Picture this, you’ve had a long day at work, you brew yourself a nice cup of coffee and you got to sit down. Your dog (or other furry animal) jumps on you – your coffee, everywhere. Whether it’s a clumsy day or your furry friend really was at fault, here are our top tips to removing coffee stains from just about everything.
Removing carpet stains
The one place where most of the mess lands. The sooner you clean it up the better. Here are ways to clean it immediately after the accident or when once it’s dried out.
What you’ll need
- Clean white cloths/paper towels
- Water
- Washing up liquid
- White vinegar
- Liquid laundry detergent
- A fan/dryer to dry the carpet
Removing fresh coffee stains
Remove the coffee stains from the outside of the stain first and then gently, using a clean white cloth or paper towel, work towards the centre of the stain. Avoid using a scrubbing motion as this can damage the carpet, or even work the stain deeper into its fibres. Repeat this process until you cannot lift anymore coffee out.
Spray a small amount of water onto the coffee stain and blot it with a fresh cloth or paper towel. Repeat several times but don’t soak the carpet with water.
Use a dryer on low heat to speed the drying process up.
Removing dried coffee stains
Mix a tablespoon of white vinegar and washing up liquid with two cups of water. Sponge this mixture onto the stain and keep blotting it with a white cloth or paper towel until it comes off completely. Dry the area with a dryer or a fan.
If your coffee had milk/cream in it, then mix laundry detergent with one cup of warm water and carry out the same process as above.
Removing coffee from white clothes
What you’ll need
- Water
- Liquid laundry detergent
- Powdered laundry detergent
- White vinegar
- Stain remover
Removing fresh coffee stains
Attempt to remove the stain with cold water. Run it under cold water through the back of the coffee stain until it washes off ensuring you wet as little fabric as possible. If this method doesn’t work try the following steps.
Removing dried coffee stains
Mix a few drops of liquid laundry detergent with water and rub it into the stain with your fingers. Allow the garment to sit for 5 minutes and rinse the back of the stain with cold water.
If this again is unsuccessful try this alternative method:
Rub the stain with a little laundry detergent and water and submerge the entire item of clothing in water. Rub the stain every 5 minutes. Let the garment soak for 30 minutes and if the stain hasn’t lifted soak the garment in warm water for another 15 minutes.
As a last resort use stain remover. Apply it to the garment and leave for 5 minutes, then rinse off. Put the clothing item in the washing machine as usual.
Remove coffee stains on jeans
What you'll need
- White distilled vinegar
- Clean white clothes or paper towels
- Baking soda
- Stain remover
- Water
Removing fresh stains
For removing coffee stains, take 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar and mix with 4 cups of cold water. Apply this to the stain and gently blot the stain away with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Launder the jeans as usual.
Removing dry stains
Take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and sprinkle it evenly over a wet, clean, white cloth and rub gently over the stain. Repeat the process as many times as required and put in the washing machine as usual.
Removing coffee stains from furniture
What you'll need
- Water
- White cloths of paper towels
- Liquid dish soap
- Lemon juice or white vinegar
Removing fresh coffee stains
Blot the stain first with a clean white cloth or paper towel, avoiding using a scrubbing motion. Put no more then a cup of water on the stain and blot gently with a clean cloth or paper towel. If unsuccessful, follow the steps for the dried coffee stains.
Removing dried coffee stains
Mix ¼ cup of lemon juice with 2 cups of warm water and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap.
Alternatively, you can use 1/3 cup of white vinegar with 2/3 cup of warm water as a substitute for lemon juice.
Using this mixture, start from the outside and work your way in, rubbing in circular motions as you move towards the centre of the stain. Blot all the moisture away and repeat the process as many times as required.
Removing coffee stains from cups
A common coffee stain and all that is required is baking soda. Add a little baking soda to the coffee cup and scrub using a sponge. Rinse and wash as you normally would.
So, next time you have a spill, you know where to go to find the solution! With a few basic house supplies, you can have your home looking good as new.