Cleaning Coffee Stains

Coffee stains are all too common. Often they occur early in the morning when the coffee drinker is not yet even fully awake and more prone to clumsiness and spilling. Unfortunately, this also means that the spiller is also usually not in the mood to abandon the morning routine and begin immediately cleaning a coffee stain. This is regrettable because the longer a coffee stain is allowed to sit, the more difficult it will be to clean. It is important to keep this in mind when tending to a coffee stain; the sooner you begin cleaning the stain site, the better.

Before applying any stain removing solution to the area, attempt to blot up as much of the coffee as is possible. The more coffee you absorb using a rag or paper towel, the less of it will mix in the fabric you are trying to clean and the easier the stain will be to treat.

One method of cleaning up coffee stains is to mix equal parts white vinegar and water and thoroughly rinse the area with the solution. Allow the mixture some time to set in, and rinse the site with water and blot it up with a paper towel or absorbent rag.

Another method is to mix a small amount of non-bleaching detergent with a sizable quantity of water. Then, follow the same procedure as listed with the vinegar and water mixture.

Many people prefer to use store bought spot cleaning brands that use active enzymes to facilitate the cleaning. These products are often very successful at cleaning out tough stains such as coffee stains because the active enzymes naturally break down and biodegrade the organic stain causing molecules. When purchasing a store bought stain remover product, it is generally advisable to shoot for a product that uses non-toxic ingredients, so it will be safe to use around pets and children. Non-toxic cleaning products are also less prone to damaging your carpeting or other fabrics.

Whichever coffee stain cleaning method you decide to utilize, always be sure to do a spot test with the cleaning solution you are going to use. Choose a remote location on your carpeting and apply a small amount of the mixture. If you see no change in coloration of the fabric after a few minutes, then the solution is safe to use.