Acquiring a fresh coffee stain on your favourite shirt is incredibly easy to do. Accidents happen, especially early in the morning while you’re still un-caffeinated and are fighting to wake up.
If you’ve managed to spill your freshly brewed cup of coffee onto your outfit for the day, don’t fret. There are a few simple steps to follow to eradicate that stain as quickly as possible.
Luckily, coffee is not something that will cause permanent stains, as long as you work quickly to remove the marks.
1. Cold Rinse
The first step to making sure the coffee doesn’t leave any permanent stains is to blot up any excess coffee with a clean cloth or some kitchen roll.
Next, get the garment under some cold water as fast as you can! Turn the fabric inside out from the side that the coffee landed on before you run it under the water.
2. Vinegar and Washing Up Liquid
Mix a solution of half a teaspoon of washing up liquid and a tablespoon of vinegar into a small bucket or sink of warm water and add your garment to the mixture so it can soak for at least 15 minutes.
After the 15 minutes have passed, rinse the item with warm water and check the stain to see if it has lifted.
If the stain is particularly bad, you can add the mixture of washing up liquid and vinegar directly to the affected area and let it soak in a little before you put the item into the bucket or sink to soak even more.
3. Powdered Washing Detergent
If the stain is still visible, then you can try a similar approach, but this time use your favourite powdered washing detergent in conjunction with vinegar to make a paste.
Once you’re happy with the texture of the paste, use an old toothbrush or other scrubbing brush to work the paste into the garment in gentle circular motions.
Leave the paste to work its way into the fabric and after 15 minutes rinse the garment thoroughly and check if the stain has been removed.
4. Stain Remover or Oxygen Bleach
A final technique, if the stain has stubbornly persisted, is to use a store-bought stain remover on the mark. This can be even more beneficial if the product contains oxygen bleach, such as Ecover Laundry Bleach or Vanish Oxi Action.
Treat the stain with the stain remover, making sure to follow the guidelines laid out on the box of the product to be sure of the desired results.
This method is particularly effective if you are unable to get to the stain immediately and it has fully set into your clothes. Pre-treat the stain with the stain remover and then run it through the washing machine.
5. Machine Wash
The final step in the stain removal process is to run the item through your washing machine on whichever cycle you would usually use, making sure to add your favourite detergent as well.
Check the garment when it has come out of the machine and be sure that the stain is completely gone before you put the garment in the tumble dryer.
If you aren’t certain, then it is best to air dry the item as applying heat to it while there is still a mark could mean that the stain will be set permanently.
Conclusion
Coffee stains can be annoying and unpleasant but if you tackle them quickly, they’re unlikely to be permanent. If you follow the steps on this list your garment will be bright and clean again in no time!
An adventurous book lover with an animal obsession and a proclivity for travel and spontaneity. Used to passionately despise cleaning but has grown to enjoy it thanks to learning all the best tricks and shortcuts to guaranteeing a stress-free routine and a spotless home.
