How to Remove Red Wine, Coffee, and Grease Stains

Halloween is fast approaching and with it comes the scariest time of year for flooring stain!  Between holiday meals, New Year’s celebrations and Bowl Games, there seems to be an increase in mishaps on your floors.  Someone drops a glass of wine, spills the gravy or Fido has eaten something he’s not supposed to and regurgitates it behind the sofa.  How to remove wine, coffee and grease stains is a skillset we all need. Here is how The Carpet Guys recommend removing the most common stains from carpet.

How to Remove a Red Wine Stain

A bottle of wine is one of the most common gifts given to a host or hostess.  If it ends up on your floor, this is the process we recommend getting that wine stain out (make sure to try blotting the stain with a clean, dry, white towel, working from the outside in, and just using warm water first.  If this doesn’t work, proceed accordingly.):

1. Using paper towels or a white towel, apply pressure to the stain to absorb as much liquid as possible.
2. Mix a solution of ¼ cup clear, liquid dishwashing detergent with 1 cup of water.
3. Apply detergent solution directly to a clean, white cloth and dampen stain, avoiding saturation.
4. Use small amounts of detergent solution, blotting frequently with a clean space on the cloth.
5. Do NOT rub or scrub carpet, ever.  It will damage the fibers and could void your warranty [see our previous blog on How to Maintain Your Carpet Warranty]
6. Continue using the solution and blotting until stain is removed.
7. Wet the stain with lukewarm water to rinse.
8. Absorb rinse fluid with a dry, clean, white towel or paper towels.
9. Repeat rinsing until all detergent has been rinsed.
10. If stain remains, try the next stain removal method for greasy, oil-based stains.

How to Remove a Grease or Gravy Stain

Uh-oh!  Little Jimmy was passing the gravy boat to his uncle and it fell on the floor.  Here is how to get gravy and other types of greasy, oil-based stains from your carpet:

1. Using a spoon, working from the outside in, remove as much of the gravy from the floor as possible.
2. Try the above methods first.  If that doesn’t work, proceed.
3. Mix 2 tablespoons of non-bleaching, non-sudsing household ammonia with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
4. Apply ammonia solution in the same manner as above, blotting with a clean towel to stain without saturating.
5. To neutralize the ammonia solution, mix ½ cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
6. Apply vinegar solution, rinse and blot like above.

How to Remove a Coffee Stain

I’ll never forget the scene.  Ten years ago, The Carpet Guys were installing new carpet in my basement.  The installers arrived early in the morning and I offered to make them coffee since I hadn’t had my own cup yet.  As I carried the coffee down to them, I tripped on my steps and dumped the coffee on my brand new, not even completely installed, floor!  I could’ve cried!  Fortunately, my installers knew exactly what to do to get this common stain out quickly:

1. DO NOT USE THE AMMONIA SOLUTION ON COFFEE, TEA OR URINE STAINS!!
2. Try the steps for the Wine stain removal and if that doesn’t work, proceed with the following steps.
3. Mix ½ cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of lukewarm water.
4. Apply the vinegar solution to the stain, blotting with a clean cloth as directed above.
5. Rinse with warm water afterward, also using the above process.

If after trying any/all of these processes, the stain persists or it is a large area, you may need to try professional cleaning.  The steam extraction process is recommended to maintain your warranty.  To find an approved cleaning solution or professional cleaner check out The Carpet and Rug Institute.

Don’t let those stains sit. Immediately knowing how to clean wine, coffee and grease stains will help. Another option if your flooring has too many common stains or is looking worn is to have your flooring replaced.  The Carpet Guys can have your home updated and beautiful in time for you to host the next holiday meal or for your Superbowl party!  Just call 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or fill out our Free In-Home Estimate Form and one of our amazing sales support representatives will give you a call.