For a large stain, soak the shirt overnight in a solution of 3 parts vinegar to 1 part cold water. Alternatively wet a paper towel or clean cloth with white vinegar and dab at the stain gently. Keep blotting the stain with the paper towel until it lifts.
Repeat this as many times as you’d like. Club soda probably isn’t realistic if you’re dealing with a large coffee stain.
You can also use a clean, dry cloth. [6] X Expert Source Jon GholianCleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 3 December 2020. Avoid applying pressure since that can drive the coffee into the fabric. If the first paper towel gets saturated, grab a fresh one to finish the job.
If you can’t get the shirt under a faucet or take it off, hold a dry paper towel under the stain and dab the stained area with a wet cloth or sponge. Always use cold water for this! Hot water will permanently set the stain into the fabric. [8] X Research source
If you only have powdered laundry detergent, mix equal parts detergent and water to make a thick paste and cover the stain in that. [10] X Research source
It’s fine to wash the shirt by itself or with a load of other white items. If you have oxygen bleach laundry detergent on hand, use that for more stain-fighting power. [12] X Research source
If the stain persists, try running it through another wash cycle using enzymatic laundry detergent.
Enzymatic presoaks are commercial stain removers that you can buy at any grocery or big box store. These cleaners use enzymes in their formulas to help break down organic stains. If the stain is still there, try soaking it for another half an hour or give one of the other cleaning techniques a try. Don’t put the shirt in your dryer until the stain is completely gone.
You can also 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. Don’t put the shirt in your dryer until the stain is completely lifted. 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.
