How to Get a Tea Stain out of Carpet

Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of knocking over a cup full of tea when reaching for it. Accidents happen in any home, but it doesn’t have to spell disaster for your carpets. Especially when you have our guide on how to get a tea stain out of a carpet. 

We cover all aspects of tea stain removal, no matter the blend or the brew. So read our guide below, and you need never fear enjoying a cup of tea in your living room ever again.

Wat this article covers:

What Will Remove Tea Stains From A Carpet?

how to get tea stains out of a carpet

The best way to remove tea stains, whether fresh or set-in, from a carpet, is to use professional carpet cleaning chemicals. These are specifically designed for use on carpets and will remove most household stains. 

For removing stubborn or older tea stains, just like with removing red wine stains from carpets.

it is always best to use a professional stain removal product.

A Deep Clean

Carpet cleaning chemicals are designed to be used in hydro-vac carpet cleaning machines. These can be purchased or rented and will give your carpets a deep-down clean right into the fibers. We recommend that, aside from weekly vacuuming,  you deep clean your carpets regularly too.

Our Ultimate All Fiber Rinse will leave your carpets clean, fresh-smelling, and stain-free. So if you have a fresh tea stain on a not-so-clean carpet, it may be time to do a deep clean and tackle all your carpet problems with one solution. 

how to get tea stains out of carpet

A Spot Clean

Many carpet cleaning chemicals can, however, also be used to spot-treat a tea stain just as effectively. But no matter which carpet cleaning product you use, always do a test patch first, and follow the instructions on the packaging for the best results. 

Are There Home Remedies For Tea Stains?

If you do not have any professional carpet chemicals to hand, all is not lost. There are several simple hacks that you can try. These home remedies use items that you probably already have in the home. 

Below you will see the most common tea stain problems, and a handy stain removal hack for each one. They are all easy to do and will not cause harm if followed correctly. But results cannot be guaranteed in the case of very bad stains or older stains. 

How To Get Black Tea Out Of A Carpet

how to get tea stain out of carpet

Black tea is one of the most common tea stains that people face on their carpets. And one of the most common and simplest home remedies for a black tea stain is the white vinegar method. 

White Vinegar Method

White vinegar is a well-known cleaning and stain removal hack. If you follow these instructions, the vinegar smell will dissipate shortly after the carpet dries. 

You will need the following items:

  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Water
  • A spray bottle
  • A soft, clean cloth
  • An old, clean towel

Step 1

Mix the vinegar and water in the spray bottle at a ratio of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Shake this solution gently to ensure a good mix. 

Step 2

Spray the vinegar/water solution onto the tea stain, but do not soak the carpet. Gently rub the area with a soft cloth, but do not use push down into the carpet.

Step 3

Add a bit of plain, cool water to rinse the traces of vinegar from the carpet. Blot this water up with the old towel, and allow the carpet to dry naturally. 

How To Get Iced Tea Out Of A Carpet

how to remove a tea stain from carpet

It is usually possible to remove a fresh iced tea stain with the use of mild dish detergent and some water. While the iced tea spill is still wet, use an absorbent cloth to soak up as much liquid as possible. Then proceed with the following steps.

Dish Detergent Method

Be careful not to use dish detergent that contains bleach. This will damage your carpet. Ordinary dish detergent should be used, not dishwashing machine detergent or laundry detergent. This would also be the ideal home remedy to get dried syrup out of a carpet.

You will need the following items:

  • Bleach-free dish detergent
  • Water 
  • Spray Bottle
  • Old, clean towel

Step 1

Add the dish soap to the water at a ratio of about 1 tablespoon of soap to 2 cups of water. Gently shake the spray bottle to form a soapy solution, then spray onto the stained area. 

Step 2

Once you have saturated the stain with some of the soapy solution, wait a few moments before covering the area with the old towel. Press down gently to soak up the moisture into the towel. Keep repeating this process of soaking with the soapy solution and blotting with the towel,  until the stain has been lifted. Moving to a drier part of the towel each time to soak up all the moisture.

Step 3

Pour a little clean, cool water onto the area and blot this up as in step 2. Keep repeating this process until all remaining traces of the dish soap has been removed. Allow the carpet to dry naturally. 

How To Get Green Tea Out Of A Carpet

how to remove tea stains from the carpet

Ordinary salt can be used to remove fresh green tea stains, and when mixed with club soda it is even more effective. 

This method is also suitable for other fresh beverage spills. So give it a try the next time you need to remove chocolate milk from your carpet or even for cleaning hot chocolate from your carpet.

Salt & Club Soda Method

While the green tea spill is still wet, use an absorbent microfiber cloth or sponge to soak up as much of the tea as possible. This will make it easier to check if any staining has occurred. If you see that a mark has been left on the carpet, proceed with the instructions below. 

