Does vinegar remove coffee stains?

Yes. White vinegar's acetic acid breaks down the tannins in coffee. Soak and then wash for best results.

How do you get coffee out of a white shirt?

Cold water flush, liquid detergent directly on the stain, wash on warm. For persistent stains, add hydrogen peroxide.

Baking soda absorbs and lifts coffee stains. Make a paste, apply to the stain, let sit 30 minutes, then wash.

Blot up excess, apply a mix of dish soap and vinegar in cold water, blot repeatedly. Rinse and blot dry.

Stain Removal

Stain removal is all about speed and technique. Here's the proven method for tackling coffee stains effectively.

1
Flush with cold water
Hold the stain under cold running water from the back. This pushes coffee out of the fabric rather than deeper in.
2
Apply detergent directly
Rub Power Wash detergent into the stain with your fingers. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
3
Soak in vinegar
For stubborn stains, soak in a mixture of one part white vinegar to two parts cold water for 30 minutes.
4
Wash and check
Wash on the warmest setting safe for the fabric. Check the stain before putting in the dryer.

TIPFresh coffee stains are easy to remove. The sooner you treat it, the better -- dried coffee is much more stubborn.
TIPFor coffee with cream, treat the protein (cream) first with cold water, then the coffee stain.
TIPClub soda is an excellent emergency treatment for fresh coffee stains when you're away from home.

XUsing hot water on fresh coffee stains, which sets the tannins and makes the stain permanent.
XRubbing the stain aggressively, which spreads the coffee and pushes it deeper into the fibers.
XDrying the garment before confirming the stain is gone -- dryer heat permanently sets coffee stains.

Yes. Soak in warm water with enzyme detergent for 30 minutes, then treat with vinegar and wash. May need multiple rounds.