How to Remove Coffee Stains from Everywhere You Find Them

Coffee splashing out of tan mug.

Spilled coffee may upset your morning, but the stain can downright ruin your shirt, table, carpet, or upholstery. Coffee has a propensity to stain because it contains oils that porous surfaces readily absorb, causing discoloration almost immediately. Fortunately, we have the remedies you need to remove coffee stains from a multitude of surfaces.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Clothing

You’ll need:

  • Water
  • Liquid laundry detergent
  • Powdered laundry detergent
  • White vinegar
  • Old toothbrush
  • Laundry stain remover

Run the stain under cold running water, wetting as little of the surrounding fabric as possible. If you act fast, this should remove the coffee stain. If not, apply laundry stain remover, leave it for five minutes, and launder the clothing as usual.

If you don’t have time to do laundry, try adding a few drops of liquid laundry detergent and rubbing it into the fabric with your fingers. After soaking for five minutes, rinse the stain with cold water.

If the stain lingers, reapply the detergent and let it soak for 30 minutes, rubbing the fabric every five minutes. You can also try mixing powdered laundry detergent and white vinegar into a paste and rubbing it into the stain with an old toothbrush.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Wood Tables or Floors

You’ll need:

  • Clean cloth or paper towel
  • White vinegar

Wipe up fresh spills immediately to avoid any staining. If it’s too late for that, pour a teaspoon of white vinegar over the stain and leave it for a few minutes. This dissolves the coffee, so you can wipe it up with a cloth or paper towel. Let the wood air dry, and it should be good as new! For more tips on cleaning vinegar with wood, check out this article on Real Simple.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Carpet

You’ll need:

  • Clean cloths or paper towels
  • Water
  • White vinegar
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Small fan or hairdryer

For fresh coffee stains, blot with a cloth or paper towel to remove as much liquid as possible. Avoid using a scrubbing motion. Spray water onto the stain and blot again with a fresh cloth or paper towel. Repeat one to two more times until the coffee lifts from the carpet.

If the stain is old and dried, spray it with a mixture of one tablespoon vinegar, one tablespoon liquid dish soap, and two cups water. Alternate blotting with a wet and dry cloth until the stain comes out. Rinse with clean water. Then, dry with a fan.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Upholstery

You’ll need:

  • Water
  • Clean cloths or paper towels
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Lemon juice or white vinegar

Blot the spill with a cloth or paper towel. Avoid scrubbing. Pour water onto the area and continue blotting.

If the stain persists, create a solution of one teaspoon liquid dish soap, one-quarter cup lemon juice, and two cups warm water. Alternatively, one-third cup vinegar and two-thirds cup warm water will also work. Apply the solution with a cloth, blotting from the outside and moving in. Once the stain is gone, flush the upholstery with clean water, blot the area, and let the fabric air dry.

Molly Maid Can Keep Your Home in Great Shape

Need help cleaning, tidying, and removing stains? Molly Maid can help! We offer custom cleaning plans designed to take a load off your shoulders. Whether you need help every week, once a month, or only on occasion, we’re here for you. Contact your local Molly Maid to request a free in-home estimate for professional house cleaning services near you.