You will need:

  • Any household salt
  • A bottle or can of club soda (carbonated water)
  • An old, clean, and dry towel

Step 1

Pour a generous amount of salt onto the stain. Make sure that the stain is completely covered. The salt will start to absorb the fresh tea spill. 

Step 2

Once the salt has done its work, pour a bit of the club soda onto the area. Blot this with the old towel until all the excess moisture has been absorbed. Then allow the area to air dry. 

How To Get Matcha Stains Out Of A Carpet

how to remove tea stains from a carpet

If you’ve spilled your Matcha tea on the carpet, don’t worry. This easy cleaning baking soda hack should take care of the problem. 

Baking Soda & Vinegar Method

Baking soda is a tried-and-trusted home remedy for many household stains. Just like the vinegar method above, baking soda works quite well on its own. But to boost the stain removal power, team these 2 up and follow the instructions below. 

This is also the ideal method for cleaning rotten milk out of a carpet as it will lift the stain and neutralize the foul odor at the same time.

You will need the following items:

  • Distilled white vinegar
  • Ordinary tap water 
  • Baking Soda
  • 2 shallow, wide-necked jars or bowls for mixing
  • A tablespoon 
  • 2 clean, damp lint-free cloths
  • An old, clean, and dry towel
  • A vacuum cleaner or portable mini vac

Step 1

Add equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water to the jar or bowl. Stir these together. About half a cup of each should suffice for smaller to medium-sized tea stains. 

Increase the amount if necessary, according to the size of the stain, but keep to the 1:1 ratio. Set this vinegar/water solution aside for a moment, as you will need it for step 4.

how to remove tea stains from carpets

Step 2

Place 3 tablespoons of baking soda in the other mixing bowl or jar. Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar. This will start to bubble and foam, but do not be alarmed. This is a natural reaction and is harmless.

For larger stained areas, increase the amount but keep to the same ratio, 3 to 1. Stir with the spoon until you have a creamy paste. If the paste is too thick or too runny, adjust it accordingly by adding more baking soda or vinegar.

Step 3

Scoop this paste up with the spoon and, using apply to the stain. Using the back of the spoon, spread it out to cover the stain.  Wait 5 minutes before pressing gently with a damp cloth to lift the excess residue from the carpet.

Step 4

Use the vinegar/water solution prepared in step 1 to dampen the area. Pour a few drops slowly at first.  Then blot the area with the remaining cloth. 

Step 5

Lastly, add a bit of ordinary cool water, and blot with the old towel. This will remove any excess vinegar odor. Once the carpet has dried naturally, you may vacuum up any remaining baking soda residue.

The Profesional Solution For Stubborn Tea Stains

For very large or very stubborn tea stains, it is best to use a carpet stain removal product such as our Rave Spotter. This stain-removing solution has been specifically formulated to tackle all kinds of stubborn stains, including tea stains. 

how to remove tea stain from carpet

It can even be used to remove a coffee stain from your carpet or to safely remove chocolate from your carpet or upholstery. Rave Spotter is the ultimate stain and spot removal product. It can even remove stains caused by oil, grease, and cosmetics.

Another Versatile Stain Removal Product

Spills and stains happen regularly, no matter how well we try to protect our carpets. This is especially true if you have kids in the home. At some point, you’ll need a good hack to remove old gum from a carpet or couch.

Most stains can be treated with ordinary carpet cleaners and stain removers. However, if you want to remove difficult stains like red wine or bright food coloring, you need to try our Red Action stain remover. It is the ideal solution for removing food coloring from carpets.

Despite its name, it works on all color stains, not just red. It can even be used to get a turmeric stain out of the carpet. So make sure that you get yourself a bottle of this wonder product today. 

Conclusion

Tea-related carpet mishaps are a common occurrence. And while they make look unsightly, they are usually easily removed. 

Most of the home remedies listed above will work if you don’t have access to carpet cleaning chemicals. But for best results, especially in the case of older set-in tea stains, it is best to use professional products that are designed for carpet stain removal. 

How To Get A Tea Stain Out Of Carpet (FAQs)

how to remove tea stain on carpet

I’ve heard that borax is a good stain remover for tea stains. But is it safe to use?

Borax is a naturally occurring alkaline salt. Besides cleaning drains and dishwasher machines, it can also be effective on carpet stains. But recent studies have shown that it can have adverse effects on people's health. 

It may also affect your pets if you have any that are allowed onto your carpets. Rather use one of the safe hacks described in the article above, if you prefer natural stain removal methods. 

Can tea permanently stain my carpet?

Almost all teas contain tannin. This is a natural compound found in many plants, but it is this compound that causes the problem. When tea spills are treated immediately after they occur, the risk of staining is minimal. 

The longer that spill is left, the more chance there will be of a stain. But even set-in stains can be removed, although it may take more than one attempt.

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