How do I pre-treat coffee and tea stains?

Scrape away any excess liquid and solids from the stain, then dampen the stained area with cold water. Gently rub the stain with your fingers, then turn the shirt inside out and apply a stain remover to the backside of the stain.

What kind of detergent should I use when washing my t-shirt?

Use a detergent designed for both whites and colors to ensure that your shirt’s colors don’t run. You can also add ¼ cup of vinegar to the load.

What’s the best way to dry my t-shirt after cleaning?

It’s best to avoid tumble drying when cleaning coffee and tea stains from your t-shirt, as this might set the stain. Instead, hang the shirt up to air dry, preferably in direct sunlight. This will help remove the stain naturally, without requiring any additional effort.

What’s an alternative solution for stubborn coffee and tea stains?

For stubborn stains, try mixing 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar with 3 cups of warm water and pouring the mixture onto the stain. Leave it for 30 minutes before washing in a regular cycle.

WikiLaundry > Stains > Coffee and tea > Tshirts

Make Your Coffee and Tea Stains Disappear with These Cleaning Tips

Coffee, tea, and other tasty drinks can quickly stain your favorite t-shirt. But don’t despair! With a few simple steps, you can easily get your shirt looking like new. Read on to learn some of our tried and true methods for cleaning coffee and tea stains from shirts!

Updated 19 Jun 2023

By Matej Kramberger

Pre-Treatment Tips

Start by scraping away any excess liquid and solids from stain. Then, dampen stained area with cold water. While doing this, try gently rubbing the stain with your fingers; this will help lift it out. Once done, turn the shirt inside out and apply a stain remover to backside of the stain.

Washing Tips

Wash shirt with warm to hot water in a regular cycle. Make sure to use a detergent designed for both whites and colors if the shirt is a bright hue. The detergent should be applied directly to the stain before washing; you can also add ¼ cup of vinegar to the load. After the wash, inspect stain to see how it looks; if it’s still visible, repeat above steps until the stain is gone.

Drying Tips

It’s best to avoid tumble drying when cleaning coffee and tea stains from your t-shirt, as this might set the stain. Instead, hang shirt up to air dry, preferably in direct sunlight. This will help remove the stain naturally, without requiring any additional effort.

Alternative Stain Solutions

For stubborn stains, you may need to turn to an alternative cleaning solution. One of our favorites is baking soda mixed with white vinegar. Simply mix 1 tablespoon of each with 3 cups of warm water and pour the mixture onto the stain. Leave it for 30 minutes before washing in a regular cycle.

Conclusion

Cleaning coffee and tea stains from t-shirts doesn’t have to be complicated—it just requires a few simple steps! Pre-treat the stain with a stain remover, then wash with a detergent designed for both whites and colors. Avoid tumble dry and opt for air drying instead. And for those stubborn stains, try an alternative solution such as baking soda mixed with white vinegar.

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