How to Remove Coffee Stains

Considering how much coffee we as a nation consume, it's little wonder there are literally dozens of ways to remove coffee spills from your clothes.

Ideally, you take the garment right off, spray it with a laundry pre-soak, give that a minute to work, and throw it in the washer. But as with all stains, air dry the item, in case the stain has not been totally removed. Heat will only set it more firmly in the fabric.

But chances are, not all your coffee catastrophes are going to happen at home. At the office or even a restaurant, try sponging the coffee stain with warm water, or if possible, club soda. Either of these is pretty good, and the sooner the coffee is removed, the better your chance of having no residue when you get back to the office, or have to keep an appointment. When you do get home, treat with the pre-soak and wash right away. The dryer a stain, the harder it is to get out. For really stubborn stains that are still there after a washing, try dabbing it with a solution of water and ammonia, and then launder it again.

Other tips, mostly for home use since these items wouldn't be available in offices, include mixing a teaspoon of white vinegar in one quart of warm water. Sponge with a wet cloth and wipe off. You can also try applying a paste of baking soda to the stain, and letting it set, then laundering. This also works for stubborn red wine stains.