Common Office Stains and How To Clean Them

Owners and/or managers of an office desire their space to look pristine and clean at all times. However, it’s inevitable that an office will become stained! Employees work, collaborate and share meals in the office. Clients, customers and visitors stream through tracking in snow, dirt, dust and debris. There are so many ways for stains to occur! The following are the most common stains that occur in an office and ways to combat them. 

Coffee consumption is part of the office routine; drinking in the breakroom, sipping at your desk and gulping in the conference room during meetings. Accidents are bound to happen! When you spill coffee on fabric-covered furniture or on the carpet, follow these steps to minimize the damage:

• Blot using a paper towel or a cloth.

• Rinse with a mixture of three-parts water to one-part baking soda.

• Let sit for a while. 

• Soak up as much mixture as you can using a paper towel or a cloth.

• Repeat the process until the stain diminishes and/or disappears.

• Let dry.

Ink: The pen may be mightier than the sword but ink stains are difficult to clean. Act as quickly as possible.

• Ink stains on fabric-covered furniture

  • Soak the stain with a solvent (rubbing alcohol, hairspray, hand sanitizer or nail polish).

  • Use a paper towel to blot it frequently.

  • Rinse the stain using cold water.

  • Put liquid detergent with enzymes on the remaining stain (laundry or dishwashing soap).

  • Rub it in and let it sit for 10 minutes.

  • Rinse the stain again with cold water.

• Ink stains on wood furniture:

  • Use a damp cloth or sponge and wipe the stain. 

  • If it doesn't fully disappear, rub it again using solvent (rubbing alcohol, hairspray, hand sanitizer or nail polish).

  • Wipe the stain with water, until it’s no longer visible. 

  • Let dry.

• Ink stains on the carpet: When it comes to ink stains on the office carpet, each type of ink requires a different approach. 

  • Ballpoint ink:

    • Spray hairspray onto the ink stain to soften it.

    • Use a clean white cloth to blot the stain. Do not scrub! 

    • Continue blotting the stain until the ink disappears.

    • Allow the area to dry. 

    • Hand-brush the area and vacuum.

  • Permanent ink (sharpies and gel pens):

    • Dab the ink stain with rubbing alcohol. Blot, don’t rub.

    • Once the area is clean and stain-free, dab it with a towel moistened with lukewarm water. 

    • If not completely gone, repeat the above steps using hairspray.

  • Water-based ink (roller ball pens and washable markers):

    • Mix 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid with lukewarm water.

    • Dampen a towel with the mixture.

    • Blot the ink stain with the towel, don’t rub.

    • Repeat this process until the stain has disappeared.

Mud: No matter how many well-placed mats you use, wet and dirty shoes will inevitably track dirt and/or mud into your office, staining your carpets and creating a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. 

• Spray the stained area with a solution of equal parts vinegar, baking soda and water. 

• Let the solution sit for a few minutes. 

• Blot the affected area with a clean cloth.

Pet waste: If your office allows you to bring pets to work and/or is located in an area frequented by pet walkers, you may encounter pet excrement on your office floors. To effectively remove stains made by pet waste:

• Scoop up poop and/or soak up urine by blotting with paper towels or cloth.

• Dampen the carpet with a mixture of water and liquid detergent. 

• Scrub the stain using a sponge or an old toothbrush.

• Let the soapy mixture sit for about 15 minutes.

• Blot the carpet again with the cloth.

• Repeat until the stain disappears.

• Let the carpet dry.

Food grease: Splattered sauce, ground in crumbs, and greasy stains happen when workers consume food at the office, particularly fast food. When your carpet or fabric furniture becomes stained with food grease:

• Vacuum solid food crumbs.  

• Dampen a clean white cloth with a mixture of lukewarm water and vinegar (in equal proportions). 

• Wipe the greasy spot(s). 

• Blot the area dry using a dry cloth.  

• Repeat the blotting technique until the stains are removed.

Gum: When gum sticks and dries to your carpet, it’s hard to scrape off! Try the following:

• Cut a hole in a light piece of cardboard, the shape and size of the gum.

• Place the cardboard over the spot.

• Put an ice cube in a plastic bag and rub it over the gum.

• Rub until the gum becomes hard. 

• Use a dull knife, spatula or silicone kitchen scraper to carefully remove as much gum as you can.

• Use a sponge to carefully apply lacquer thinner to the remaining bits of gum or try a citrus-based adhesive remover.

• Carefully blot/scrape until the last bits of gum are gone.

• Mix one part mineral oil with eight parts liquid dry-cleaning solvent.

• Apply a small amount to the stain and press down firmly with a sponge.

• Don’t rub.

• Repeat the application and blot until the stain lifts from the carpet.

Blood: Nosebleeds and accidental cuts and scrapes can result in a blood-stained office carpet. There are two popular methods to remove blood stains.

• Detergent:

  • Use a soft brush to break up the stain.

  • Mix one tablespoon of scent-free dishwashing detergent with two cups of cold water.

  • Wet the stain with the mixture using a clean white cloth.

  • Blot the stain until the liquid is absorbed.

  • Repeat until the stain disappears.

  • Then, sponge it with cold water.

  • Blot dry. 

  • If some stain persists, mix one tablespoon of ammonia with ½ cup of warm water.

  • Sponge the stain with the solution and blot until the liquid is absorbed.

  • Sponge with cold water.

  • Blot dry. 

• Hydrogen peroxide:

  • Test on a hidden spot to make sure it won’t change the colour of the carpet.

  • If no changes occur, dip a cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide.

  • Apply carefully to the stain.

  • Rinse with a wet cloth.

  • Let dry. 

Stained walls: We touch and/or lean against the walls in our office space regularly. Over time, they accumulate stains, marks, scuffs and dust that make them appear dull and dirty. The quicker you address stains on walls, the better the chance you have of removing them. 

• Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with warm water until a paste forms.

• Gently work the paste into the wall stain.

• Wipe away any residue with a clean, damp cloth.

• Wipe walls with a dry microfiber cloth.

Knowing how to remove common spills and stains is a big step toward maintaining a sanitary office space. However, a simple cleaning may not be enough to protect your office furniture, carpets and upholstery. Contact the experts for help. A reputable commercial cleaning company can help you avoid and/or clean those pesky stains, keeping your office fresh and hygienic. 

Need help with stains in your office? Looking for a reputable and trustworthy professional commercial cleaning company that will meet your business’ specific needs? Call Strathcona Cleaners at 403-237-8355 or email us at info@strathconacleaners.com. Our Calgary-based business provides janitorial services to an array of industries. We custom-tailor our cleaning and maintenance plans to suit your specific requirements.