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How to Remove Coffee Stains From Almost Anything

how to remove coffee stains stain

At the end of a long tiring day, there is nothing I love more than brewing a fresh cup of coffee and sinking into the couch with it to enjoy a few moments of well earned bliss.

On most days this ritual goes off without a hitch. But on some days my clumsiness strikes and I end up spilling my cup onto the couch, the carpet, on myself or all of the above just to get coffee stains!

While the pain of losing a precious cup of coffee and few moments of peace can seem to last an eternity, cleaning up the mess doesn’t have to!

There are multiple ways to remove coffee stains that take the stress out of cleaning and all it takes are a few basic supplies that can be found in any home.

How To Remove Coffee Stains From Carpets

Coffee Spilling On Carpet

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. Read on.

You’ll need

  • Clean white cloths or paper towels
  • Water
  • Liquid dish soap
  • White vinegar
  • Liquid laundry detergent
  • A fan or dryer to dry the carpet

Removing Fresh Coffee Stains

Start removing coffee stains 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 coffee 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 coffee 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.

Then rinse the area with a tiny bit of cold water and blot to dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Removing Coffee Stains From White Clothes

Coffee spots

You’ll need

  • Water
  • Liquid laundry detergent
  • Powdered laundry detergent
  • White vinegar
  • Stain remover

Removing Fresh Coffee Stains

The first thing you should attempt is to remove coffee stains with cold water. Gently run cold water through the back of the coffee 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

coffee stain on jeans

This one is a personal favorite – only because it happens so often with me! Hunker has the process down to it simplest form.

You’ll Need

  • White distilled vinegar
  • Clean white cloths or paper towels
  • Baking soda
  • Stain remover
  • Water

Removing Fresh Coffee Stains

For removing 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 Upholstery

You’ll need

  • Water
  • White cloths or paper towels
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Lemon juice or white vinegar

Removing Fresh Coffee Stains

For removing coffee stains from upholstery blot the coffee with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Do not use a scrubbing motion. After you’ve got all the coffee out flush the area with not more than a cup of water and gently blot all the water out with a clean dry cloth or paper towel. If the stain still persists or has dried up then follow the steps below.

Removing Large Dried Coffee Stains

Trust the professionals! According to Coit mix ¼ cup of lemon juice with 2 cups of warm water and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap.

You can use ⅓ cup of white vinegar with ⅔ cup of warm water as a substitute for the lemon juice – water mix.

Using a clean white cloth or a sponge work this mixture into the stain starting from the outside and gently rub in a circular motion as you move towards the center of the stain.

Flush the area with no more than one cup of cold water. Blot all the moisture away with a clean dry cloth or paper towel. Repeat this process as often as required.

Removing Coffee Stains From Cups

stained coffee cups

This tip from The Kitchn is especially useful if you have a favorite coffee cup that you use all the time. All you need is baking soda!

Sprinkle a little baking soda into the stained coffee cup. Add just enough water to make a paste. Scrub the cup with a dishwashing sponge. The abrasiveness of the baking soda gets rid of the stains almost immediately. Rinse the cup with water and wash it as you usually would.

Removing Coffee Stains From Wooden Floors Or Furniture

Grunge Timber with Coffee Cup and Stains

Fresh coffee spills on wooden floors or furniture can be wiped away with a clean cloth or paper towels without leaving a stain.

For dried or set stains on wood, pour upto 1 teaspoon of white vinegar over the stain and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Once the coffee has dissolved clean the area with a cloth or paper towels. Let the wooden surface air dry completely.

Now You Know!

So the next time you have a minor accident involving your coffee don’t panic. Armed with just a few basic household supplies, you can get rid of the stain and get right back to enjoying a fresh cup of joe in little to no time at all.