We've all been in that situation. You might have been a bit sleepy at the breakfast table and let that mug tip back just a bit too far. Or maybe you were having some coffee while driving and didn't see the speed-bump until it was too late. Whatever the cause, a shirt with coffee stains is usually not something desirable - especially if you're on your way to work.
If you have a laundry stain remover, then the solution is simple - unless your clothes require dry cleaning, in which case this article wont be of much help.
First, use paper towels to soak up the excess liquid on the stain. Next, dampen a sponge with some cool water and wipe the stain gently. Finally, apply the stain remover, wash the article of clothing and let it dry. All sorted, you can stop reading now. If you don't have laundry stain remover, proceed to the next paragraph.
Since not all people who drink coffee keep around a vat of laundry stain remover in-case of spillage, solutions using items commonly available at home have been developed. One such solution involves baking soda - and it's pretty simple. Dampen a cloth slightly, put a small amount of baking soda powder on the cloth, and then start rubbing it into the stain.
With any luck the stain should disappear - finish up by rinsing the cloth with cold water. You can also apply a mix of (white) vinegar and salt on the offending stain, which should help. Another vinegar mixture involves mixing together a cup of hot water with half a cup of vinegar, applying this to the stained area, and letting the cloth dry for about half an hour.
Egg yolk forms the basis of another solution - unless you're allergic, in which case this paragraph is useless. In a small bowl, combine a couple of drops of alcohol with some egg yolk and mix the two together, and then use a cloth to rub the mixture into the stain - not a damp cloth, just a clean dry cloth.
The final solution involves soda water - and no applying of any mixtures to the cloth. Simply soak the cloth in soda water and hope for the best. Personally, I find this method less reliable than the ones I've detailed above - but if you have no other alternative, then go for it.
Coffee stains are messy, annoying, and unfortunately all too common. You may be one of the people who have suffered from one in the past - with the tips you've read in this article, this wont happen again. No matter which tip you choose to use, never let the stain dry without absorbing the excess coffee fluid with some paper towels or tissues - a stain allowed to dry without any action taken might ruin your clothes.
After that I personally would recommend the egg yolk solution, but most of them are equally effective. Good luck with your stain removal efforts!
