Coffee spills always seem to happen at the worst possible time. In the hospitality industry, providing the morning coffee is a common courtesy that inevitably leads to messy accidents. With this in mind, here’s how you and your staff can treat coffee stains before they decide to become permanent!
Coffee Spill Removal Steps
Step 1: Act Quickly!
Time is of the essence to prevent any permanent stains. Blot liquids with a white absorbent cloth or paper towels. Break up any solid, such as sugar or creamers, and vacuum excess if necessary.
Step 2: Pretest Solutions
Disclaimer: Pretest any spot removal solution in a small, inconspicuous area before using it to treat the spill. If you don’t, you could wind up damaging/ruining the carpet or fabric. Watch for color transfer to the cloth or any damage to the carpet. If a change or damage occurs, move on to testing a different solution.
*Solution opinions are listed below!
Step 3: Apply Solution
Apply a small amount of the solution to a white cloth and work gently (do not rub), to prevent spreading move from the edges of the spill to the center. Allow time to let the solution sit on the spill for a few minutes, then blot. Don’t forget to be patient!
Step 4: Patience
Continue to use the first agent as long as there is a transfer of the spill to the cloth. Remember to be patient! Complete removal of any stain may require repeating the same step several times. Or, you may need to move to the next solution.
Step 5: Rinse and Repeat
When the spill is completely removed, rinse the area with lukewarm water with a mist type sprayer. Repeat until any residue left by the solution is washed out. Then blot with a dry cloth until all moisture has been removed. Please note: Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.
Solution Types
Detergent Solution
Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type or automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.
Vinegar Solution
Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.
Warm Water
Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.
Further Assistance? Call a Professional
Need additional assistance? Please contact us for further assistance or with any questions you and your staff might have during your day-to-day cleaning. We are here ANYTIME, 24/7/365, through phone, email, text, or our website’s chat feature.