Coffee is a staple that can be found in nearly all office buildings. Unfortunately, numerous people walking around with their coveted cups of Joe are bound to leave behind coffee rings on tables, stains on carpet and spills on upholstery. Coffee stains are pretty much inevitable, so you need to know how to handle these common office mishaps.
Your staff needs to know how to keep coffee stains from costing you money and stress. You don’t want to be faced with the expense of replacing stained furniture. Most businesses typically keep a few cleaning supplies on hand to spot-clean occasional messes, but few have the proper supplies for removing coffee stains.
Bacteria Will Spread
Coffee spills leave workspaces open to bacteria. Simply wiping them up with a paper towel will not remove this potential health risk. It is also important to regularly clean the office coffee makers. These machines typically see much more use than the coffee makers most people have at home, so regular cleaning is essential to prevent residue buildup and harmful bacteria growth.
For small spills, soak up as much coffee as possible before it has a chance to affect the lower parts of the carpet and underlying surfaces. Warm water and all-purpose cleaner will help get the remaining coffee out and prevent staining.
Run warm water through the coffee machine (without any coffee or filter) to dislodge any accumulated residue. Then, wash all the removable parts with soapy water and allow them to air-dry. Some dishwashers may be used for this, as well. Finally, try to run a 1:1 mix of vinegar and water through the coffee maker once a month.
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REMOVING COFFEE STAINS:
From Wood Office Furniture
Coffee spilled on wood can be wiped up immediately with almost no obvious stains left behind. Left to seep into the grain, however, the coffee may leave a tough stain. Most coffee stains can be removed using household supplies without sanding or using harsh chemicals on wood. Distilled white vinegar, for example, is a weak acid that dissolves coffee stains without harming the wood.
Wipe away as much of the coffee stain as possible and blot the area with a fresh application of paper towels. Pour one teaspoon of white vinegar onto the stain and let it set for about a minute. Wipe away the vinegar and dissolved coffee with clean paper towels. Let the wood air dry completely.
From Office Upholstery
One of the most important things for you to do is blot up all of that excess moisture as quickly as possible. For this you are going to need a lot of paper towels. Next, grab the white vinegar again. Mix together a solution of 2/3 cup of water and a third a cup of white vinegar.
Dip a towel or wash cloth into this mixture and make sure the stain is saturated. Again, working from the outside inward, saturate the stain and blot with clean paper towels. This should completely eliminate the stain. If not, simply repeat the process until the stain is gone.
From Office Carpet
Blot up as much of the coffee as you can. Next, mix one tablespoon of liquid dish soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar and two cups of warm water. Using a clean cloth, clean the stain using plenty of the mixture. Apply a little bit at a time, blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears. Finally, sponge with cold water and blot dry.
Though spot cleaning is a necessary step toward a clean office, it is not quite enough to fully protect your furniture, carpets and upholstery from all the factors that can wear them down and ultimately affect the appearance of your workspace.