How to Remove a Coffee Stain from Clothing

Coffee will make brown stains in clothing.

Coffee turns a deep brown color when hot water runs through the grounds and distributes the pigment into a coffee cup. This same pigment will also stain clothing whether the coffee has been spilled, or damp and wet coffee grounds contact the clothing surface. These stains and can be hard to remove, especially if they are left to dry and set in. With a little patience and some simple steps, coffee stains can be removed.

Things You'll Need

• Toothbrush
• Liquid detergent

Instructions

1. Rinse the backside of the material with cold water. Do not rinse directly on the front side of the stain. Squeeze the garment to remove any excess water.

2. Pour a small amount of liquid detergent on the stained area. Use your finger or a small toothbrush and rub the detergent onto the stain. Let the garment sit for five to 10 minutes allowing the liquid detergent to soak into the fabric. If the stain is not fresh, let the garment soak for a longer period of time.

3. Rinse the garment thoroughly with cold water. Continue rinsing until all of the detergent has been removed. If the stain remains, repeat the soaking and rinsing process. If the stain does not come out after several attempts, take the garment to your dry cleaner. If the stain has been removed, wash it normally in warm water and let the garment air dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not dry the garment in the dryer if the stain is still on the garment. Drying the garment will make the stain harder, if not impossible, to remove.