6 Steps to Remove Coffee Stains from Upholstery in Your Car

We all like to start the day off by grabbing a cup of coffee, and it is only natural that we have it on the go. But an accidental spill could not only ruin our day and clothes, but also our car upholstery. Leaving on coffee stains for too long on all types of upholstery can lead to disastrous consequences, so they should be cleaned as soon as possible. Here’s an easy step-by-step guide to remove coffee stains from upholstery.

Remove coffee stains from upholstery

1. Minimize the damage

The first thing you should do is to reduce the strength of the spill since coffee contains pigments and acids that contribute to heavy staining. Wet a paper towel with water and blot the stain gently. Don’t rub the stain roughly in an attempt to get it off because that will only cause the upholstery material to absorb the stain faster and deeper. Also, you will have to deal with paper towel residue which is not easy to get rid of.

2. Mix up a cleaning solution

There are different types of cleaning solutions recommended by auto detailers to remove coffee stains from upholstery. Here are three recommendations:

Use a professional upholstery cleaner – Although most upholstery cleaners are not strong enough to do the job by itself, you can still give it a try. Especially, combining an upholstery cleaner with steam cleaning can do wonders for all types of stains, including coffee. The high heat of steam has the ability to break down the molecules binding the stain.
A mild detergent and water – You can use an all-purpose, pH balanced detergent for this purpose, although some recommend even using a solution of ammonia. However, DetailXPerts does not recommend using ammonia since it is too strong for upholstery material, especially leather.
White vinegar and water – Create a solution of white vinegar and water – one third of vinegar and two thirds of water. Add the solution to a spray bottle and you are good to go.

3. Spray/dab the stain

Gently apply the cleaning solution of your choice to the stain using a sponge or a towel. If you are using a steam cleaner as mentioned above, use it on the stain before and after applying the cleaner. Let the solution rest for 5 – 10 minutes so that it has sufficient time to work on the stain.

4. Clean the stain with water

Use a damp towel or a sponge to clean the stain. Don’t use water excessively as it could lead to water stains, and you will end up with another problem to deal with! If using a steam cleaner, do it cautiously so as not to excessively dampen seats. Make sure to use correct heat settings as recommended in the instruction manual.

5. Repeat steps 03 and 04 if necessary

If you can’t really see an improvement on the stain or if it is still partially visible, then attack the stain again with steps 3 and 4. This could be especially necessary if the stain is quite old, as coffee stains strengthen over time.

6. Dry the seat

Use a hair dryer to fully dry the wet area as leaving it to dry naturally will not remove all the water. If there is any moisture left, it could lead to mold growth on your upholstery.

With these 6 easy steps, you can return your stained upholstery to its original beauty. The key fact to remember is to attend to coffee stains as soon as you can.

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