Can vinegar get coffee stains out?

by Elena
(Jacksonville, FL)

Soak coffee stains in vinegar

QUESTION:

My husband seems to have a particular talent for spilling coffee on his clothes. I generally soak the item in water and then rush it to the washing machine. But I hate running the machine for just one item.

Anyway, I heard that vinegar can be used to remove coffee stains. Is this true? I hope so. Then I could remove the stain and put the item aside for the next full load of washing.


ANSWER:

Yes, vinegar is amazingly versatile, and can be used to get coffee stains out of clothes. Same for upholstery and carpets.

The key, of course, is to get to the coffee stain BEFORE it dries.

Here is what you do.

1. Blot away as much of the spilled coffee as you can with paper kitchen towel or terry cloth.

2. Mix one part vinegar to one part warm water, and saturate the stain with the mixture.

3. Blot away the mixture with your cloth or towel.

4. Repeat until the stain has gone.

If the coffee has cream in it, or if it is a cappuccino or a latte, it will be harder to remove the stain. Vinegar still works, but it takes longer. You may need to repeat the soaking and blotting process a few more times, or soak the item in a water/vinegar mix overnight.

If you don’t have any vinegar at hand, another simple and low cost way to remove coffee stains is to use baking soda. Sprinkle some baking soda directly onto a damp cloth then use the cloth to soak up the stain.

And then, of course, there are plenty of store bought options. Commercial spot removers have the advantage of being easy to carry around in your purse, so are perfect for when you’re at the office or travelling.

But yes, when you are home, vinegar works just fine for removing coffee stains.

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