How To Remove Coffee Stains

Learning how to remove coffee stains is something every coffee lover must do at some point.

That is because no matter how careful we are, we will drip or spill our morning joe at some point, and in the process stain our clothing, upholstery or carpet.

Even though coffee stains easily, that is no reason to give it up.

Instead, read below for step by step directions for cleaning up these spots and spills.

Then, you can sit back and enjoy a nice fresh cup of coffee without worry.

In addition, please note that if you use cream in your coffee you have got what is called a "combination stain."

That means you need to remove both the tannins contained in the coffee but also the protein stains caused by the cream or milk, and these stain removal methods take some additional steps.

How To Remove Coffee Stains From Clothing And Other Washable Fabrics

Step 1: Presoak the clothing in a solution of liquid laundry detergent and cool water (approximately 2 tablespoons of detergent to one gallon of water) for at least thirty minutes (if the stain is very old it may need to soak overnight).

Hint: If the coffee that has caused the stain contained cream make sure that both the presoak detergent used, and the laundry detergent you later use to wash the item both contain enzymes so you can easily get out the part of the stain caused by the cream.

Step 2: Pretreat the stain with a laundry stain remover.

Step 3: Launder in the hottest water the fabric will allow to get out the coffee stain, and either chlorine bleach if the fabric will allow it, or color safe bleach if not.

Hint: Make sure the stain is gone after washing, but before you place in the dryer or you may set the stain. Repeat if necessary.

In addition, here are additional tips for home remedies for cleaning coffee from clothing, if you're looking for a more natural or cheaper way to remove these spots and spills.

Coffee Stain Removal From Upholstery

Step 1: Use a clean white cloth to blot up as much coffee as possible, being careful not to spread the stain further.

Step 2: Mix a solution of two cups cool water and one tablespoon dishwashing liquid.

Step 3: Using this solution, sponge the stain with a clean white cloth.

Step 4: Next, blot at the spot until the liquid is absorbed.

Step 5: Repeat steps 3-4 until the coffee stain is removed from the upholstery.

Step 6: Now that it is removed you should get plain cold water and a new white cloth and sponge the area to remove the cleaning solution, and then blot dry.

Hint: Be sure to get the upholstery only as wet as necessary to remove the stain from the coffee.

If the above coffee stain removal technique does not work, you can also use dry cleaning solvent to remove these stains from upholstery.

You can get more information on how to clean upholstery here.

Removing Stains Caused By Coffee From Carpet

The instructions for how to remove coffee stains from carpet is the same as for upholstery.

In addition, I've gathered several videos from around the web about this subject.

Some of these show techniques for blotting carpet stains, and how to properly dry and reshape the carpet fibers after removing such a stain.

Additional videos in the group provide additional home remedies and tips for removing these spots and spills from your carpet, in addition to what I've shared above.

You can read and watch the tips for removing these stains from carpet here.

Recommended Coffee Stain Removers

Perhaps you don't want to make your own stain remover, but instead want to use something designed to remove coffee stains. The key is to find products which remove tannin stains, because tannin is the main substance that stains in coffee.

That is why I've made a list of recommended coffee stain removers, based on both my research and also recommendations from other readers who have written in to tell me what has worked for them in removing stains caused by coffee from various surfaces.

My list contains products that work on laundry and clothing, upholstery and carpet, so no matter where you have spilled coffee, there is a product that can help you remove it.

You can also share your stain remover reviews here, to tell me which products did (or did not) work for you in removing a coffee stain, or any other type of stain.

Get Coffee Rings Out Of Your Favorite Coffee Mug

If you love coffee you may have some coffee ring stains in your favorite coffee mugs.

Click here to learn some home remedies for removing coffee rings.

Submit Your Own Stain Removal Tip For Coffee

Do you have your own stain removal tip for removing stains caused by coffee? If so, submit your tips about removing carpet coffee stains here, and submit any other tips about removing stains caused by coffee here. You can also read even more tips already submitted from those links.

Get Even More Stain And Spot Removal Help Here

Are you a stain magnet like me? If so, check out the A to Z Stain Removal Guide which gives directions for how to remove over 100 types of stains from all kinds of surfaces.

Fifth photo by tienrijiftien, seventh photo by roger.karlsson and eight photo by odolphie from Flickr CC

Related Pages You May Enjoy

A-Z Guide: Instructions For Removing Over 100 Types Of Stains

Tips For How To Clean Coffee Maker

Go From How To Remove Coffee Stains To Home Page

CAUTION: This website is provided for informational purposes only. It is provided as is, without warranties or guarantees. Some stains and messes just won't come out, and are permanent. Further, some cleaning methods can harm your item, so if what you want to clean or launder is sentimental or expensive call a professional. See disclaimer of liability for more information.