7 Ways to Remove Tea Stains from Carpet

Ah, tea. You, wonderful concoction of warmth, energy, and love. What would we do without you? Thoughts like these quickly disappear, as soon as your dog decides to run through the coffee table and relocate this wonderful liquid from your cups to the carpet. One second you are enjoying the afternoon and the other, you are in a state of aftershock. Not only the tea is gone but it’s on the carpet, as well. Luckily and just as easy, you can pour another cup and you can also clean the stain with the tips and tricks, we have prepared for you.

Before we show you how to clean tea stains from carpets and rugs, let’s have a little lesson about tea:

Why does tea leave stains on carpets?

You’ve probably noticed how hard it is to clean your cups from tea stains. If the cup is not washed regularly, the stain builds up and after time, it’s impossible to remove. When tea ends up on a carpet or a piece of fabric, it also leaves it with a stain.

The main reason is called Tannin. Its compounds are widely spread in all kinds of different plants, which we use to make tea from. It protects the plants and is also the reason why your mouth feels dry and puckery after eating unripened fruit, red wine or tea. Tannin is used as the main ingredient in many leather dyes and in ink, as well. This is why tea is very quick to penetrate any surface and settle in for a long time.

A good start, when it comes to cleaning, is to act immediately when a spill occurs. You should also wash your cups after each use.

The proper ways to clean tea stains on carpets

According to the “UK Tea & Infusions Association”, British people drink around 165 million cups of tea daily. No matter if it’s black tea, green tea, peppermint or herbal, with milk or without. We just love our tea. So naturally, there are many stains that occur each day.  But don’t worry because for all of you, tea lovers, we have gathered the best ways to clean tea stains from carpets using mostly household products.

And for people, who managed to spill some milk before pouring it into their tea, you can check our tips on how to clean milk stains and remove the sour smell.

How to remove a tea stain from carpet with baking soda

You’ll need: one cup of baking soda, a damp cloth or an absorbent pat, a bowl.

• Pour one cup of baking soda into a bowl.
• Grab a damp cloth and dip it into the baking soda.
• Press the cloth coated with baking soda firmly around the stained area of the carpet.
• Rinse well with cold water.
• Repeat the first two steps until you are satisfied with the results.
• Give the area a final rinse with cold water and dry it with another clean cloth.

How to clean a tea stain from carpet by using salt

You’ll need: one cup of salt, an absorbent pad, one glass of club soda.

• Absorb as much of the liquid as you can with the pad.
• Pour enough salt over the stain to fully cover it.
• Pour a bit of club soda. Be careful not to oversaturate the carpet.
• Repeat until you are satisfied with the results.
• Rinse with cold water and let it air dry.

How to remove a tea stain from carpet using vinegar

You’ll need: distilled white vinegar, a spray bottle, a clean cloth, warm water.

• Mix a 1:2 solution of white vinegar and lukewarm water.
• Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
• Spray the solution over the tea stain.
• Gently rub it into the carpet fibres with a cloth.
• Repeat if needed.
• Finally, rinse with cold water.

How to remove tea stains from carpet by using dish soap

You’ll need: one tablespoon of of dish soap, white vinegar, warm water, a microfibre cloth, and a sponge.

• Blot the stain as much as you can with a damp cloth.
• Mix a solution of 1 tablespoon of dish soap, distilled white vinegar and 2 cups of lukewarm water.
• Apply the mixture to the stain and gently scrub with the microfiber cloth until the area is clean.
• Repeat until satisfied.
• Rinse the solution with a cold wet sponge.
• Blot it dry with another cloth.

Dish soap is another product with secret abilities to clean almost everything from anything. Clothes, blankets, shower screens, windows and all kinds of stains. You can even use it to remove paint from your carpet

How to get a tea stain off carpet using borax

You’ll need: a bit of borax, water, a toothbrush, a vacuum cleaner, and a dry clean cloth.

• Make a paste of 3 parts borax and 1 part warm water.
• Dip the toothbrush in the paste.
• Scrub gently the affected area.
• Leave the mixture to dry on the carpet.
• Vacuum the leftover residue.
• Rinse with cold water when you’re done and soak up with the cloth.

Did you know: Discovered in the dry lakes of Tibet during the 8th century AD, borax has been used widely by people, mostly for laundry purposes. In the following years, more and more of the substance’s properties were discovered, in cleaning and pest control, as well. So, it’s no surprise that you can use it to remove tea stains from carpets, too..

How to remove tea stains with a commercial carpet stain remover

You’ll need: a suitable carpet cleaning detergent, a couple of rags.

• Blot the stained area using a clean rag. Absorb as much of  the liquid as you can.
• Pour a bit of lukewarm water over the area to dilute the stain.
• Spray the detergent directly onto it.
• Leave the product for a couple of minutes.
• Rinse the area with cold water.
• Repeat if the stain is still visible after drying out.

If you are not confident enough to try the above methods, you can always turn to the detergents made especially for removing stains. However, make sure you always read the label of the product. Choose a detergent suitable for your carpet or you risk damaging the fibres.

Professional carpet cleaning

The safest way to go, when you have a stain, is to trust a professional carpet cleaning technician.

We provide our carpet cleaning solutions by applying the Hot Water Extraction method or by employing an effective dry cleaning technique for more delicate fabrics. The hot water extraction method pays special attention to the stains and works on most carpets. The technician will first pre-treat the area with a suitable detergent and after that, he will use the carpet cleaning machine. A cleaning solution is injected into the carpet and after that, it is extracted along with the water and the dirt.

You will have your carpet not only stain free but also looking and smelling fresh and clean. You can use our online booking form to check out the availability and prices. Just click right here!

Takeaways

These are the most useful and proven methods when it comes to cleaning tea stains from your carpets. Remember to always test on a small inconspicuous area before you try any of the above-mentioned methods. And if nothing works or you just don’t want to risk it, turn to a professional cleaner. You will have none of the hassle and all of the best results. Let us know in the comments below about your tricks for cleaning tea stains and if you enjoyed the article, share it with your family and friends!

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No matter of the cleaning method, remember to always do a small spot test on hidden part of your carpet. Depending on the size, nature, and age of the stain, some of them might be impossible to remove. We cannot take responsibility if any of the above-mentioned methods do not work on your carpets.

Header image source: Depositphotos / gresey

• Last update: April 17, 2019

Posted in Carpet Cleaning Tips