How to Remove Coffee Stains from Clothes, Mugs and Carpet

Coffee stains are common, but they're usually easy to remove if you act quickly. Here's how to handle them on clothes, carpet and the inside of your favorite mug.

Coffee Stains on Clothes

1. Blot the stain with a clean cloth.
2. Rinse from the back with cold water.
3. Rub in a little liquid laundry detergent or dish soap and let it sit for 5–10 minutes.
4. Rinse and wash as usual.
5. For coffee with milk or cream, use an enzyme detergent, since milk adds protein.
6. Check before drying.

For dried stains, soak in cool water with oxygen bleach for an hour or more, then wash.

Coffee Stains on Carpet

1. Blot up as much as possible.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 1 tablespoon of white vinegar and 2 cups of warm water.
3. Sponge it onto the stain and blot until the stain lifts.
4. Rinse with a little plain water and blot dry.

Coffee Stains Inside Mugs

1. Sprinkle baking soda into the damp mug.
2. Scrub with a sponge.
3. Rinse.

For darker stains, fill the mug with hot water and a spoonful of baking soda or a denture-cleaning tablet. Let it sit for an hour, then rinse.

Coffee Stains on Countertops

On laminate or quartz, use a baking soda paste. On granite or marble, use a baking soda paste with water only, never vinegar.

FAQ

Does hot water remove coffee stains? Start with cold water, especially with milky coffee. Heat can set protein stains.

What about travel mugs? Soak them with hot water and baking soda, or a denture tablet, then scrub the lid parts with a small brush.