We all love coffee. It’s a delicious beverage that gives you an instant shot of energy, its taste can change every time with any flavoring of your choice, and it is virtually calorie-free.
However, even the best drink in the world has its downsides. If you habitually drink coffee, you might have already spilled your cup onto the carpet, your clothes, or even yourself.
Coffee stains are some of the most stubborn when cleaning up a mess. However, there are a few ways to take the stress out of cleaning, making your cuppa a complete pleasure.
Why Does Coffee Stain So Badly?
The perfect coffee must have a bold flavor and a rich color. Freshly brewed coffee usually is almost black. Unfortunately, that lovely color will immediately transfer to any fabric as soon as you spill your drink.
The culprits are the tannins. These are acidic compounds found in several plants, including coffee beans. Its purpose is to create a protective layer to preserve the plant from insects and other adverse conditions.
Can Coffee Stains Be Removed?
Sometimes, while we sip our coffee, we are just too tired to focus on what we are doing. Besides, clumsiness is always ready to mess with our plans. However, there is no use crying over spilled milk (or coffee). Nowadays there are several ways to clean the mess and save your clothes or carpets.
To ensure your coffee stains are removed properly and efficiently, you should intervene as soon as the drink is spilled. It may be more challenging to get rid of old and dried stains, so you want to act quickly.
How To Remove Coffee Stains
Accidents can happen. Whether you have spilled a drop or two of your precious coffee on your carpet or your full cup on your favorite dress, there are lots of methods to fix the situation.
These are the best methods and products to remove coffee stains from any surface:
- Dish soap – it works perfectly on carpets. Soak up the stained area and, with a sponge, scrub it with a mix of dish soap and warm water.
- Laundry detergent – before placing your clothes in the washing machine, rub some liquid laundry detergent and cold water into the stained area. Allow a few minutes for it to soak. If necessary, repeat the process once again.
- Club Soda – soda can remove stains from carpet and other synthetic fabrics.
- Magic eraser – no matter how many times you wash it: your favorite cup will always have some coffee stains. The best way to get rid of it is to use a lightly damped magic eraser. You shouldn’t need any additional detergent. However, this method might not be effective against older stains.
- Egg yolk – soak your stained clothes in a mixture made of beaten egg yolks and scrub it with a tablecloth. This is also an efficient way to recycle an expired egg.
Does Vinegar Remove Coffee Stains?
White vinegar can be your best ally when it comes to stain removal. All you need to do is pour a few drops of vinegar on the stained area and use a dry paper towel to soak it up.
This method usually works on old stains, too, and it is particularly useful to save your clothes if you are not at home or if you cannot wash them immediately. However, keep in mind that your clothes will most likely retain the smell of the vinegar for the rest of the day. You should be ready to get changed as soon as possible.
How To Remove Coffee Stains From Mugs
If you don’t wash your mugs immediately, your drink will irremediably leave a few stains on it. Washing it with regular dish soap might not be enough, so we have finally tested the ultimate method to get rid of coffee stains from your mug.
- Add a pinch of salt onto a scrubbing pad or a sponge. If the mug is tall or has an odd shape, you can use a toothbrush to make your life easier.
- Apply the salt to the stained area in circular motions.
- Rinse the mug with warm water. If you are dealing with stubborn stains, we recommend using a mixture of white vinegar and warm water in equal parts.
- Repeat until you are satisfied with the results.
How Do You Get Coffee Stains Out Of White Clothes?
It can be particularly challenging to deal with coffee stains on white clothes. The mission might seem nearly impossible when the stains are already old and all dried out.
Before you throw your favorite white knitwear in the bin, there are a few methods you can try to get rid of those annoying stains.
To remove fresh coffee stains from white clothes, you can try cold water. If it’s been less than one day since the coffee was spilled, you can put the piece of clothing under the sink and soak it in cold water for 3-5 minutes. If the stain is particularly stubborn, you can add a drop of distilled vinegar, but first, make sure you are not dealing with delicate fabrics.
If a whole day has passed since you first stained your dress, you can soak your clothes with cold water and a few drops of laundry detergent. Make sure it doesn’t dry, and repeat the process until the stain is ready to say goodbye.
Dealing with dried coffee stains requires more time and patience, but you can still save your favorite dress with a bit of effort. The best thing to do is to soak your clothes in warm water. You also need to add enough laundry detergent to cover the stain thoroughly. If the stain is particularly stubborn, use your hands or an old toothbrush to scrub in the detergent. Repeat the entire process every 5 minutes, until the stain has finally vanished. Congratulations: you have removed all coffee stains from your white clothes!
Coffee Stains On Carpets: What To Do
Getting coffee stains out of your carpet might be challenging, depending on the fabric you are dealing with. If your carpet is particularly delicate or if the stain is already dried, we recommend seeking the help of a professional cleaner. Otherwise, in case of fresh stains, you can try the following:
- Act immediately. Grab a paper towel and wipe up excess liquid.
- Make a mixture with 1 tbsp dish soap, 1 tbsp white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water in a bowl.
- Dab the stained area with a sponge.
- Leave to dry for 3-5 minutes, and then apply pressure on the carpet with a dry towel.
- You might need to repeat this process several times to make the stain vanish. Once you achieve a clean carpet, dry up the excess dampness with a hairdryer.
Do Coffee Stains On Teeth Go Away?
Your cup of coffee is full of acidic compounds, which can leave yellow stains on your teeth.
As a general rule, you shouldn’t drink too much coffee, as it can have several side effects on your teeth, with stains being just one of them.
Many believe that adding cream or milk can lessen coffee’s staining properties, but this isn’t true.
The following are some of our recommendations to keep your teeth stain-free:
- Rinse your mouth out after your cuppa. If you cannot brush your teeth, you can use some mouthwash.
- Switch to electric toothbrushes. Several dentists recommend using those toothbrushes because they can provide a quick and easy way to get rid of all the annoying stains while keeping your teeth clean.
- Drink through a straw. Yes, this might not be a very convenient way of drinking coffee and hot drinks, but your teeth will thank you.
- No sipping. Yes, we know: one of the best things about drinking coffee is just sipping it and feeling its power running through your body. However, by chugging it down, you might prevent a few stains and make your coffee break quicker (but less funny).
- Keep up with your dental visits. Taking care of your oral hygiene is the best way to preserve your teeth and eliminate all those annoying stains. If you are concerned about the stains on your teeth, your dentist can suggest the best way to treat your problems.
Dealing With Coffee Stains
Whether you need to remove coffee stains from your clothes, rugs, or mugs, it is essential to act as soon as possible. Dealing with dried stains can be more challenging, and the last thing you want is to make the cleaning process harder.
As we have seen together, there are several products you can use if you don’t have a specific multi-fabric stains cleaner. As a general rule, vinegar is always the best option to get rid of coffee stains, but you can also try lemon juice, salt, and even soda.
