Coffee spills happen. Whether it’s the first sip of the morning or an accidental drop during a busy day, that dark, pesky brew can leave an unsightly stain on your beautiful upholstery.
But with the right approach and a few handy tips, you can tackle even the toughest coffee stains without causing any damage to your furniture. In this blog, we will discuss how to remove coffee stains from the upholstery and keep it looking fresh and clean.
Removing Coffee Stains from the Upholstery: 4 Steps to Follow
Step 1. Blot Quickly
First of all, take a clean cloth, and blot up the stain. The quicker you address the stain, the higher the chances of you removing it to its core. When blotting, apply mild pressure to soak as much liquid as possible.
Most importantly, avoid rubbing, as it can brittle the delicate fabric of your upholstery.
Step 2. Vacuum the Area
The next step is to vacuum the stained as well as its surrounding areas. Vacuuming removes loose dirt and other debris from the couch. If not removed, these particles can possibly end up getting mixed with your cleaning solution, affecting the overall results in the end.
When vacuuming, try to cover the area at least 2-3 times and somewhat in a snaky pattern to trap and remove maximum contaminants.
Step 3. Create a Cleaning Solution
Now, as the area is ready, it’s time to tackle the stain once and for all. To remove coffee stains from the upholstery, a combination of white vinegar and warm water is best preferred as is a mixture of dish soap and warm water.
But either way, the ultimate decision lies with you. However, before directly applying any of the two, make sure you test them on a hidden part of the upholstery first to ensure they don’t yield any harmful effects.
⇒ White Vinegar and Water
Vinegar is primarily acetic acid. This acidity helps to break down the tannin molecules in coffee, which are actually the primary culprits behind the staining. Thus, mix ⅔ cup of warm water and ⅓ cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle and shake the mixture well.
Now, dampen a sponge or clean cloth with this solution and start blotting the stain, working from the edges towards the center. As the stain lightens, take another clean cloth or sponge, dampen it with clean water, and start blotting the stain.
Keep doing so, until the stain no more appears. If it does, feel free to repeat the process.
⇒ Mild Dish Soap and Water
Dish soap is a surfactant, which means that it helps reduce the surface tension of water. This, in turn, allows the soapy water to seep deeper into the fabric and make it more effective at lifting the coffee stain.
Therefore, add a teaspoon of liquid dish soap with 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle or bowl. Dampen a clean cloth with this solution and start blotting the stain until it lightens. And once it does dampen another clean cloth with water and blot the stain until it appears no more.
Step 4. Rinse and Dry
As the stain has been dealt with, ensure that you rinse the area with clean water. If not done, the leftover residue from the cleaning solution can attract dirt and other debris, staining the area once again.
After rinsing, blot dry the area with a clean cloth to remove excess moisture and wrap up the process by gently fluffing and restoring the fabric’s texture using a soft brush.
Final Talks!
Coffee is among the top-listed beverages of many homeowners. However, coffee spills on the upholstery are something a homeowner would want to avoid.
But come what may, removing coffee stains from the upholstery is quite an easy job, contrary to what you may think. The key lies in using suitable cleaning solutions the right way and tackling that coffee mess like a pro.
