If everyone drank their coffee black, at room temperature, and it was the normal type, coffee spots would not be the problem that they are. The problems are compounded by the milk and sugar that commonly goes down with the coffee, as well as the temperature at which it is spilled. Things really got tough with the increasing popularity of decaffeinated coffee. Many of the decaf coffees contain a synthetic, food grade dye which is much more difficult to remove than a tannin stain ever was. When attacking these or other tannin stains, we commonly rely on tannin stain removers such as Chemspec Browning Prescription . The tannin in coffee, tea, and cola is actually tannic acid. This is a naturally browning substance derived from vegetable matter. Spray ‘N’ Go on the other hand, is actually a reducing agent and designed to reduce or remove entirely the stain from the textile surface. Simply mix 1 scoop of the Browning Prescription in one of our trigger sprayers, spray it on and work into the stain using a cloth or soft brush. Allow to dry. Once the product has dried the stain should have disappeared or reduced significantly. Repeat the process if necessary.
Reappearing spots
One of the most prevalent complaints regarding coffee spots are the reappearing spots. They can be so frustrating because they may be easily cleaned away, but will persistently come back. They will usually reappear in one of two ways, which will indicate the reason for its return as well as dictate the procedure for permanent removal.
One type of reappearing spot is the one that goes away with cleaning, but gradually reappears as the carpet dries until it has completely returned by within the next few days. These can be extremely frustrating because the natural tendency is to clean the area deeper, and more aggressively. This deeper penetration of the cleaning agent actually re-dissolves the latent reservoir of the spilled substance, and allows for its return via capillary action (wicking). The most thorough method for addressing this latent culprit is to drain the reservoir by forcing the capillary action. We accomplish this task by dissolving, thus reactivating, the reservoir. It is usually best to incorporate enzymes for this task because they are more effective in digesting the milk and sugar. Once digested, we are ready to force the reservoir to migrate to a poultice of absorbent compound. Our ‘Spill Granuals’ will absorb up to 75 percent of its weight in liquid. Once the reservoir has been emptied, we can aggressively attack the visible coffee stain without fear of wicking using Browning Prescription .
The other type of reappearing spot is the one that usually cleans up very easily but comes back in the exact same shape and in the exact same area. These spots do not reappear immediately upon drying, but take some time. They could show up as quickly as a day or two, but usually take from a couple of weeks to a month or so. The culprit here is an invisible residue that attracts soil. The amount of time required for the reappearance is dependent on the amount of residue and relative tackiness of the spot, as well as the amount of soil being brought in by foot traffic. These are probably the most persistent of all reappearing spots, because the soil is so easily removed from the residue that the spot seems to disappear with even the mildest cleaning. The culprit residue, on the other hand, is usually very stubborn. The problem is compounded by the fact that you cannot see the spot until it is too late and the soil is reattached. The correct method here is to breakdown the tackiness of the spot by using either Paint, Oil and Grease Remover or Enzall and the rinse using hot clean water. You can then attack the tannin stain using Browning Prescription as described above.
If all else fails!!
Another approach to the tannin stain is with Dye Gone STAIN REMOVER. This patented product is designed to work on stubborn coffee, tannin spots and food dyes such as red wine, cola and iron bru. Simply spray it on, and walk away. It is that simple. Remember, always pretest and study the product label.