Spilling that freshly brewed cup of coffee on your clothes is one of the most disruptive ways to start your day. If this happens to you, you have to find a quick and effective way to remove the coffee stains from your clothes before they become permanently embedded. This article talks about how to get rid of coffee stains.
How Does Coffee Cause Stains?
The main reason why coffee’s distinctive brown color leaves stains on surfaces, clothing, carpets, upholstery, cups, and teeth is that it contains tannin. Tannin is a type of substance that causes stains. However, it is not the polyphenolic tannins that cause discoloration themselves, but rather a reaction that causes the pigment to bind to the surrounding molecules.
Tannin binds to protein within the water in your hot drink, creating a new molecule that attracts strongly pigmented compounds known as Chromogens. As the colorant builds up, you will have a nasty brown stain on your clothes, carpet, and other surfaces.
How to Get Rid of Coffee Stains?
Removing coffee stains is not a complicated process, provided you have all the necessary ingredients. However, this process varies slightly depending on the material from which you want to remove coffee stains. Nevertheless, you will need the following items to get rid of those ugly coffee stains from different surfaces.
- Water
- White vinegar
- Clean paper towels or pieces of fabric
- Soap, detergent, stain remover, or a mixture of these items
- Lemon juice or baking soda (on occasion)
Getting Rid of Fresh Coffee Stains
If possible, always remove coffee stains when they are fresh. This makes the work of getting the stains out very easy because the coffee particles have not settled into the material yet. The first thing you need to do when you spill coffee on your clothes is to dip the clothes in cold water to dilute the stain.
And although most people are tempted to scrub the coffee stain, you shouldn’t do it because it will only damage your clothes. Running cold water through the stains will wash the coffee particles out in a matter of minutes. Note that removing fresh coffee stains from your carpet and upholstery will require more effort with this technique. If it doesn’t work, try the dried coffee stain technique.
Getting Rid of Dried Coffee Stains
Dried coffee stains are a bit stubborn because coffee particles have already settled into the fabric. Therefore, you will need more items than just cold water. For instance, you will need clean water, paper towels or pieces of fabric, liquid laundry detergent, and white vinegar (for stains that prove to be very tough).
Start by wetting the stained clothes with water and pour several drops of the liquid laundry detergent in the water while rubbing the stain with your fingers gently. Allow the clothes to remain in the solution for about five minutes before you rinse them. If the stains are still there, repeat the process and add a few drops of white vinegar and powdered laundry detergent to the solution until they form a paste.
Softly rub the paste into the stains with a soft-bristled toothbrush and leave the clothes to sit in the solution for another five minutes before rinsing.
How to Remove Coffee Stains from Different Materials
Coffee can cause stains on a wide range of materials, including carpets, upholstery, utensils, teeth, among others. While the above two methods work best on fabric, you might need to change tact when you are dealing with other types of materials. Here are simple steps to follow when removing coffee stains from different materials.
1. Carpet
The most effective way to get rid of coffee stains on your carpet is to remove them when they are still fresh.
- Using a white cloth, blot the coffee particles by moving from the outside to the middle of the stain. This stops the stains from spreading further.
- Don’t rub the stain because it could cause the liquid to get stack in the fibers. Remove most of the coffee out of the carpet, pour cold water over the stains, and blot once more to dilute the stain. Instead of using the expensive carpet stain remover, you can make your own solution.
- Just mix 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water. Apply the solution to the stains using a clean cloth. Once the stains are fully covered, use a dry towel to blot them until they are completely gone.
- Using cold water, rinse the stains and blot them once more to ensure all the stains are out. Allow the carpet to air dry on its own, and don’t rub it.
2. Teeth
Regular consumption of coffee can leave stains on your teeth. These stains can also occur on your dental veneers. But this doesn’t mean you should quit drinking coffee. You just need to know how to remove the coffee stains from your teeth.
- Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide: You can use a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to whiten your teeth. Just mix two drops of hydrogen peroxide and a small amount of baking soda to make a liquid paste. Use the paste to brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove coffee stains.
- Teeth whitening products: You can use ADA-approved over-the-counter teeth whitening products (toothpaste and whitening strips) to remove coffee stains. Make sure you consult your dentist.
- Coconut oil: This is another good home remedy to get rid of stains on your teeth. Coconut oil is a perfect antibacterial agent, and it is also good for teeth whitening. By killing bacteria that build up on your teeth after drinking or eating, this oil neutralizes excess acid inside your mouth and dampens the effect of coffee stains.
- Electric toothbrush: An electric toothbrush provides better cleaning power than a manual one, and it keeps your teeth and gums healthy. Brush your teeth with this brush twice a day and don’t forget to floss too.
- Brush thoroughly: Brush your teeth for about half an hour after drinking coffee, and remember to rinse your mouth with water before brushing.
- Sugar and cream: Don’t add sugar and cream to your coffee because they accelerate the growth of bacteria that cause discoloration.
- Use a straw: If you like iced coffee, always drink it through a straw to reduce the risk of staining your teeth.
- Drink coffee moderately: Do not drink coffee throughout the day so that you can avoid a buildup of bacteria.
- Rinse your mouth: Always drink a glass of water to rinse your mouth and teeth after every cup of coffee.
- Fiber: Eat raw fruits and vegetables like lemons and strawberries after drinking coffee because they contain natural fibers to break down bacteria and clean your teeth.
3. Cup and Other Utensils
What do you do when you notice that your expensive white cups, mugs, and other utensils are getting coffee stains? There are several effective ways to get rid of such stains, but you have to understand the type of materials used to manufacture the utensils.
Some materials like stainless steel and stoneware need special consideration. Here are some of the effective ways to remove coffee stains from your cups and other utensils:
- Wash with soap: Dish soap is specially formulated to remove stains. So, just squirt a small amount of the soap into your cup and add warm water, making sure that the stain is fully covered. Let the cup sit in the mixture for a few minutes to allow the soap to penetrate the stain. Then, scrub the stain with a piece of sponge and rinse the cup.
- Baking soda: If the soap doesn’t do the trick, use baking soda. Just pour baking soda on the stain and add a little water to make a paste. Let the cup sit in the solution for a few minutes before you scrub the stain with a damp, soft sponge. The gentle, abrasive nature of baking soda helps lift the stains from the cup. After scrubbing, rinse the cup thoroughly to remove any remaining baking soda.
- Vinegar: Fill your stained cup halfway with purified white vinegar, then fill it to the top with very hot water. Let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the vinegar to work. Then, scrub away the coffee stains using dish soap and a soft sponge, and rinse the cup thoroughly.
