Attention coffee lovers and enthusiasts out there. We have a situation, and we call it “stain.” Pretty annoying, right?
Coffee stains on teeth, clothing, rugs, among others, aren’t really nice. But that doesn’t mean you’re not given carte blanche to go coffee bender. Many of us hate the stains, but we still can’t let the coffee go. Why should we though?
The thing is, coffee stains are not permanent, even the old ones or after drying out. There are ways how to remove them. What’s more, is that you don’t need a lot of things to use to get rid of them. Let’s find out.
Can You Take Coffee Stains Out Of Clothes?
As much as possible, we would want coffee stains to leave us alone. But because we love coffee as much as we hate stains, they’re sticking around. However, we don’t have to let them stay because fortunately, coffee stains can come out of your clothes. The process can either be tough or easy depending on how you do it.
If the coffee stains have stayed on your clothes for over 24 hours, it’s better to use cold water. Put it under running water and wait for about three to five minutes until the stain vanishes. You may use white vinegar on the stained area if the stains don’t just disappear under the running water.
If it still doesn’t work, use the laundry detergent. Let it sit for three to five minutes, and scrub it off.
How Do You Remove Old Coffee Stains On Clothing?
The worst nightmare for coffee drinkers is the stain on clothes, teeth, and other surfaces. While we don’t really want it, coffee stains can’t be avoided, especially when you’re in a hurry. Accidentally spilling your coffee isn’t a good idea, but we’ll provide you with tips and ideas on how to remove the stains.
Sure it takes a lot of patience and time to remove the dried or old coffee stains, but if you are determined enough, you’ll succeed. A great rule of thumb is having lots of detergent on the part of the clothing where the stains are. It will require you to soak the clothes for a period of time before doing these few steps:
- After soaking overnight, put enough laundry detergent on the stained area of the clothing, and place it in cold water.
- Use your thumb or palm to rub the detergent against the stained area. You can also use a brush to scrub it.
- Repeat this every three to five minutes until the coffee stains are barely visible.
- Run the clothes in the washing machine for a full cycle. If you are confident enough using your hands in washing the clothes, do it.
What Do You Need To Remove Coffee Stains?
There are things and methods that we recommend you to have in handy at home so you can use them anytime when coffee stains get you out of luck. You can even carry some of these with you wherever you go should emergency stains arise.
- White Vinegar. While this would smell, it’s really helpful if you accidentally spill your coffee on surfaces, especially on your clothes when you’re not at home. Just put two drops of white vinegar on the stained area and use a dry paper towel to soak up.
- Tide To Go Stain Pen. Here’s a coffee lover-favorite stain remover. You can bring this with you everywhere as it’s mess-free and portable. It doesn’t contain bleach so it’s safe for colored clothing or surfaces.
- Dish Soap. Mix at least a tablespoon of dish soap with two cups of warm water. Use it on the stained area like on the carpet with a sponge. You can also use this on clothes.
- Laundry Detergent. The process above that we provided is what you’re going to follow when you choose detergent as your method to remove coffee stains.
- Magic Eraser. Here’s another handy stain remover that you can use, especially on coffee mugs. There are many brands that you can check out there. They’re great on tea or coffee stains, crayon marks, and burnt-on food.
- Baking Soda. This is the most common and popular product used in removing coffee stains and odor in surfaces, clothing, and teeth. For those who already have coffee stains on their teeth, baking soda works although it doesn’t protect you from cavities like the fluoride toothpaste.
- Beer. For impossible and stubborn coffee stains, you can count on the beer. Coors Non-Alcoholic Beer is great for removing stains. Or use a light-colored beer and pour it on the stained area, rub it in using a towel or any cloth to soak it up. Avoid using dark-colored beer as they get visible when it starts to blend in with the coffee stains.
- Club Soda. If you spill coffee on the carpet, tablecloth, and clothes, club soda removes those stains. Schweppes Club Soda works great. Just pour it on the stained area and leave it on for three to five minutes. Repeat the steps until the coffee stains disappear.
- Egg Yolk. Beat an egg yolk and pour it on the stained area, and rinse off with water. Yes, it works.
- Salt. Coffee or teacups have the tendency to get stained when they’re used for a very long time and left unwashed longer than 24 hours. Salt can help remove those tea or coffee stains. You just need a scrubbing pad and add a pinch of salt on it, then scrub on the stained area of the cups in a circular motion. If the stains refuse to disappear, add vinegar to salt and scrub again.
How To Avoid Coffee Stains On Teeth
While there are ways to remove coffee stains from your teeth, avoiding them would be way easier for you. As a coffee lover and a beauty enthusiast, of course, we don’t really want to smile with yellow teeth, we would also want to maintain that pearly, white smile without getting rid of your favorite cup of coffee.
Luckily, dental health care experts have found a way to avoid coffee stains on your teeth while enjoying your drink. You can find these tips helpful if you are not ready to give up on coffee. Who would?
- Use a straw. Does it sound weird to you to drink your coffee through a straw? Yes, it might be, but it’s helpful for your teeth not to make thorough contact with the coffee itself. Plus, who cares if you’re still enjoying your cup?
- Use teeth whitening products. Yes, you may have to invest in these whitening products if you are a coffee lover, especially when your fave drink has started to stain your teeth. Do it responsibly because some of them might be too sensitive for your teeth.
- Rinse your mouth. We love our morning coffee, and if we aren’t yet ready to brush, at least rinsing your mouth a few minutes later can help.
- Chug it down and don’t sip. If you’re sipping coffee, it lingers in your teeth, which causes stains. Try not to sip and just chug it down so it doesn’t touch your teeth that long.
- Brush your teeth. Toothbrushing doesn’t just help maintain dental health, it also helps avoid coffee stains. Brush your teeth a few minutes after having your cup of coffee.
- Use mouthwash. Not only that using mouthwash keeps bad breath at bay. It also helps avoid stains from drinking tea or coffee. Get the mouthwash with whitening properties to help you out with stains.
- Floss regularly. Flossing your teeth once a day will help remove those food particles that toothbrushes can’t. Do it regularly to prevent stains.
- Use Sonicare brushes. Regular toothbrushes don’t give you enough assurance that every food particle in your teeth is removed when brushing. Sonicare removes up to four times more plaque than the regular ones with 31,000 brush strokes per minute. That’s what’s up!
- Adding more cream doesn’t help. Did you hear them say that adding more cream to your coffee helps prevent stains? More cream in your coffee doesn’t change the fact that it contains tannins, which cause stains. The cream will also cause more plaques and weaken your teeth’ enamel.
- Visit your dentist regularly. Make sure to see your dentist at least twice a year to check on your teeth. They are the best people who can help you with your teeth issues.
What Causes Coffee Stains On Teeth?
Both tea and coffee are loaded with tannins, an organic compound that contributes to the bitter taste of your favorite drink. These are antioxidants and have great health benefits when consumed moderately. However, tannins are the reason why those pearly whites are stained or become yellowish. They’re also present in black tea and wine.
Endnotes
Coffee in its simplest form can stain your teeth, clothing, and any other surfaces even if you don’t really want it. However, there are ways to remove and even avoid coffee stains that you can resort to should the need arises, especially when we talk about those pearly whites.
Lastly, coffee is great when consumed in moderation.
