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Somewhere there must be an unwritten law of nature that states you are more likely to have coffee slosh onto you whenever you wear light, white, or very nice clothes. Once the coffee has soiled your clothing, what should you do?

The key to removing coffee stains is quick action. If at all possible, remove the stained clothing and put the soiled portion in a sink under running cold water. Use a cloth to continually blot the stained area until the coffee has come out of the fabric. If you are in a public place, use a paper towel or cloth dampened with cold water to blot out as much of the coffee as you can. Many people carry a portable stain remover pen with them for such emergencies.

Home-based stain removers and techniques abound. A cloth dampened with a clear carbonated soda pop can be used to blot the coffee stain until it is removed. Then moisten another cloth with cold water and rinse the spot. The same moist wipes with which you would clean a baby's bottom are good for blotting up coffee spills on clothing. Giving the stained area an overnight soak in a bowl of milk will remove coffee from cloth.

Dishwashing liquid without bleach or alkalis when mixed with water in a ratio of one part dish liquid to two parts water is useful to blot coffee from clothing. Leave this mixture on the stain for at least five minutes before using a cloth moistened with cold water to rinse the fabric. Regular bath soap might make the stain more difficult or impossible to get out. A mixture of a half teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and a tablespoon of white vinegar added to a quart of warm water makes a good fifteen minute pre-wash soak for removing coffee stains.

White vinegar, either at full strength or diluted with water, will remove coffee stains. Test a hidden portion of the fabric before soaking the garment, though, since vinegar can bleach spot' some cloth. A good ratio for a vinegar-water soak is one part vinegar to two parts water.

Hydrogen peroxide at full strength or diluted with water can be used to saturate, then blot the stain out. Test a hidden part of the garment to see if the hydrogen peroxide will lift the color from the fabric.

A well beaten egg yolk, a few drops of denatured alcohol, and a little warm water can remove coffee stains, but this mixture should not be allowed to soak the material for any longer than necessary.

Whatever treatment you use, you should always blot, never rub the stain area. Rubbing makes the coffee stain larger, presses the stain deeper, and weakens the clothing fibers. Always rinse the garment after treatment and before laundering. After laundering, the garment should be air dried since heat from a dryer can set any remaining stain into the cloth.

With these tips, coffee stains need not permanently mar any more of your garments.

Learn more about this author, Sandra Petersen.
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