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Coffee Spilled On Your Carpet? Two Methods For Removing The Stain Without A Commercial Stain Remover

It's a good idea to keep carpet stain remover on hand just in case you need it. But what happens if you spill your coffee on your carpet, and you don't have a stain remover at home? Since you need to treat a stain quickly to keep it from becoming permanent, you're better off using items you have at home to remove the stain, rather than wasting time running to the store. These two methods call for common ingredients that you likely already have at home. They might not be quite as effective as a carpet stain remover, but they'll do a decent job in a pinch.

Method 1: Borax and dish soap.

This should be your preferred method of treatment if you have borax and dish soap on hand. The borax neutralizes the acidic coffee, and the dish soap helps break down its oils. Start by blotting up as much coffee as you possibly can, so that there is less for the stain remover to work on. Combine 1 tablespoon borax, a teaspoon of dish soap, and a cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake gently.

Spray the mixture on the stain, starting at the outside and working your way in. Use enough to get the carpet well moistened, but not soaking wet. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, giving the dish soap a chance to break apart the oils. Then, use new towels to soak up the liquid, blotting from the outside of the stain towards the inside to avoid spreading it. If any stain lingers after blotting, repeat the spraying and blotting process.

Method 2: Laundry detergent and baking soda.

If you don't have borax or dish soap around, here is another method to try. The baking soda makes the laundry soap just a touch more basic, which helps neutralize the acidic coffee. After blotting up the coffee thoroughly, combine 1 teaspoon laundry soap, 1 tablespoon baking soda, and ¼ cup water. Mix it together well.

Pour the mixture onto the carpet. It should seem saturated, not just damp, as you want to dilute any remaining coffee in the carpet to help ensure you soak up more of the oils. Scrub the area gently, being careful to direct your strokes towards the center of the stain to avoid making it any larger. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes, and then blot it up with clean, dry towels. Keep blotting until no more liquid comes out of the carpet.

If you notice that there is still a slight stain after your carpet dries, then you can pick up a carpet stain remover and use it according to the package instructions. Sometimes this will remove the lingering stains.

To learn more, contact a carpet cleaning company like All Around Town Carpet Care


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