Do you have a favorite shirt or pair of pants that have picked up some pesky tea or coffee stains? Don’t worry – with a few household ingredients and tools you likely already have on hand, you can often remove these stubborn stains completely.
What You’ll Need
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Dish soap
- An old toothbrush
- Small bowls for mixing ingredients
- Clean rags or paper towels
Pre-Treating the Stains
When you first notice a fresh stain, act quickly if possible while the stain is still wet. This will give you the best chance of removing it completely. Follow these steps:
First, run the clothing under cold water to rinse away any excess tea or coffee. Then, lay the garment flat and prepare a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Use a rag or paper towel to dab this solution directly onto the stain. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. This will help break down the staining compounds.
If the stain persists, make a paste by mixing baking soda with just enough water to form a thick solution. Use the toothbrush to gently scrub this paste directly onto the stained area, allowing it to sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing. The abrasive baking soda can help lift out discoloration without damaging fabrics.
Targeted Stain Removal
For particularly stubborn stains that remain after pre-treating, try one or both of these targeted stain removal methods:
Hydrogen Peroxide: Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water, then dip a clean rag into the solution and press it onto the stain. Allow to sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing thoroughly. The bubbling action of the peroxide can help lift residue from fabric fibers.
Dish Soap: Apply a small amount of dish soap directly to the stain. Gently rub the fabric together to create a lather, then rinse thoroughly. The surfactants in dish soap can break down oil-based staining compounds.
Drying and Final Touches
After rinsing thoroughly to remove all solutions, blot excess moisture from the fabric with a clean towel. Lay flat or hang to air dry, preferably in sunlight. The sun’s UV rays can provide extra stain-fighting power.
Once fully dried, check the area for any remaining discoloration. Repeat targeted stain removal steps as needed, then launder as usual to remove any residual smells from vinegar or other solutions.
With the right techniques and a little patience, you can give your favorite clothing a new lease on life after tea and coffee stains threaten to ruin them. Follow these methods and enjoy stain-free, refreshing results.
References
[1] Removing Stains from Washable Fabrics. American Cleaning Institute. https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/stain-removal-guide
[2] How to Remove Tea and Coffee Stains. The Spruce. https://www.thespruce.com/removing-tea-and-coffee-stains-2146271
[3] Kane, L. (2017). How to Remove Coffee and Tea Stains from Clothes, Carpet, and Upholstery. The Penny Hoarder. https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/remove-coffee-tea-stains-clothes-carpet-upholstery/
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.