Removing Coffee and Tea Stains

If your washable garment was stained by black coffee or tea without sugar or milk, mix a solution of one quart warm water, a half teaspoon liquid dish washing detergent and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Soak the garment in this solution for 15 minutes. Now, rinse with water and sponge the stain with alcohol before laundering.

Stains left by coffee or tea spilled on washable garments are a cleaning job you can do yourself. If the stain is on a non-washable fabric, you should take it to the dry cleaners.

Black coffee or tea…

If your washable garment was stained by black coffee or tea without sugar or milk, mix a solution of one quart warm water, a half teaspoon liquid dish washing detergent and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Soak the garment in this solution for 15 minutes. Now, rinse with water and sponge the stain with alcohol before laundering.

Stubborn stains…

If the stain persists, soak the garment for 30 minutes in a solution of one quart warm water and a tablespoon of an enzyme product, such as Biz. Launder it again, and use a bleach that is safe for the fabric to remove the last traces of the stain. Directions on the bleach container will give you amount of bleach to use.

If the coffee or tea contained the cream, start by sponging the stain with a dry cleaning solvent such as Carbona, or Energine, or Renuzit. Or, saturate the stain with a pre-wash soil and stain remover.

Next, soak the garment for 15 minutes in a solution of a quart of warm water, a half teaspoon of liquid dish washing detergent and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Rinse with water, sponge the stain with alcohol and then launder. You may add a safe bleach to the wash, to remove the last traces of the stain. Follow directions on the bleach container.

Coffee with cream and sugar?

If the coffee or tea had both sugar and cream in it, you should immediately sponge the stain with cold water. Next, soak the stained area in a solution of a quart of warm water, a half teaspoon of liquid dish washing detergent and a tablespoon of white vinegar. Let the garment soak in the solution for 15 minutes. Then rinse it with water, sponge it with alcohol and launder it. You may want to use a bleach safe for the fabric to remove the last traces of stain.

To remove coffee and tea stains from washable fabrics and linens, you may also use one of the products that clean coffee and tea pots. Follow directions on the container.

The Georgia Cooperative Extension Service does not endorse any of the products mentioned. There may be other products or procedures that will remove coffee and tea stains equally well. You may check labels or ask for such products where cleaning supplies are sold.

For more information on removing coffee and tea stains; contact your local County Extension Office.