A cup of invigorating aromatic coffee in the morning is an excellent ritual that snatches a person’s consciousness from the clutches of Morpheus. But the morning rush can lead to awkward movement and a brown stain on your clothes. There is no time to do laundry and search for recipes on how to wash coffee and how to remove coffee stains from white, and you can’t leave clothes with dirt - then it will be difficult to get rid of traces of the drink. You need to clean your clothes using the products you have at home.
Traces of coffee are brown in color of varying intensity with fairly clear contours. It is necessary to remove the color of the stain, but not to change the color of the fabric. Therefore, the approach to removing a dark coffee stain from clothing will vary depending on the type of fabric, its shade and the age of the stain.
Does coffee wash off white clothes?
When going shopping, you need to take into account all the strengths and weaknesses of snow-white things in advance. White fabrics are most sensitive to various types of stains. Regular coffee poses a great danger to them. Stains from this drink can be washed off with improvised or special cleaning agents.
In addition to the composition, the label of any item contains basic information about the properties of the material. Some manufacturers also print detailed information on the tag about how to clean white items, taking into account the properties of a particular fabric.
It is worth considering that coffee with the addition of cream, milk or chocolate is washed in slightly warm water. In an emergency situation, not everyone remembers this, but in vain! A hot wash will cause the milk to curdle, so the coffee stain will have to be bleached with chemicals. The water should not be too cold either - it will not wash white fabric.
Important! When removing white coffee stains, you must carefully use special chemicals, strictly observe the concentration, and carefully read the instructions. Aggressive “chemistry” can easily ruin a white thing instead of saving it
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Synthetics
Thin synthetic fabrics require careful care. If you use the reagent incorrectly, you can permanently damage the item. Regular medical alcohol will help you remove coffee stains from clothes made of silky polyamide:
- Make a weak alcohol solution using 1 tablespoon of alcohol and half a liter of water.
- Soak the affected item for 5-10 minutes in this solution.
- Rinse the product in plenty of cool water.
Stain remover
Sometimes housewives are faced with the fact that they need to clean outerwear that is not advisable to wash frequently, for example, a winter jacket or coat. In such situations, stain removers in the form of a stick or spray will help cope with the problem. We list a few of the most effective means:
- Snowter oxy spray;
- roller stain remover Dr. Beckmann;
- Dr. Norvin pencil;
- spray Udalix prof.
Such household chemicals quickly remove coffee stains from both synthetic and natural fabrics.
Boiling
Many housewives are interested in the question of how to remove old coffee stains that have managed to penetrate deeply into the fabric. In this case, you should remove stains using the old proven method:
- fill a large boiler with clean water and place on the stove;
- when the liquid boils, add washing powder or washing gel and stir thoroughly;
- Immerse the soiled clothes in the container and turn the heat to low;
- boil things for forty to fifty minutes.
The considered cleaning method will allow the housewife to cope even with old, difficult-to-remove stains.
Features of removing old and fresh stains
The methods for removing old and new coffee stains are slightly different, and each method has a number of features. Coffee stains, like any other stain, are easier to remove when the stain is fresh.
You should pay attention to the features of removing any coffee stains:
- It is not recommended to rub the stain with a napkin. This way the coffee will penetrate deeper and the clothes cannot simply be washed. Use a napkin to gently blot the contaminated area.
- Do not wash coffee stains with hot water. Both natural fabrics and synthetics fix the stain under high temperature. Then it will be impossible to wash coffee off white material.
- When removing coffee stains, do not use products with a high alkali content. Oxygen-based bleaches are used to wash white clothes.
- The composition, which is used to remove coffee stains, is applied to the wrong side of white clothes. For processing use a soft brush.
- Before washing large stains, test the product on unwanted white fabric of the same composition or on an inconspicuous area of clothing.
- Old coffee stains do not disappear immediately after applying bleach. It is recommended to moisten the stain with water or diluted lemon juice, and only after 10-15 minutes begin cleaning.
Warning! Old coffee stains can be removed with solutions containing oils. Fresh stains, on the contrary, should not be removed in this way - the fabric will lose its properties, quality, and color. There are more gentle methods.
After soaking, the clothes do not need to be washed with the addition of powder; it is enough to rinse the item in cool water (temperature about +37-+40°C). Water for washing white should not be hard, it can be easily softened with a small amount of talc or starch.
Silk
Silk is a fairly delicate fabric. Therefore, any means should be used as carefully as possible.
