How to Clean a Coffee Stain Out of Carpet

Step 1

Blot up the coffee from the carpet — if the carpet is still wet — using a white paper or cloth towel.

Step 2

Combine 1/3 cup white vinegar with 2/3 cup water.

Step 3

Saturate the coffee-stained area of the carpet with the vinegar and water mixture to neutralize the stain and make it easier to remove.

Step 4

Blot up the vinegar and water mixture with a white paper or cloth towel.

Step 5

Combine 1/4 tsp. detergent with 1 qt. of water. Choose a soap-, bleach- and lanolin-free detergent; these ingredients set coffee stains into carpet, making them difficult and sometimes impossible to remove, according to the Ohio State University Extension. If the coffee spilled on the carpet contained milk or cream, use a bleach-free laundry detergent that contains stain-removing enzymes.

Step 6

Saturate the coffee-stained area of the carpet with the detergent and water mixture. Blot up the detergent and water with a white paper or cloth towel to remove the stain. Turn the towel to a clean spot each time you blot. Pour more of the detergent and water mixture on the stain as needed. Continue blotting the carpet until no more coffee gets on the towel.

Step 7

Place a clean white paper or cloth towel over the stain to soak up the remaining moisture from the carpet. Cover the towel with a heavy object such as a book, to weight the towel down.

Step 8

Remove the towel after the carpet has dried. If the stain still remains, saturate it with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Let the hydrogen peroxide sit on the stain for one hour. Blot the stain with a white paper or cloth towel to remove the stain. Reapply the hydrogen peroxide and blot again if the stain is still visible.