How to Clean Beer Out of Carpet

Co-authored by Haim Shemesh

Last Updated: August 10, 2021 References

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]
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Expert Source

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.}

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Soaking up Spilled Beer

1
Blot the spilled beer with clean cloths or paper towels. 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]
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- 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
Dab the area with warm water to remove the rest of the beer. 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]
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- Warm water will remove the beer and clean your carpet more effectively than cold water.
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3
Allow the carpet to air dry overnight before you walk on it. 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]
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- Walking over the area will push the beer deeper into the fibers of the carpet.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Beer Stains

1
Combine dish soap, white vinegar, and warm water in a bowl. 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]
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- Use white vinegar to avoid staining your carpet or leaving behind a sour odor.
2
Dip a sponge into the solution and dab the beer stain with it. 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]
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- 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
Blot the carpet with a dry cloth to remove the stain. 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]
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- 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
Soak a sponge in cold water and blot the area to remove the solution. 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]
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5
Let the carpet air dry overnight before you walk over it. 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]
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- Do not scrub the carpet with dry towels to dry it or you could drive the beer stain deeper into the fibers.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing the Odor

1
Sprinkle baking soda over the affected area.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Haim Shemesh
Carpet & Rug Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 12 May 2020.} 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]
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- 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
Let the baking soda sit overnight to absorb the odors. 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]
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- 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
Vacuum up the baking soda to remove the odors from your carpet. 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]
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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.

Expert Q&A

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.
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.