Ammonia
For gentle and effective cleaning of silk items, ammonia is suitable:
- Moisten a cloth with an aqueous solution of ammonia and gently rub the contaminated area until it becomes discolored.
- Wash the item using a detergent specifically designed for this fabric.
10% borax solution
This product can be purchased at any pharmacy. And to apply it correctly:
- An item made of silk fabric must be laid out on a flat, hard surface.
- Apply borax to the contaminated area by pouring it with a spoon.
- Leave for 10-12 minutes for best effect.
- Rinse off the solution.
How to remove coffee stains on white using folk methods
You need to start removing coffee stains from white clothes as quickly as possible. The fabric is immediately soaked in plenty of warm water. There is no need to even try to remove coffee stains with ordinary washing agents - the contaminated area can easily increase in size.
Even before the advent of bleach and aggressive household chemicals, people used traditional methods to remove stains. Today, these methods work just as well and deserve attention.
Laundry soap
The inside of the area of clothing moistened with water is rubbed with a dry piece of laundry soap. Then the white item is rinsed several times in cold water. This method works great on cotton, wool and silk white clothes. But only fresh stains can be washed off well with soap.
Advice! After washing with laundry soap, white cotton clothes can be boiled. This will help return things to their former luster.
Ammonia
The ammonia method is suitable for removing any traces of coffee: fresh and old. The mixture is prepared in the following proportions:
- water – 200-250 ml;
- ammonia - 7 tbsp;
- soap shavings – 50 gr.
The water must be heated, add soap and stir until the chips are completely dissolved. Only after this is alcohol added. The mixture is kept on fire for 5-8 minutes, the solution should look like a viscous porridge.
The area of clothing with the stain is moistened with cold water, the cooled mixture is applied and wiped with a soft brush in a circular motion. After this, the item is immediately rinsed in warm water. You can secure the result by adding 50 ml of ammonia to the washing water. After this, the clothes should be washed again, this time with regular washing powder for whites.
Salt
Dried, but not old, coffee stains can be easily washed off clothes in a saline solution. For 3 liters of cold water use 6-7 tablespoons of kitchen salt. The white item is soaked for 15-20 minutes, after which the fabric is washed using powder or laundry soap.
Important! Salt paired with laundry soap dries the skin very much, so you need to wear gloves.
Glycerol
Glycerin is commonly used to remove old coffee stains. The product is heated until warm, then the dirty area is moistened with a napkin and left for 3-4 hours until completely dry. White clothes are finally washed with ordinary powder and dried without squeezing.
You can also wash coffee off a white shirt with a mixture of glycerin and salt. Use 1:1 proportions, apply the solution to a fresh stain and rub it with a brush from the wrong side of the clothing. Then the shirt or blouse is rinsed in warm water and machine washed again, choosing a mode suitable for the fabric.
Vinegar
You should only work with vinegar while wearing gloves, even if you use a diluted solution! The method is effective for getting rid of both fresh and dried stains. To remove contamination, mix:
- pure vinegar - 2 tbsp. l;
- baking soda - 1 tbsp. l;
- powder for washing white clothes – 50 gr.
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The mixture should be viscous, similar in consistency to homemade sour cream. The product is applied to the coffee mark and left for 5-10 minutes to take effect. After soaking, white clothes are washed as usual, adding rinse aid if necessary.
Turpentine oil
The oil method is good for removing old coffee marks. To obtain the solution you need ceramic or glassware. You need to mix 35 ml of oil, 25 g. iodized salt.
The solution is evenly distributed over the stained area of clothing and left for 15 minutes. Traces of coffee are wiped off with a brush, then the mixture is applied again and left for another couple of hours.
After this time, white clothes are soaked for 40 minutes and finally washed with powder. It is better to rinse the item several times after such cleaning. It is advisable to dry clothes in the fresh air.
Universal recipes for coffee stains
There are several simple recipes that can effectively remove dirt from most fabrics.
How to remove coffee from clothes using glycerin and kitchen salt:
- Mix glycerin with NaCl (regular kitchen salt) 1 to 1.
- Apply to a fresh stain, going slightly beyond its edges.
- Leave for 5 minutes.
- Wash the product according to the instructions on the label.
These same components plus an ammonia solution (ammonia) in the same quantity as the first two substances are mixed until smooth. This paste will help if the stain is older. Cover the contaminated area with the mixture and leave for a day. Next, wash the treated area as usual, plus a general wash.
