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One Response to “How do i get tea stains out of carpet?”
Here are a couple of ideas from a big time tea drinker with two clumsy dogs. First, try a product called Simple Green usually available in discount stores along the cleaning aisle. Simple Green breaks down the tanins in tea (and coffee) which is actually what causes the stain. Follow the diloution ratios on the back of the bottle, restrain yourself from using it full strength until last because you have beige carpet and it may leave a green residue. Rinse the area thoroughly. It is biodegradeable and usually works well the first try on tea.
Here’s the catch. You said “sweet tea” which I’m assuming means it had some kind of sugar or its substitute in it. Sugars are more difficult to break down, often leaving a residue themselves in carpet fiber which will turn into a discoloration or stain later as the sticky stuff attracts dust and dirt in the air or off shoes. Hence, a product called Foleys carpet and general cleaner available at the Home Depot is a good follow up to the simple green. Saturate the area well enough that the liquid gets ALL the way down to the jute carpet backing so that you don’t walk the stain back up. Agitate with a brush carefully working it into the fiber without causing it to untwist or fray. Take a terrry cloth towel folded several times and place it over the stain. Jump on it with both feet to transfer the liquid cleaner and the stain residue onto the towel. Keep moving the towel around as areas become wet.
Let it dry completely. If there is still a light rusty color stain, go for the Simple Green full strength and repeat the process.
Never, ever, never use hot water on a stain, particularly when it is in carpet fiber. Hot water SETS stains, cool, tepid water helps to release stains. Further, carpet fibers are made from natural (wool, silk) and manmade (nylon, polypropelene) fibers or sometimes a blend. Natural fibers are damaged, sometimes beyond repair, shrinking, stretching, untwisting, etc. with the application of hot water. Hopefully, you did not permanently set the stain.
One other thing, you may wish to rinse the entire area with white vinegar where you used the Tide on before attempting this treatment. Tide itself is a phosphorate detergent and will leave a residue which white vinegar will remove without causing further damage to the fiber. Pounce on a terry towel to pull that vinegar out before proceeding with either the Simple Green or Foleys.
December 30th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Here are a couple of ideas from a big time tea drinker with two clumsy dogs. First, try a product called Simple Green usually available in discount stores along the cleaning aisle. Simple Green breaks down the tanins in tea (and coffee) which is actually what causes the stain. Follow the diloution ratios on the back of the bottle, restrain yourself from using it full strength until last because you have beige carpet and it may leave a green residue. Rinse the area thoroughly. It is biodegradeable and usually works well the first try on tea.
Here’s the catch. You said “sweet tea” which I’m assuming means it had some kind of sugar or its substitute in it. Sugars are more difficult to break down, often leaving a residue themselves in carpet fiber which will turn into a discoloration or stain later as the sticky stuff attracts dust and dirt in the air or off shoes. Hence, a product called Foleys carpet and general cleaner available at the Home Depot is a good follow up to the simple green. Saturate the area well enough that the liquid gets ALL the way down to the jute carpet backing so that you don’t walk the stain back up. Agitate with a brush carefully working it into the fiber without causing it to untwist or fray. Take a terrry cloth towel folded several times and place it over the stain. Jump on it with both feet to transfer the liquid cleaner and the stain residue onto the towel. Keep moving the towel around as areas become wet.
Let it dry completely. If there is still a light rusty color stain, go for the Simple Green full strength and repeat the process.
Never, ever, never use hot water on a stain, particularly when it is in carpet fiber. Hot water SETS stains, cool, tepid water helps to release stains. Further, carpet fibers are made from natural (wool, silk) and manmade (nylon, polypropelene) fibers or sometimes a blend. Natural fibers are damaged, sometimes beyond repair, shrinking, stretching, untwisting, etc. with the application of hot water. Hopefully, you did not permanently set the stain.
One other thing, you may wish to rinse the entire area with white vinegar where you used the Tide on before attempting this treatment. Tide itself is a phosphorate detergent and will leave a residue which white vinegar will remove without causing further damage to the fiber. Pounce on a terry towel to pull that vinegar out before proceeding with either the Simple Green or Foleys.