The Ultimate Guide: Remove 10 Common Food and Drink Spills from Carpet

Spills happen—whether it’s coffee, red wine, milk, or tomato sauce, your carpet often takes the hit. The good news? Most stains don’t have to be permanent if you act quickly and know what to do.
In this guide, you’ll find practical, step-by-step tips on how to remove common food and drink spills from carpet, from milk and juice to grease, chocolate, and more, And if the stain doesn’t come out completely, we’ll help you figure out when it might be time to call professional cleaners or book reliable carpet cleaning services.

Quick Fixes for 10 Common Carpet Spills

This chart gives you a quick overview of the best way to remove common food and drink spills from carpet. It’s a helpful way to see what works at a glance—before diving into the step-by-step instructions below.

Let’s take a look:

Stain	Quick Removal Tip
Grease or Cooking Oil	Sprinkle a dry absorbent (baking soda or corn starch), wait 15–30 minutes, then vacuum gently.
Coffee	Dab with a clean cloth, then use a mix of dish soap & vinegar, rinse with cold water.
Tea	Same as coffee—blot gently, apply soap-vinegar solution, rinse with cool water.
Red Wine	Pour cold water over the stain, cover with baking soda, let it dry, and vacuum.
Juice (Grape, Orange)	Blot immediately, sponge with a soap-water mix, repeat if needed
Tomato/Pasta Sauce	Blot right away, apply dish soap + vinegar mix, gently dab, and let air-dry.
Chocolate	Scrape off as much as you can, then clean the rest with warm (not hot) soapy water.
Milk	Rinse with cold water immediately, then clean with dish soap solution; sprinkle baking soda for odors.
Soy Sauce	Blot immediately, apply dish soap solution, and rinse with cool water.
Egg	Rinse with cold water right away, blot with dish soap mix, then apply diluted vinegar if needed.

This quick overview shows simple ways to remove common food and drink stains on your carpet. Whether it’s grease, coffee, or red wine, these tips will help you act fast and keep your carpet looking great. For detailed, step-by-step instructions—and when you need expert help from professional cleaners or carpet cleaning services—keep reading.

How to Clean Grease Stains from Carpet

1. If there’s any excess grease, gently blot it with a paper towel — don’t rub!
2. Sprinkle about 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda or corn starch on the spot.
3. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes so it soaks up the grease.
4. Vacuum it up carefully.
5. If some stain remains, mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap with 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 2 cups warm water.
6. Dab the solution onto the stain with a clean cloth, then blot dry.
7. Rinse with cold water and dry the area.

Important Tips:

• Never rub the stain — it’ll only spread.
• Avoid using hot water since it can make the grease set deeper.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Carpet

1. Blot up the spill right away using a clean white cloth or paper towel — don’t rub!
2. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and 2 cups warm water.
3. Gently apply this solution to the stain, blotting from the outside in.
4. Rinse with cold water and blot dry.
5. Repeat if needed.

Important Tips:

• Always test the cleaning solution in an unseen spot first.
• Use white clothes so no dye transfers.

How to Clean Tea Stains from Carpet

Follow the same steps as for coffee stains: blot immediately, apply the dish soap–vinegar mix, then rinse with cold water.

Important Tips:

• Avoid hot water — it can fix the stain permanently.

How to Clean Red Wine from Carpet

1. Blot the stain right away with a clean white cloth or paper towels.
2. Pour about half a cup of cold water over it.
3. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda on top.
4. Let it dry completely — this can take a few hours.
5. Vacuum up the baking soda.
6. If needed, apply a mix of 1 tablespoon dish soap and 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 2 cups of cold water, then blot.

Important Tips:

• Never use hot water — it will make the stain permanent.

How to Clean Juice Stains from Carpet

1. Blot the juice immediately, without rubbing.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap with 2 cups cold water.
3. Sponge the stain with the solution and blot dry. Repeat as needed.
4. For tougher stains, add 1 tablespoon white vinegar to the mix.

Important Tips:

• Juice stains set quickly, so act fast.

How to Clean Tomato Sauce Stains from Carpet

1. Blot the stain immediately with cold water and a clean cloth—don’t scrub.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap and 1 tablespoon white vinegar in 2 cups of cold water.
3. Apply the solution gently and blot.
4. Repeat until the stain fades.
5. Let it air dry.

Important Tips:

• Avoid hot water — it can make the stain worse.

How to Clean a Chocolate Stain from Carpet

1. Scrape off excess chocolate carefully with a plastic spatula or spoon.
2. Use warm (not hot), soapy water to blot the stain gently.
3. Repeat until the stain lifts.
4. For older stains, use a vinegar solution (1 tablespoon vinegar in 2 cups cold water).

Important Tips:

• Don’t use hot water — it can cook the chocolate protein and set the stain.

How to Clean Milk Stains from Carpet

1. Rinse the area immediately with cold water to prevent souring.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap with 2 cups cold water.
3. Apply the solution and blot thoroughly.
4. Sprinkle baking soda to help neutralize odors and absorb moisture.
5. Let it sit for 15–30 minutes, then vacuum.

Important Tips:

• Avoid warm or hot water — milk proteins can set and cause smells.

·         If any smell lingers, sprinkle baking soda over the spot and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming.

How to Clean Soy Sauce Stains from Carpet

1. Blot the stain right away.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap in 2 cups of cold water.
3. Apply and blot gently.
4. Rinse with cold water and blot dry.
5. Repeat if necessary.

Important Tips:

• Treat soy sauce stains quickly since they darken fast.
• Avoid warm or hot water.

How to Clean Egg Stains from Carpet

1. Rinse the stain with cold water immediately to prevent cooking the protein.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap with 2 cups cold water.
3. Blot the stain using the solution.
4. For stubborn stains, apply a mix of 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 2 cups cold water and blot again.

Important Tips:

• Never use warm or hot water — it will cook the egg and set the stain.
• To eliminate lingering odors, sprinkle baking soda over the area after cleaning and leave it for several hours (or overnight). Vacuum it up once dry.

When to Consider Professional Cleaners for Stubborn Carpet Stains

You’ve tried baking soda, dish soap, even vinegar—and that spot still won’t budge—or you might be hesitating to scrub too hard, worried you’ll ruin your carpet’s fibers or fade the pile. Here are a few cases when it makes sense to call in a professional cleaner:

• Deep-set or years-old stains that just won’t lift despite multiple DIY attempts

• Large spill zones (for example, an entire coffee pot or cooking oil accident) 

• Lingering odors—especially from pets, mildew, or smoke—that home methods can’t fully remove

• Any hint of mold or mildew growing beneath the carpet surface

• You’re dealing with a high-value, handmade, or hand-knotted rug that contains wool, silk, or natural fibers; it needs gentle and specific attention.

When tackling tough stains feels like a full-time job, LSI3 Properties’ professional cleaners in Baltimore, MD, are here to help. As a trusted local cleaning company built on honesty, we provide carpet cleaning services—and more—with care and precision.

Our professional cleaners remove deep-set stains, odors, and dirt with eco-friendly products and industry-grade equipment—all with a customized plan and transparent pricing. Contact us today and let Baltimore’s top cleaning services give your space the care and attention it deserves!

FAQs- How to Remove Carpet Stains