How to remove coffee stains on white using household chemicals
You can remove coffee stains from white clothes in a short time using special products. However, household chemicals must be used with caution so that the wrong concentration of the solution does not damage the fabric.
Stain remover
Any brand of stain remover that matches the type of fabric will do. The area contaminated with coffee drink is filled with stain remover and left for 30-40 minutes. Then the white clothes are washed and rinsed as usual.
This quick method is usually used for fresh stains. Old marks will have to be soaked for 10-12 hours, and it is better to dilute the detergent with a small amount of water.
If you choose an oxygen-based solution for washing white clothes, you will not only bleach, but also disinfect the fabric.
Important! Housewives with experience in removing coffee stains recommend choosing products designed to remove organic contaminants.
Dishwashing liquid
Regular dishwashing gel also does a good job of removing coffee stains on white clothes. The “Fairy” product is considered the most effective. Pour 500 ml of warm water into any container and add 150 ml of gel. White clothes are soaked for 15-20 minutes, washed and rinsed several times.
If the result is unsatisfactory, soak the coffee-stained item in the same solution for 3-4 hours.
Liquid Domestos
It is recommended to work with antiseptics such as Domestos only with rubber gloves. These household chemicals contain chlorine, which corrodes the skin.
To remove coffee stains from white material, apply a small amount of solution to the stained area and scrub with a soft brush. Some housewives soak things for 8-10 hours - this gives a strong effect of whitening clothes.
Window cleaner
Glass cleaning chemicals contain ammonia, which, as already mentioned, perfectly removes coffee stains. A little special product is “spiked” or poured onto the dirty area of clothing. Then rub a dry towel several times from the edges of the stain to its center.
Comment! This method only works with fresh traces. After exposure to the product, white clothes must be washed on a delicate cycle.
Petrol
Gasoline dissolves fats well, which is why it is used to remove cafe au lait stains. It is important to understand that only purified gasoline (the kind that is used to refill lighters) is suitable for washing clothes.
Moisten a cotton pad with gasoline and wipe the contaminated part of the clothing until the brown spots completely disappear. White fabric must be immediately washed from the caustic solution and rinsed several times.
Warning! Gasoline can only be used for natural clothes - it will simply “corrode” synthetics along with the stain.
Cleaning colored clothes
When washing things, we first pay attention to the color and type of fabric, because clothes washed with the wrong powder, gel or liquid can be irrevocably damaged. Therefore, when planning to wash coffee stains from jeans or a bright T-shirt, do not forget that such things do not accept bleaches and other aggressive substances.
To remove stains from colored clothing once and for all, use the following products:
- Laundry soap. You can rub the contaminated area dry with it, and then brush it off after drying. We also allow the option of soaking in warm water, having previously dissolved soap shavings in it.
- Stain removers. Use such substances with caution, as they must be marked “color”.
- Dish detergent. Such substances are effective for drinks containing milk fats.
The nuances of cleaning different types of fabrics
You can remove coffee stains from white clothes using any of the suggested methods. However, before using this or that method, it is worth considering the type of fabric:
- white linen, for example, is the most unpretentious natural material; it can be washed with any of the listed means;
- cotton-based clothes are washed at 60°C, and it is better to remove coffee stains from this fabric with weak solutions of household chemicals;
- viscose and acrylic fabrics cannot be cleaned with ordinary household chemicals; it is better to remove traces of coffee from them with glycerin or ammonia;
- polyester is a durable material that can be exposed to any chemical influences (except gasoline and other solvents);
- For silk, special powders and conditioners are used; blouses and scarves can be washed from coffee with weak acid solutions and laundry soap.
How to Remove Old Coffee Stains
To get rid of coffee stains that were left several weeks or months ago, you can use:
- A mixture of water with glycerin or borax. Soak the stained area with the solution for at least 30 minutes.
- Old stains are removed from white natural fabrics using hydrogen peroxide.
- Ammonia is good for removing marks on synthetics. Moisten the affected area with ammonia and leave for 20 minutes.
- Using warm glycerin you can remove old coffee stains from wool, plush or carpeting.
Washing soap
The best way to quickly remove a fresh coffee stain is with regular or laundry soap. This is a product that is used in every home; it can be found in any cafe or restaurant toilet. That is, of all the remedies that can help you most quickly in such a situation, this remedy is the most accessible. You just need to take off your clothes, wet them under running water, soap them generously and wash them. And even if there is something left, it will be easier to wash it off later. It is usually much easier to remove stains right away than to wash old and dried coffee from a shirt, trousers or blouse.
