It’s National Coffee Break Day…Learn How to Deal with Coffee Stains
In the rush to get my second or fifth cup of coffee into my bloodstream, I may miss the mark and spill some as I tip it toward my mouth. Now, you’re probably NOT like me and find yourself consuming only one or two cups of coffee daily. However, you may have experienced the same frustration of spilling some of that blessed mocha java on yourself or the area around you.
Maybe the cat swiped the cup over and onto your lap? (Yes, our beloved Coco has managed it).
Maybe you were driving and trying to sip but ended up wearing the coffee or tea?
Maybe someone lost a few sips on the tablecloth?
No matter how you have spilled a bit of coffee or tea, we thought today would be the best day to learn how to address the issue. Why today? Because it is National Coffee Break Day!
While I say any day is the perfect day for a coffee break, every January 20 is a day “all about highlighting the importance of a coffee break during work hours.”
After all, a quick jolt of caffeine can sharpen the mind and get you over a lull in energy that takes you through the rest of the day. In fact, according to “the National Coffee Association, coffee is rich in antioxidants that have various health benefits. A ‘coffee break,’ on the other hand, helps workers relax, become more productive, and stay motivated. Experts have even gone so far as to say that taking a coffee break is essential for maintaining business ties. It also enhances performance and increases cognitive efficiency.”
Does a coffee break reduce the risk of spills and stains, though? Nope. So, let’s see how to address this crisis of coffee loss, or more appropriately, how to remove coffee (or tea) stains on clothing.
The Tragedy of a Coffee Spill
As with any stain removal, there are a few basics that always apply, and they include:
Keep calm – most stains can be effectively removed, and if your tactics fail, a good dry cleaner can often save the day.
Never work from the stain and into the fabric. Instead, always flip the fabric over to force the stain out or away from the fabric. Otherwise, you are driving the staining materials deeper or wider into the fabric.
When applying any stain treatments or detergents/boosters, use a gentle circular motion and always begin on the OUTSIDE of the stained area and work INWARD. This blocks it from spreading.
Never, and please read this as NEVER, toss an item into the dryer if the stain is not fully removed. This usually seals it into the fibers and makes it a permanent stain.
Not all fabrics are the same, and not all should be treated at home for stain removal. Anything made of silk, 100% wool, linen, and even rayon can all be damaged or bleed color when treated for stains. If your item is a high-quality piece made of any of those materials, it may be best to head to a professional instead of attempting any stain removal. The key is to get there ASAP and without worsening the issue by trying to wash and dry it first.
Time-Tested and Proven Coffee Stain Removal Methods
The methods we use are also used by experts such as the American Cleaning Institute, the ever-fabulous Martha Stewart, The Spruce, the wonderful team at Celsious in New York City, and others.
So, what’s the first thing to know about coffee stains? They are (mostly) tannin stains. Though you might add cream or some form of a fatty (i.e. oil stain) solution, the primary focus of removing coffee stains is to eliminate the tannins. As the team at The Spruce noted, “Chemically, the process of stain removal is a matter of diluting and dissolving the brown coffee tannins in plenty of water and flushing them out of the fabric.”
This means it is like removing wine stains. However, brown tannins don’t typically bond as tightly to fabric, and that’s good news. It means flushing fabric (from the back to the front) with cold water for 10-15 minutes may kill the stain – even if an older and seemingly set-in stain.
If that doesn’t do it? Let’s first assemble your “kit” of stain removal tools, and then we’ll tackle the more stubborn coffee stains.
You will need:
Running water
Liquid dish soap (it will be diluted into a spray bottle)
Once you’ve assembled the tools, it is time to evaluate the damage.
Natural or Synthetic?
First things first: What sort of fabric are we talking? If it is a natural fabric, like cotton or linen, we suggest this method:
Rinse for 10-15 under cold water.
Blot with a clean sponge to remove even more, if possible.
Soak the area with an eco-friendly stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, detergent booster or paste made of powdered detergent or your oxygen booster and water. Alternatively, you can use the eyedropper to flush the area of the stain with one of the stain removers above and then address any lingering cream/milk and sugar with diluted dish soap.
Allow to sit for at least 15 minutes before rinsing.
Launder in cold water using your oxygen or enzyme-boosting additive to target remaining stains.
Note: For heavy stains, it might be necessary to create a hot water bath with an oxygen whitener added into the tub, soaking overnight or for a few hours, and then using a warm water wash with an enzyme detergent or booster.
And what about a polyester or other synthetic fabric? That method is similar, but not identical:
Start by blotting rather than rinsing.
Mix 1 quart of warm water, ½ teaspoon of dish soap, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Soak your garment for at least 15 minutes.
Rinse with cool to warm water but never hot water as this sets stains into the synthetic materials.
Is the stain still there?
Dip your sponge into your rubbing alcohol and dab at the stain to eliminate any lingering hints of the disaster.
For any kind of fabric, the final step is always to wash the item as usual per its care label instructions and then air dry.
For any coffee stain treatment, remember to always air dry before a final laundering and drying as heat sets stains permanently. If you need a few more passes, repeating the processes above, the air drying allows it to happen.
Should you just skip all of this and go the “fight like with like” method of erasing tannic acid with something like white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide? You can douse the stain with it (after a cold rinse), but you’ll typically find yourself resorting to one of the methods outlined above to truly kill that coffee or tea stain.
Crying Over Spilt Coffee…Oh, the Humanity
As one expert said, “There’s no use crying over spilled coffee, but when the victim of the fallout in cotton or linen garments, sometimes you may want to. Before resorting to tears, or heaven forbid giving up coffee, just use these remedies. They work well and have been time-tested by laundry experts.
If you fear the process or just want the very best outcomes, however, just head right to Oak Hill Dry Cleaner and let us tackle the problem. We can pop by and do a free pickup of the item and any other laundry or dry cleaning, and always return your garments and household goods looking brand new. Sorry, we can’t deliver any coffee, though.
Looking for a great cup of coffee in Scarborough? Try the newest spot in town - Cafe Luna opens soon and promises AMAZING treats…including coffee you won’t want to spill.