Stelco Tan Off 5Ltr
Tanoff is a water-based acidic spotting agent that solubilises tannin stains that originated from vegetable matter including coffee, tea, grass, beer, spirits etc. Complete with its own built-in lubricant it can be applied without the need of mixing any chemicals.
Where tannin comes from
Tannin stains are vegetable in origin — coffee, tea, grass, beer, wine, fruit. They are acidic-side chemistry, which is why an alkaline product will often set them rather than remove them.
If someone has already treated the spot with a general alkaline prespray, say so when you ask for advice. It changes what will work next.
Method matters more than the product
Apply to a white towel rather than pouring onto the carpet where you can. Work from the outside of the spot inward so you do not spread it. Tamp or agitate gently rather than scrubbing — scrubbing distorts pile and leaves a permanent mark that is more visible than the original stain.
Rinse and extract afterwards. Spotter residue left in the pile attracts soil, and the spot comes back as a dark patch a fortnight later — which the customer reads as your work failing.
Before you use it
Read the safety data sheet for this product and follow it. Solvent-based spotters in particular require ventilation and appropriate gloves — check the SDS for the glove material, because it is not always the same across products.
Always test on an inconspicuous area first. Fibre, dye and backing all react differently, and a spotter that is safe on nylon is not automatically safe on wool or on a solution-dyed synthetic.
What the safety data sheet says
Tan Off is water-based and non-flammable, but it is not harmless. Stelco's SDS (version 1.6, issued 27 October 2025) classifies it as causing serious eye damage (H318) and skin irritation (H315). The eye hazard comes mainly from the lactic acid.
- Wear chemical goggles and impervious gloves. A splash in the eye from a spotter bottle is the realistic risk on site.
- If it gets in the eyes, rinse with water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical advice.
- Store away from oxidising agents, with the container closed.
Note that the same SDS states in section 15 that the product is not classified as hazardous, which contradicts the classification in section 2. We follow section 2 — treat it as an eye-damage hazard — and have asked Stelco to correct the document.
Specifications
| Product code | STCTAN05 |
|---|---|
| Pack size | 5 litres |
| Type | Water-based acidic tannin spotter with built-in lubricant |
| Stated use (SDS) | Dry cleaning spotting agent |
| Main ingredients (SDS) | Lactic acid under 25%; alcohols C9–11 ethoxylated, propoxylated under 5% |
| pH (neat) | 2.5 |
| Appearance | Light straw-coloured liquid, sweet odour |
| Flash point | Nil (non-combustible) |
| GHS hazards (SDS section 2) | Skin irritation Cat. 2 (H315); serious eye damage Cat. 1 (H318) |
| Poisons schedule | Not scheduled |
| Transport | Not dangerous goods (road, rail, sea, air) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it remove coffee from carpet?
Coffee is a tannin stain, which is what Tan Off is made for. Coffee with milk also carries protein and fat, so a stubborn white-coffee spot may need a protein spotter or a solvent step as well. Test first and work in small applications.
Why an acid spotter rather than my normal prespray?
Tannins respond to acidic chemistry. An alkaline prespray can fix a tannin stain and turn it brown, which is harder to shift afterwards.
Is it dangerous goods?
No. The SDS classifies it as not dangerous goods for transport, so there is no DG surcharge.
Do I need to rinse after using it?
Yes. Rinse and extract the area. Acid residue left in the pile can attract soil and may react with the next alkaline product used on that spot.
Information documents
Other Stelco Spotters
- Stelco Blood Remover 5Ltr
- Stelco General Formula 5Ltr
- Stelco Safe Silk Spotter 5Ltr NVDS
- Stelco Adhesive & Lacquer Remover 5Ltr
Not sure which spotter the stain calls for? Tell us what it is, what the fibre is and what has already been tried, and we will talk it through — the wrong first move on a spot is much harder to recover from than the spot itself.
