How to Prevent Coffee Stains

Are you a coffee drinker? If you enjoy coffee regularly, there's a good chance that you're going to experience a spill at one time or the other. Aside from the obvious fact that hot coffee can cause painful burns if it hits your skin, it's also likely that spilled coffee – whether hot or cold – can stain any fabric surface that it lands on.

Dealing with Coffee Spills

Whether you drink coffee at home, at work, in the car, or when dining out, no matter how careful you are, you're likely to spill some of it at one time or another. If it lands on a hard surface, such as a tile floor, it's easy enough just to wipe up the mess. However, when it hits your clothing, carpet, upholstery, or any other type of material, there's always a risk of staining.

If you spill coffee on fabric, there are steps you can take to prevent it from staining. Since spills are commonly experienced by coffee drinkers, it's a good idea for everyone who drinks the beverage to learn how to take steps to prevent permanent stains from developing.

It doesn't take long for a coffee spill to become a permanent stain, so it's important to act immediately when a spill occurs. If you delay taking, the end result will likely be a permanent discoloration of the fabric.

6 Steps to Keep a Coffee Stain from Setting

1. Get Rid of Excess Liquid – Using a clean cloth, blot the area where the coffee spill occurred. Do not rub, as doing so can set the stain. Your goal is to get rid of the pooled liquid without doing anything to cause it to set.

2. Use Soap – Mix liquid soap with warm water and apply to the affected area with a soft cloth or sponge. Again, to not rub as doing so can cause the stain to become permanent.

3. Remove Excess Soap – Blot away any excess soap from the affected area.

4. Use a Vinegar Solution – Apply a combination of vinegar and warm water to the affected area using a soft cloth or sponge. To make the solution, mix two parts of water to one part of vinegar.

5. Rinse With Water – Using cold water, thoroughly rinse the affected area.

6. Clean as Directed – If the item is a piece of clothing, launder or dry clean. If the spill is on carpet or upholstered furniture, follow the cleaning instructions provided by the manufacturer.