How to Use Bleach on Coffee Stains

Treat the coffee stain as soon as possible to prevent the stain from setting in.

When removing coffee stains, it's best to begin treating the stain while it's still fresh. After a coffee stain sets in and dries, it becomes more difficult to remove from certain fabrics. However, even if you're on the go and are unable to fully treat the stain right away, it's still possible to remove the stain. Just get to it as soon as you can. One popular method of removing coffee stains is by using common household bleach.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Cold water
• 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
• Small bowl
• Spoon
• 1 cup powdered laundry detergent
• Toothbrush
• 1 load equivalent of liquid laundry detergent
• 1 cup bleach

Instructions

1. Blot the stain with paper towels. Make sure you do not rub the stain because this could spread the stain and make it larger. When blotting with the paper towels, try to use a firm lifting motion and get up as much of the stain as you can.

2. Rinse the back of the stain with cold, running water. The best way to do this is by putting the fabric under a cold running faucet. Make sure the flow of water goes through the back. Running the water through the front can spread the stain.

3. Mix 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar into a small bowl. While stirring with a spoon, slowly add powdered laundry detergent to the mix until you get a paste that's the consistency of toothpaste.

4. Test the mixture on a small area of the fabric to make sure it won't discolor or damage it. Do this by putting a drop of the paste onto a hidden area of the fabric and let it set a couple of minutes. If the fabric is unharmed, move ahead to the next steps.

5. Spread the paste on both sides of the stain and let set for approximately 5 minutes.

6. Rub the stain in a circular motion with a toothbrush on both sides.

7. Rinse the paste off with cold water, both front and back.

8. Pour a small amount of the liquid laundry detergent right onto the stain and rub it in with your fingers.

9. Launder the fabric as usual with the rest of the liquid laundry detergent and a cup of bleach. If the fabric isn't bleach safe, you can use a color-safe bleach instead.

10. Check to see if the stain is removed. If not, immediately repeat the entire process.

Tips & Warnings

• Treat coffee stains as soon as possible.

• Putting coffee-stained fabric into a dryer will set the stain and make it more difficult to remove.

References

• How To Clean Stuff: How to Remove Coffee Stains

Resources

• Mrs. Clean: Tips For Cleaning and Removing Coffee Stains From Carpeting and Clothing