How to Get Coffee Out of a White Shirt: Stain Removal & Prevention

Coffee is a tasty pick-me-up, but nothing’s worse than finding a coffee stain on your white shirt. Luckily, coffee stains aren’t permanent and there are several stain-busting techniques you can try at home. For this article, we interviewed cleaning specialists Jon Gholian and Susan Stocker to teach you all the best ways to get coffee stains out of a white shirt. Plus, learn how to prevent stains from setting in, why coffee stains in the first place, and get answers to other common questions about coffee stains.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from a White Shirt

Blot up as much coffee as possible with a clean, dry cloth. Mix 1 quart (946 ml) of warm water, ½ tsp (2.5 ml) of dish soap, and 1 tbsp (15 ml) of white vinegar. Soak the stain for 15 minutes, then rinse the shirt with clean, warm water. Launder as usual and allow the shirt to air dry.

Section 1 of 4:

Best Ways to Remove Coffee Stains from White Shirts

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1
Presoak most fabrics with dish soap and vinegar. If it’s still fresh, Gholian says to “gently rub coffee stain with a clean, dry cloth.”^{[1]
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Expert Source

Jon Gholian
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 19 April 2021} Then, presoak the stain with a mixture of 1 quart (946 ml) warm water, 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of dish soap, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of white vinegar. Let it soak for 15 minutes, then rinse with clean, warm water. If the stain remains, blot it with a sponge and rubbing alcohol before washing as usual. Only put the shirt in the dryer if you’re 100% sure the stain is gone, as the heat may set it further.^{[2]
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- This method works for shirts made of synthetic fabrics (like nylon, polyester, and spandex), as well as cotton. If your shirt is made of a specialty fabric, like silk, fur, or leather, it’s best to have it professionally cleaned, as these materials can easily be damaged.
- Sometimes, a mixture of just water and vinegar will be enough to remove the stain. Alternatively, pretreat the stain with liquid laundry detergent and let it sit for about 5 minutes before running the white shirt through the wash.
- Stocker says you can “absolutely” use both vinegar and detergent when washing your clothes, “But you cannot mix them together. If you are using detergent, only use the vinegar in the rinse cycle after the detergent is out. You’ll get oily clothes otherwise.”^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Susan Stocker
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
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Presoak old stains with an enzymatic cleaner for 30 minutes. Older coffee stains are more stubborn, but they can still be removed! Mix 1 quart (946 ml) of warm water with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of an enzymatic presoak or stain remover in a large bucket or basin. Immerse your white shirt for 30 minutes, then check to see if the stain is gone. If it is, wash the shirt as you normally would, then let it air dry.^{[4]
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- Enzymatic presoaks are commercial stain removers that use enzymes in their formulas to help break down organic stains.
- Stain removers work particularly well with cotton fabrics.
- If the stain is still there, try soaking it for another half an hour or give one of the other cleaning techniques a try.
- If the stain is small, a stain pen may be enough to remove it.
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If you already tried pretreating a stained cotton shirt and the stain remains, stretch the stained area of fabric over a bowl and secure it with a rubber band. Heat some water in a kettle until it reaches 200 degrees F (93 degrees C), then pour it directly over the stain. Be careful not to burn yourself, and make sure the material is 100% cotton, as the hot water may damage some dyes and finishes.^{[5]
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Remove set-in stains with bleach. Diluted bleach is safe to use on natural fabrics, like cotton and linen. Mix 1/4 cup (60 ml) of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water in a large bucket or basin.^{[6]
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State of Michigan
Official website for the State of Michigan

Go to source} Submerge the shirt in the solution and soak it for 5 minutes. Then, rinse the shirt with cold water,run it through a normal wash cycle, and let it air dry.
- Alternatively, launder the shirt with bleach. Add a cap full of bleach to the washing machine drum as it fills up with cold water, then add the shirt and run the cycle.
- Avoid using bleach to treat coffee stains on spandex, wool, silk, mohair, or leather clothing. It’s best to take those fabrics to a dry cleaner.
- Warning: Do not mix bleach with other cleaning solutions, as this could create toxic fumes. Work in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves to avoid touching it.^{[7]
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  State of Michigan
  Official website for the State of Michigan
  
  Go to source}
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Spot treat minor stains with club soda. If you’re in a pinch, club soda is a quick and easy way to treat minor stains. Remove the stained garment (if possible) and pour the club soda directly onto the coffee stain. Then, gently blot the area with a paper towel until the stain lifts. If possible, hang the shirt up to air dry, then toss it in the wash as soon as you can.^{[8]
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- Repeat this process as many times as you'd like.
- Club soda probably isn’t realistic if you’re dealing with a large coffee stain.
- This method also works to remove coffee stains from tablecloths and carpets.
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Apply baking soda to keep the stain from spreading. First, blot the coffee stain with a cold, damp paper towel. Then, sprinkle some baking soda over it and let it sit for a while to soak up the coffee. Then, blot the area again with a clean, dry paper towel. Alternatively, mix some baking soda with a few drops of water and apply the paste directly to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse with clean water.^{[9]
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- Salt also works to prevent fresh stains from spreading. Generously sprinkle it all over the stain and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it away with a paper towel.
- Stocker adds that baking soda “brightens clothes and removes odors. In the house cleaning business, we use it for our cleaning cloths, as well, to remove any odors. And if you mix baking soda and vinegar together, it actually kills 99% of bacteria!”^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Susan Stocker
  House Cleaning Professional
  
  Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
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Soak up fresh coffee stains with baby powder. Baby powder is a great way to soak up oils, including those in coffee. If the stain is still fresh, pour some baby powder directly onto the affected area and let it soak in for a few minutes. Then, gently brush it off with a clean, dry cloth. The baby powder may not remove the stain completely, but it should make it easier to clean.^{[11]
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- If you’re on the go, blotting the fresh stain with a baby wipe can also help remove it or prevent it from spreading.
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Don’t put the shirt in the dryer unless the stain is completely gone. The heat from your dryer will permanently set a lingering stain, so inspect the garment carefully to make sure there are no traces of the stain. If the shirt looks totally clean, go ahead and toss the garment in your dryer and dry it as you normally would. If you’re not sure or want to play it safe, air dry the shirt instead.^{[12]
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- If the stain persists, try running it through another wash cycle using enzymatic laundry detergent.

Section 2 of 4:

Preventing Coffee Stains

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Accidents can happen no matter what, but putting a lid on your coffee is a great way to keep from spilling it. This is especially true if you’re walking, in your car, or around important technology. It may be better to save your favorite mug for a day you’re relaxing at home.
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Clean up spills as soon as possible. The quicker you act, the less likely the coffee will set in. If possible, take your white shirt off immediately and flush it with cold, running water, especially if the stain is large. If you can’t, hold a dry paper towel under the stain and dab the area with a wet cloth or sponge. Then, machine wash the garment as soon as possible.^{[13]
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- Always use cold water for this! Hot water will permanently set the stain into the fabric.
EXPERT TIP

Susan Stocker
Stain Removal Specialist
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker
Stain Removal Specialist

Separate your laundry. If you don’t separate bleeding colors (like a brand new black shirt) from your whites, your [whites] are going to turn into a dirty gray. And if you wash a cold water only fabric with a hot water load, it may shrink the garment or cause the color to fade. Wash like with like.

Section 3 of 4:

Why does coffee stain?

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Tannins are plant compounds that create the brown residue of a coffee stain.^{[14]
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Research source} Coffee also contains oils that can coat fabric and make them resistant to water, which in turn makes the stain harder to remove. Many people also add ingredients like sugar, cream, and syrup to their coffee, which contain even more oils.

Section 4 of 4:

Coffee Stain FAQs

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Set-in coffee stains may be a bit difficult to remove, but coffee stains aren’t usually permanent, as they’re water-based stains. The key is to act quickly and get the brown tannins to dissolve in water. Pretreating the stain with dish soap and vinegar or laundry detergent will usually do the trick.^{[15]
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No, coffee stains must be treated for them to go away. The longer a coffee stain is left to sit, the harder it will be to remove.^{[16]
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Research source} Soak up as much excess as possible and flush the stain with cold water as soon as possible. Then, use one of the above methods to remove the stain completely.
Coffee can stain practically as soon as the spill happens. This is why it’s important to treat the stain as soon as possible so it doesn’t set in.^{[17]
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Research source} Do not put the stained garment in the dryer until you’re certain the stain is gone, or the heat could make it even harder to remove.

Expert Q&A

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Is there anything else I can try?

Susan Stocker
Stain Removal Specialist
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Stain Removal Specialist

Expert Answer

If you haven’t let the stain dry yet, pour regular table salt over it and let the salt soak it up as much as possible. When the salt is dry, wipe it off. Then put baking soda on it (Arm and Hammer is the best), let it soak up as much as possible, then scrub with a paste of baking soda and a bit of water. Next, put vinegar on it (white vinegar only!) until it is nice and saturated, let it soak for 4 minutes, blot it with a white paper towel, and then machine wash with cold water and bleach.

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What should I do if the stain is already dry?

Susan Stocker
Stain Removal Specialist
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Stain Removal Specialist

Expert Answer

If the coffee stain has already dried, I recommend trying Puracy Stain Remover to get it out.

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Are coffee stains permanent?

Jon Gholian
Cleaning Specialist
Jon Gholian is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleany, a home and office cleaning concierge service based in New York City, New Jersey & Miami. Cleany specializes in providing quality cleaning and handyman services to all their customers. All Cleany employees are insured, bonded, and professionally trained. Cleany has been featured in the New York Times, Bravo & Redfin.

Jon Gholian

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Coffee stains are a bummer, bur fortunately, they're not hard to remove. Gently rub the stain with a clean, dry cloth. Pre-soak the stain in a solution of warm water, a few drops of dish soap, and 1 tbsp white vinegar for 15 minutes. Then, rinse the shirt and hang it up to dry.

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Tips

Always test your stain removal method in an inconspicuous area first to make sure it won’t damage your shirt.

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If you’re worried about damaging your shirt or aren’t sure what material it is, play it safe and take it to a professional cleaner.

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