Coffee stains are stubborn, but acting fast makes all the difference. Whether it’s a spill on your shirt or a drip on the carpet, here’s how to tackle it before it sets.

For fabric and clothing:

  1. Blot – don’t rub – the stain immediately with a clean cloth to absorb as much liquid as possible.
  2. Rinse the back of the fabric with cold water to push the stain out rather than deeper in.
  3. Apply a small amount of liquid dish soap and work it in gently with your fingers.
  4. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse with cold water again.
  5. Launder as usual. Check the stain before drying – heat will set it permanently.

For carpet:

  1. Blot up as much coffee as possible right away.
  2. Mix one tablespoon of dish soap with one tablespoon of white vinegar in two cups of warm water.
  3. Apply the solution to the stain, blotting inward from the edges.
  4. Rinse by blotting with plain cold water, then pat dry.

The sooner you act, the easier the cleanup – you’ve got this!