How to Remove Coffee Stains from Upholstery

Spilled coffee is not a laughing matter, especially when it gets splattered onto your favorite piece of furniture. Coffee is a popular morning beverage, and unfortunately, it is also one of the toughest stains to remove. Learn how to remove coffee stains from upholstery to prevent discoloration on your car upholstery and household furniture.

Blotting coffee spills before any more of it settles into the fabric is one of the most important avenues you can take when trying to remove a fresh coffee stain from the upholstery. Once you accomplish that, you can move on to removing the remaining coffee stain.

Ways to Remove Coffee Stains from Upholstery

There are many methods for removing coffee stains from upholstery, and while all are relatively effective, some work better than others. While you could use a commercial upholstery cleaner to remove stubborn stains, using a cleaning solution made of natural ingredients is better for the environment and your pocketbook.

Get Coffee Stain Out of a Couch

Couches are the center point of a living room and can cost a pretty penny. Don’t let spilled coffee or other unfortunate stains ruin a perfectly good piece of furniture.

The process for cleaning a fabric couch or one made from leather or microfiber shows you how to get coffee stain out of a couch using gentle dish soap and water. This simple recipe works for many different types of stains.

To get rid of a coffee spill on carpet or your favorite recliner, combine the water and dish soap in a bowl and stir gently. Dip the paper towel into the soapy water and use it to dab at the coffee stain.

Be sure to start at the outer edges and work your way in to avoid expanding the stain. After letting the solution rest for a few minutes, use a fresh paper towel dipped in clean water to dab at the area. Use a dry cloth to absorb any of the liquid residue.

Getting Coffee Stains Out of Car Upholstery

Car upholstery is probably one of the most common areas to spill coffee. Here is how to get coffee stains out of car upholstery. You may need to use an alternative method for cleaning leather car seats.

To get stains out of car upholstery, pour club soda in a spray bottle and spritz the stained area of the car seat. Use a clean cloth to dab and pull the stain out of the fabric.

Rinse the area with clean water and reapply the spray if needed to remove coffee stains from car seats or any that may have spilled onto the carpet or mats. Rinse the rag with cold water and wipe the area clean. Be sure to let the area dry completely to prevent mildew formation.

If you end up spilling coffee on your shirt and pants as well as the carpet, getting coffee stains out of clothes is just as easy as removing it from the carpet. Follow the same procedure for a temporary fix. When it’s feasible, launder the clothing as soon as you can.

Cleaning Upholstery Coffee Stains with Hydrogen Peroxide and Ammonia

Hydrogen peroxide is a gentle bleaching agent that you can safely use to remove stains. This recipe works well to remove black coffee and other stubborn stains.

Combine the hydrogen peroxide and ammonia in a bowl and dip a clean towel into the liquid. Dab at the stained area with the cloth and then place a sheet of plastic wrap over the top. Place something heavy over the plastic to hold it in place and let it sit for two hours.

Remove the weight and plastic and get a clean cloth wet with cold water. Dab at the stained area to rinse away residue. After you finish rinsing, use a clean towel to soak up excess moisture.

Clean Coffee Stains on Upholstery with Vinegar

The acidity of white vinegar breaks up and lifts tough stains out of just about anything. Use this upholstery cleaner spray to remove coffee stains out of your upholstery using the power of vinegar.

Combine the cold water and white vinegar in a spray bottle and add a squirt of dish soap. Shake the bottle gently and spray it onto the surface of the stain. Apply just enough of the solution so that the stain is covered but not saturated.

Allow the upholstery cleaner to sit for 30 minutes before using a clean and wet cloth to rinse the area and a towel to blot it dry.

Removing Coffee Stains from Car Seat Upholstery

Baking soda is an ideal ingredient to use for absorbing and lifting away coffee stains. This method works best at eliminating fresh coffee stains.

Use a paper towel to blot up the area and then apply a wet washcloth to the stain without rubbing it. Sprinkle just enough baking soda onto the stain to cover it and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Use the wet cloth to wipe away the baking soda and coffee residue. Blot the spot dry with a paper towel.

Quick Method for Removing Coffee Stains from Upholstery

For small coffee stains, all you need is a sponge and a little soap to remove it quickly. Additionally, you can also use this recipe as a DIY mattress stain remover.

Apply a small amount of the dish detergent to a damp sponge and rub it into the stained area using a circular motion, without spreading the stain outward. Rinse the sponge with cold water, wring it out, and rub the area to remove any of the soap residue.

This simple recipe is appropriate for your couches, recliners, and car seats. It’s the best way to clean car upholstery and eliminate unsightly and smelly stains of all types.

Removing Upholstery Coffee Stains with Laundry Detergent

If the coffee spill contains milk, use an enzyme laundry detergent to remove the stain. If your sofa has removable covers, the way to wash couch covers is to first check the care label.

You may be able to treat the stain and stick them in the washer on a gentle setting for regular cleaning and complete stain removal. Air drying may be best to prevent shrinkage.

Get a sponge wet with cold water and wring it out. Apply a small amount of the liquid detergent to the sponge and dab at the stained area of the upholstery.

Rinse the sponge with cold water and use it to rinse away the soap and coffee residue. Dry the area thoroughly with a cloth.

How to Remove Old Coffee Stains from Upholstered Furniture

Vinegar is an acidic liquid that works well at breaking up stains. This method uses equal parts white vinegar and water to remove old, dried coffee stains from upholstery.

Combine the white vinegar and lukewarm water in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the stained area enough to cover it but not saturate it. Use a toothbrush to gently work the stain away. Get a cloth wet with cold water and rinse the vinegar and coffee residue away before drying with a clean towel.

Treating Microfiber and Ultrasuede

For these types of material, treatment is a little more tricky. Some cleaners can cause more harm than good when you try to clean Ultrasuede furniture or pieces made with microfiber. Adding a little rubbing alcohol to a clean cloth and dabbing at the stain usually is enough to eliminate it.

Alcohol may also be used to get nail polish off a couch. If the stain is dry, scrape off as much of the nail polish as you can before treating it. Darker colored nail polish may require several treatments to completely get rid of the stain.

How you clean a stain depends on the type of stain and the stained surface. Removing a coffee stain from upholstery using the right coffee stain removal process keeps the fabric looking fresh and new.

Now that you have cleaned that coffee stain from your favorite piece of furniture, you can go back to enjoying your cup of coffee.

We are pleased we could show you how to remove coffee stains from upholstery, and we’d love it if you shared our upholstery cleaning tips with the coffee drinkers in your family on Facebook and Pinterest.