How to Clean Beer Out of Carpet

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Spilled beer on your carpet is annoying, but you can easily clean it up without leaving behind an odor or a stain. If the beer was recently spilled, remove it with clean water and dry cloths or paper towels. For beer-stained carpet, make a simple cleaning solution out of dish soap and vinegar, and use it to blot the stain away. To get a funky beer smell out of your carpet, use baking soda and a vacuum to remove the odor-causing particles. [1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Soaking up Spilled Beer

PDF download Download Article
  1. Soak up as much of the spilled beer from the carpet as you can by dabbing the spot with a clean, dry cloth or paper towels. Avoid rubbing the beer on the carpet or you’ll force it deeper into the fibers, which can cause stains and an unpleasant odor. [2]
    • Try to soak up the beer immediately after a spill occurs. The longer spilled beer soaks into your carpet, the more difficult it is to remove.
  2. Take a clean sponge or cloth, soak it in warm water, and squeeze it to wring out the excess. Dab the affected area just enough to moisten the fibers. Follow behind the sponge or cloth with a clean paper towel to soak up the water and beer. Repeat the process as many times as it takes to remove the beer from the carpet. [3]
    • Warm water will remove the beer and clean your carpet more effectively than cold water.
    Advertisement
  3. Block off the area around the spill to keep people and pets from walking over it. Turn on ceiling fans or move portable fans into the room to increase airflow and leave the carpet to air dry. [4]
    • Walking over the area will push the beer deeper into the fibers of the carpet.
    4. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Removing Beer Stains

PDF download Download Article
  1. Take a clean bowl and add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) each of dish soap and white vinegar. Then, slowly add 2 cups (470 mL) of warm water so you don’t splash or spill it and use a spoon to stir the mixture. [5]
    • Use white vinegar to avoid staining your carpet or leaving behind a sour odor.
  2. Take a clean sponge and soak it in the bowl of cleaning solution. Squeeze it well to wring out the excess so you don’t oversaturate the carpet. Then, gently dab the stained area to apply the solution just enough to dampen the stain. [6]
    • Make sure you cover all of the stain with the cleaning solution.
    • You can use a clean cloth to apply the solution if you don’t have a clean sponge, but wring it out well.
  3. Soak up the cleaning solution by dabbing the area with a clean cloth or paper towels to lift the stain from the carpet. If the beer stain is still present after you soak up the cleaning solution, apply more of the solution and repeat the process as many times as it takes to remove it completely. [7]
    • Because the vinegar and dish soap solution is mild, it won’t damage or discolor your carpet, so you can repeat the application multiple times.

    Warning: Do not scrub or rub the carpet to clean it! You’ll force the beer stain deeper into the fibers, making it worse and much harder to remove.

  4. Once you’ve effectively removed the spilled beer, rinse and clean your sponge. Then, soak the sponge in cold water and wring out the excess. Use the damp sponge to blot the carpet and remove the cleaning solution so the smell of vinegar is gone. [8]
  5. Turn on ceiling fans or room fans to increase the air circulation so the carpet dries faster. Keep people and pets from walking over the carpet while it dries. [9]
    • Do not scrub the carpet with dry towels to dry it or you could drive the beer stain deeper into the fibers.
    6. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Removing the Odor

PDF download Download Article
  1. [10] Apply the baking soda liberally over the stained or stinky area of your carpet. Pour it straight from the container for larger stains or scoop some out and sprinkle it over the carpet with your hands for smaller stains. [11]
    • Baking soda won’t damage your carpet, so use as much as you need.
    • Form a layer of baking soda on top of the entire stain so you can remove all of the odor-causing particles.
  2. Give the baking soda plenty of time to soak up all of the odor-causing particles from your carpet. Avoid walking over the area so the baking soda is undisturbed while it works its magic. [12]
    • Sprinkle the baking soda over your carpet before you go to bed at night so you can clean it up in the morning.
    • Allow the baking soda to sit for at least 3-4 hours if you don’t have time to wait overnight.
  3. Run a vacuum cleaner over your carpet to remove both the baking soda and the odor-causing particles it absorbed. Vacuum over it several times to make sure you suck up all of the baking soda and any beer residue that could leave behind a funky smell. [13]

    Tip: If 1 application isn’t enough to fully remove the smell of beer, repeat the process as many times as you need to until it’s gone.

    4. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can you get beer stains out with bleach?
    Haim Shemesh
    Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
    Haim Shemesh is a Carpet and Rug Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration, a business based in New York City. Haim specializes in Oriental, Persian, handmade, and antique rug cleaning and repair. He also conducts rug restoration along with fire damage care. He has over 17 years of experience in the carpet cleaning industry. Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration has been awarded Angie's List Super Service Award in 2017 and 2018. Their clients include Staples, Ace Hotel, Momofuku, Banana Republic, and more.
    Haim Shemesh
    Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Avoid using bleach to clean beer out of your carpet, as the strength of the cleaning solution could damage or discolor your carpet.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
  • Question
    What removes tough stains out of carpet?
    Haim Shemesh
    Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
    Haim Shemesh is a Carpet and Rug Cleaning Specialist and the Owner of Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration, a business based in New York City. Haim specializes in Oriental, Persian, handmade, and antique rug cleaning and repair. He also conducts rug restoration along with fire damage care. He has over 17 years of experience in the carpet cleaning industry. Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration has been awarded Angie's List Super Service Award in 2017 and 2018. Their clients include Staples, Ace Hotel, Momofuku, Banana Republic, and more.
    Haim Shemesh
    Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It depends on the type of stain, as each stain responds differently to different materials. We use neutralized alkaline or acidic-based products, depending on how acidic the stain is.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Use a Bissell Carpet Cleaner
      How to
      Remove Urine Smell from Carpet
      How to
      Clean Carpet with a Steam Cleaner
      How to
      Get Bad Smells out of Carpet
      How to
      Properly Shampoo Your Carpet
      How to
      Remove Odors From Carpet with Baking Soda
      How to
      Get Mold Out of Your Carpet at Home
      How to
      Dry Wet Carpet Inside a Car
      How to
      Clean Carpet Stains
      11+ Easy Ways to Remove Hair from a Carpet Without Vacuuming
      How to
      Spot Clean Carpet
      How to
      Deep Clean Carpet
      How to
      Clean a Wool Carpet
      How to
      Get Rid of Wet Carpet Smell
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ Haim Shemesh. Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/news/a53942/how-to-get-beer-stains-out-of-everything/
      3. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a13017/stains-beer-may07/
      4. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a13017/stains-beer-may07/
      5. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a13017/stains-beer-may07/
      6. ↑ https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/news/a53942/how-to-get-beer-stains-out-of-everything/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/i3mr5t03wKQ?t=65
      8. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a13017/stains-beer-may07/
      9. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a13017/stains-beer-may07/
      1. ↑ Haim Shemesh. Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-deodorize-your-carpet-naturally-with-baking-soda-252554
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-deodorize-your-carpet-naturally-with-baking-soda-252554
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-deodorize-your-carpet-naturally-with-baking-soda-252554

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 46,847 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement