How to Remove Tea and Coffee Stains From a Tablecloth

A beautiful tablecloth and matching napkins dress up a table and make any meal special. But so often after the meal is finished and the table cleared, you discover dried coffee or tea stains spoiling the tablecloth, or a napkin used to mop up a spill. You can only hope to save the tablecloth, and that the stains will come out in the wash, but you might be surprised by a few little tips that might just save your table coverings.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Preparation

1. Test the fabric for colorfastness. Dampen a napkin at the hem and blot with a white paper towel. Colorfast fabrics won't release any color.

2. Examine the tablecloth and napkins thoroughly. Treat all the stains before laundering.

3. Drape the stained portion of the tablecloth over the sink or a large bowl. Place stained napkins over a small bowl and secure them with a rubber band if possible.

Treating Coffee Stains

4. Mix a 50-50 solution of warm water and glycerin. Pour over the stains and work the solution into the fabric.

5. Pour cool water through the fabric to rinse the solution out. Blot the fabric with a clean towel.

6. Use a laundry pre-soak on the areas treated with the glycerin solution. Launder as usual.

Treating Tea Stains

7. Pour water through the stained area. Cover the entire stain with a de-oxygenated non-chlorine laundry powder.

8. Work the powder into the stain with a soft toothbrush. Let the laundry powder work for at least an hour.

9. Pour a kettle of boiling water around the stain, working towards the center. Repeat the process if necessary. Immediately put the linens through the laundry as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• Rinse coffee or tea stains with cold water, treat with a laundry presoak and launder immediately.
• Don't allow the dampened stains to dry.