Best Way to Remove Coffee Stains…
I don’t know about you, but I tend to spill my coffee – a lot! I decided to find the best way to remove coffee stains from the common places that often get stained by coffee like clothing, carpets and upholstery. While I was at it, I looked into removing stains from coffee buildup on dentures, teeth, cups and carafes.
To remove coffee stains from clothes, cold water is often all that is needed. To lift a fresh coffee stain, blot any excess coffee with a dry towel. Then, use two hand towels—one wet with cold water and one dry. Alternately pat cold water onto the stain then blot the area dry. Repeat until the stain disappears. A fresh coffee stain can be very simple to remove and often doesn’t need any additional stain remover. If you can get to a fresh stain quickly, it can save you from needing any detergents, stain removers, or cleaning products.
If the stain isn’t fully removed, you can rub liquid laundry detergent and a little cold water into the coffee stain. If you don’t have liquid laundry detergent, you can use liquid dish soap or liquid hand soap. Allow this to sit for a few minutes, but don’t let it dry. Rinse with cold water and pat dry.
It is always a good idea to examine the labels on clothing. The labels often provide useful instructions on how to remove stains from a specific article of clothing. Also, the information provided on the tag can help ensure you do not ruin or damage your clothing with an improper washing technique.
For dry, older coffee stains, you’ll need to soak the clothing in water after you’ve rubbed the liquid detergent in. Every few minutes, gently rub the stained fabric with your thumb and fingers to loosen the stain. After 30 minutes of soaking in cold water, check the stained area. If the stain remains, try soaking for five to 15 minutes in warm water before rinsing thoroughly. Read on to find additional items that can really help lift out a coffee stain…
Helpful Cleaners to Remove Coffee Stains On-the-Go
Laundry Pens – Gel-based laundry stain pens are great to have around for coffee spills on nice clothing. You might consider keeping one in your car, home, or office. They are a smart way to avoid ruining good clothes caused by simple spills from coffee – or whatever. Simply follow the instructions that come with the pen. This will stop the stain in its tracks, either removing it completely or stopping further damage until you can address the issue later.
Club Soda – Spill coffee or tea on yourself while you’re out? Pour club soda liberally on the stain and blot, continuing until the stain has completely lifted.
Vinegar – You can lift out many water-soluble stains—including fruit juices, black coffee or tea—from your clothing or by patting the spot with a towel moistened with undiluted white vinegar.
Baby Wipes – For you Moms on the go, use a baby wipe to sponge up coffee spills. Wipes absorb both the liquid and the stain. Wipes are also great to use for spills and drips on your clothing other than coffee.
Baby Powder – Again for you Moms out there… sprinkle baby powder all over a damp stain. Work it in and then blot with a dry cloth. It may not totally remove the stain from your shirt right away, but it will soften the stain, making it less visible and easier to wash once you get home.
Egg Yolk – I have not tried this one, but many people swear by it. Beat an egg yolk and work it into the coffee stain with a terry-cloth towel for about a minute. Rinse thoroughly with water, and the stain should be completely gone. The fresher the stain, the better this works.
Salt – If you are in a restaurant or coffee shop, grab some table salt. Just sprinkle it over a wet coffee stain so it dissolves into the fabric. Wait a minute or two, and use a napkin to rub it away. If the stain is not completely gone, this will at least reduce the visibility and prevent it from spreading further.
Rubbing Alcohol (or Gin or Vodka) – If you spill coffee at a pub, pour a little gin or vodka onto the stain and blot away with a dry cloth or napkin. At home, you can use rubbing alcohol.
Coffee Stains on Teeth
A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda can remove coffee stains on teeth. The baking soda is gentle enough to slough off the stains without damaging your tooth enamel, and the hydrogen peroxide is a whitening agent that’s found in many commercial tooth-bleaching kits. You can mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of peroxide into a soft paste. Use this mixture to brush as usual every other day. Repeat until you achieve the desired color for your teeth. Make sure to check with your dentist before using this treatment, as it may damage veneers and crowns.
Coffee Stains on Dentures
It is easier to remove stains from dentures than teeth. Dentures are removable, therefore they can be soaked and cleaned in stronger solutions than you can use in your mouth. Denture tablets normally do a pretty good job removing stains. However, if your normal cleaning routine does not remove stains from coffee or tea, you can soak them overnight in a solution of 1 part water to 1 part bleach. Vinegar or hydrogen peroxide also works well as an overnight soak for dentures. Mix one part water with one part either vinegar or peroxide. Repeat as necessary.
Coffee Stains on Cups, Dishes and Carafes
When drinking coffee or tea, it is best to wash your cups ans saucers as soon as possible. If you can’t wash them right away, at least rinse them quickly so stains don’t have a chance to form in the first place. For stains that have already set, try one of the methods below:
Baking Soda – Sprinkle a little baking soda onto the bottom of your stained cup or carafe, add just enough water to form a paste, and scrub. The gentle abrasion of the baking soda will get rid of stains in a matter of minutes. Then, simply rinse and wash the way you usually would.
Vinegar and Salt – To remove stubborn brown stains, use a solution of equal parts vinegar and salt. The vinegar will loosen the stain and salt is a mold abrasive. Scrub with a damp cloth to lift away even the most stubborn stains.
Lemon Juice – If you don’t want to scrub, soak your stained dishes in lemon juice. You can squeeze a fresh lemon, or use bottled lemon juice. Apply to the stained area and let stand. Wash and rinse before the lemon juice dries out completely.
Vinegar – Simply adding some vinegar to the dishwasher cycle occasionally will remove coffee and tea stains from dishes and keep stains from accumulation.
Related Questions
How to remove dried coffee stains from upholstery – First, moderately dampen the stained area with cold water. Follow by sponging with cold water before blotting dry. For deep, stubborn stains, combine one tablespoon of liquid hand washing detergent with two cups of cold water. Apply the mix onto the coffee stain using a clean white cloth. Blot thoroughly. Repeat until the coffee stain disappears.
How to remove coffee stains from jeans – Mix together a quart of cold water and one teaspoon of white distilled vinegar. Apply the mixture to the stained jeans with a clean sponge, and gently wipe away the stains. Launder the jeans immediately.
How to remove coffee stains from shoes – Dried coffee stains on white Vans can be removed, but it is difficult to keep both shoes matching. Cleaning the coffee stains left a cleaner spot than the surrounding area – and the other shoe. I ended up soaking both shoes in a mild bleach solution to get them to match again.
How many calories are in a cup of coffee – Have you ever wondered how many calories are in your morning cup of coffee? Check out: How Many Calories in Coffee vs Coffee Drinks? . The answer might shock you!
