component of the stain, mix 1 tablespoon ammonia with 2 cups warm water and mist onto carpet, blot and repeat as necessary.
• Rinse ammonia from carpet thoroughly with water and blot dry, then proceed with vinegar & dish washing procedure as above.

Why doesn’t this work on my carpet?

This coffee stain removal guide may not work for all stains or on all carpet fibres.  Swift action is essential for successful stain removal. Some types of carpet fibres are more stain resistant than others.  If the coffee stain on the carpet dries out, it becomes more difficult to remove and natural fibres are less stain resistant than some synthetics. The other ingredient missing from this stain removal recipe is heat.  Professional carpet cleaners have the appropriate equipment and knowledge to use the correct amount of heat and water pressure to optimise stain removal. So if you have tried this method and the stain has not been removed, then I highly recommend contacting Black Gold Carpet Cleaning and booking our specialist stain removal consultation and treatment.

I don’t have time for this or I am scared I will make it worse!

Then contact us at Black Gold Carpet Cleaning and we will take care of it for you.  No stress and with a satisfaction guarantee – why wouldn’t you call? Please also see our other stain removal guides for blood and vomit stains.