How To Get Old Tea Stains Out Of Carpet?

Tea is just about the most wonderful thing in the world, isn’t it? As Brits we have a cup of tea for just about any occasion! But, oh, the horror! You’ve spilled it. Now not only do you not have any tea, you’ve also go to try and work out how to get old tea stains out of carpet. Don’t panic, we’ve got the answers.

How To Get Old Tea Stains Out Of Carpet

Spilling tea on the floor, although it can look and feel like a disaster, does not necessarily spell the end for your beautiful carpet.

There are a good few things you can do to clean up the spill, and although it’s best if you catch it sooner rather than later, these tips will definitely still work:

Stain Remover

1. Blot the spill with tissue paper or kitchen towel so that most of the liquid is removed.
2. Pour a little water onto the spill, to help dilute the tea.
3. Apply a small amount of stain remover to the spill, then rinse with water and mop it away with clean kitchen towel.
4. If the stain is still visible, mix 1 part each of vinegar and water, apply to the stain and leave it to sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing and blotting again.

Baking Soda

1. Place 1 cup of baking soda into a bowl, then dip a damp cloth into it until the cloth is covered.
2. Apply the soda to the stain using the cloth, and rub gently to get the baking soda into the stain.
3. Rinse the area well with clean water, and repeat the above steps if the stain is still visible.
4. Finally, rinse the whole area well with clean water and pat it dry with a dry towel or kitchen paper.

White Vinegar

1. Mix 2 parts white vinegar with 4 parts warm water, and place the mixture into a spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture directly onto the stain, rubbing it gently with a clean cloth as you do so.
3. Continue spraying and scrubbing, and you should see the stain start to lift in no time at all.

Salt

1. Blot the spilled tea with a towel if it is newly spilled, to absorb as much of the liquid as possible.
2. Pour salt directly onto the stain (you’re better off with fine table salt than chunkier versions, but any salt will do) and rub it in with a clean cloth.
3. Rinse the area with cold water, and repeat the above steps until you see that the stain has completely disappeared.

This detailed article has some great ideas on how to remove tea stains.

Does Tea Come Out Of Carpet?

Tea, especially the black kind, looks shocking when spilled on a carpet, especially a white or pale coloured one!

You would be forgiven for panicking and deciding to remove all your carpets and start again, but there is no need to do this.

Tea stains can be removed – it may not be the easiest thing in the world, but with just a few household items it can definitely be done.

You definitely don’t need to spend thousands on replacing your carpet, or use strategically placed furniture to hide the stains!

Just have a go with a few of our tips to clean tea out of your carpet, and you’ll be laughing all the way to the kettle.

Why Are Tea Stains So Hard To Remove?

Although tea is a relatively pale coloured liquid, and nowhere near as notorious for staining as red wine, it can be tricky to remove.

This is because tea, like red wine, contains chemical compounds known as tannins, or tannic acids.

These compounds are used in the dyeing of leather, and also for making ink, so it’s no surprise that tea can leave a mark on your furnishings if you spill it!

You may have noticed that after a while your favourite tea mug starts to turn brown on the inside – this is also because of tannin.

Just try not to think what your insides must look like if you are a dedicated, all day every day tea drinker!

Can Tea Stains Be Permanent?

Your best bet, when trying to remove a tea stain, is to get to the spill as quickly as you can and start trying to remove it.

A tea stain that has been left to settle for longer will be harder to remove, as the liquid will have dried and all the tannins will have soaked in.

However, there is very little chance that your tea stain will NEVER go away, especially if you follow our tips for removing them.

It is definitely easier to remove a tea stain from a darker coloured fabric than a lighter one, for obvious reasons (it may be that you just don’t notice any residual stain!)

Does Vinegar Remove Tea Stains?

In short, yes, it does. Vinegar is an astringent, which means it is highly effective at cleaning even stubborn stains.

You can use this method to clean tea off just about anything, from cups to carpets and cushions.

It’s really simple too; just mix white vinegar and water in equal parts and apply it to the area you want to remove the stain from.

If you are cleaning a cup then just leave the mixture for 10 minutes then give it a quick scrub with regular washing up liquid.

If you are cleaning upholstery or a carpet, spray the mixture on and leave it to soak in for up to half an hour, then rinse with clean water.

Here’s a great video that shows you a few good ways to get tea stains out:

Final Words

So there you have it – as you can see, there are many ways that you can get old tea stains out of carpet – you don’t have to spend thousands on a new carpet!

We can’t help much with your lost cups of tea though. Oh well, it’s a great excuse to just put the kettle on again, isn’t it?