According to Jolie Kerr, cleaning expert and advise columnist: “When a drink stain happens, whether it’s red wine, dark beer, coffee, colorful cocktails, or fruit juice, you always want to deal with the stain as it happens.” And that right there is the first line of defense: prompt action.
There are multiple ways to deal with a stain that take the stress out of cleaning and all it takes are a few basic supplies that can be found in any home.
Clean white cloths or paper towels
Water
Liquid dish soap
White vinegar
Liquid laundry detergent
A fan or dryer to dry the carpet
Powdered laundry detergent
Stain remover
White distilled vinegar
Baking soda
How To Remove Coffee Stains From Carpets
An area rug or carpet generally gets the most traffic in a home. Consequently it also sees a lot of spills. The sooner you attack a spill the better it is for your carpet as well as your peace of mind. That being said, there are relatively simple ways to tackle dried up stains too.
Removing Fresh Coffee Stains
Start from the outside of the stain and blot it gently using a clean white cloth or a paper towel. Work towards the centre of the stain and keep blotting it using clean sections of the cloth or with fresh paper towels.
Make sure you do not use a scrubbing motion as this damages the carpet. Repeat this process till you’re not able to lift anymore of the coffee from the carpet.
Pour or spray a small amount of water onto the stain and blot it with a fresh cloth or paper towel. Repeat this process a couple more times.
Do not soak the carpet with water. Once all the coffee has been lifted out gently dry the area with a dryer on low heat or with a fan.
Removing Dried Coffee Stains
Good Housekeeping lists a very simple method to treat old or dried coffee stains on carpets. Mix a tablespoon each of white vinegar and liquid dish soap with two cups of water.
Using a little at a time sponge this mixture onto the stain using a clean white cloth or paper towel. Keep blotting the stain alternately with the wet and a dry white cloth or paper towel till the stain comes off completely.
Dry the area with a fan or hair dryer on low heat. This works well on wool carpets too.
If your coffee had milk or cream in it then all you need to do is mix a capful of laundry detergent with one cup of warm water and blot the stain with this mixture while alternating with a dry cloth or paper towel till the stain lifts off completely.
Removing Coffee Stains From White Clothes
Removing Fresh Coffee Stains
The first thing you should attempt is to remove the stain with cold water. Gently run cold water through the back of the stain till it all washes off. Make sure you wet as little of the fabric as possible. This should get all the coffee out. If it does not, follow the steps below.
Removing Dried Coffee Stains
According to The Spruce, you should mix a few drops of liquid laundry detergent (or liquid dish soap, as a substitute) with a little bit of water and rub it into the stain gently using your fingers.
Allow the garment to sit for 5 minutes. Rinse the back of the stain with cold water till the stain and detergent are washed out. If the stain persists or is really old then follow the steps below.
Rub the stain with a little bit of laundry detergent and water using your fingers and soak the entire garment in water. Gently rub the stain between your fingers every 5 minutes.
After the garment has soaked for 30 minutes check the stain. If it is still there then soak the garment in warm water for a further 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
If you are dealing with a stubborn coffee stain, mix equal parts of powdered laundry detergent and white vinegar with water till you get a paste. Test this paste on a tiny portion of the garment to check if it causes discoloration. Rub this paste onto the stain using a toothbrush. Rinse off.
As a last resort, use a stain remover. Apply it on the garment, leave it on for 5 minutes and then rinse it off. Launder the garment as usual.
Removing Coffee Stains From Jeans
This one is a personal favorite – only because it happens so often with me! Hunker has the process down to it simplest form.
Removing Fresh Coffee Stains
Take 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar and mix it with 4 cups of cold water. Apply this mixture to the stain with a clean white cloth or a sponge. Gently blot the stain away with a dry cloth or paper towel. Launder the jeans as usual.
Removing Large or Dried Coffee Stains
Take 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Sprinkly it evenly over a wet, clean white cloth. Rub this cloth gently over the stain. Repeat this process as many times as is required to get the stain off. Launder the jeans as usual.
As a last resort, if the stain still persists, use a stain remover and follow the instructions.
Removing Coffee Stains From Cups
Sometimes it doesn’t feel like a sound investment buying clean white, matching cups and mugs for the office as tea and coffee quickly stains them, especially with how many cups are consumed during a working day.
Thankfully, bicarbonate of soda can work wonders. Just add a teaspoon or two to the bottom of your stained mug and a dash of water so it turns into a paste-like consistency.
Scrub with a sponge and some elbow grease, rinse and your favourite mug should be as good as new.
Armed with the right tools and the right knowledge, you should never have an excuse for a tea or coffee stain again!
Got an even better way to wash out a coffee stain? I’m all ears.