Nothing starts a morning off better than a cup of freshly brewed, hot coffee. And nothing starts a morning off worse than ending up with that delicious coffee spilled all over you. If you have a chance while the stain is fresh, get a damp cloth and blot the stain. This will help remove some of the stain before it sets in your clothes.
Do not rub! You do not want to work the stain deeper into the fabric, making it harder to remove. With a fresh stain, rinse with water right away to remove as much of the coffee as possible. But not many of us are fortunate enough to spill coffee when we’re not trying to get somewhere in a hurry. If you’re forced to wait until later after the stain has set, no worries! You should still try to blot off as much of the stain as possible when it is fresh; this will also make the stain lighter and less noticeable.
To treat the stain, you have a few options. If you like your coffee black, try a colour safe bleach, such as Purex 2. The hydrogen peroxide contained in this product oxidizes the coloured stain and breaks it up so that it is easier to wash away with the detergent in a washing machine. To use Purex 2, pour enough of the colour safe bleach to cover the stain and gently rub. Let it sit for five minutes and then wash with detergent such as Purex. Inspect the clothing before placing it in the dryer. Drying it before the stain has been completely removed will set the stain.
If you like a little bit of milk in your coffee, an alternative is using an enzyme containing stain remover, such as Zout Liquid Spray. The enzymes help to tackle the stains caused by protein-based milk. As before, apply the spray and gently rub into the stain. Allow it to sit for five minutes before laundering with an enzyme containing formula, such as Purex Oxi detergent. Do remember to look closely at the type of fabric that has the stain; some fabrics such as silk or wool should not be treated with enzyme formulas.
As always, try to treat the coffee stain as soon as possible! Happy stain fighting!
