OT: Getting coffee out of clothes

[LaraW]

I spilled coffee on one of my shirts last week. When I went to do laundry this week, I washed it in cold, and did not put it in the dryer, just let it line dry. The coffee stain, while lighter, is still there. Does anyone have any ideas for getting this stain out? Any help would be much appreciated!

Lara

[Tina_B]

LaraW,
For coffee stains I usually use a little white vinegar then rinse. I'm not sure that it will necessarily work once the stain has set unfortunately. Did the coffe have milk in it? - if so that could pose another problem. Somebody else should probably know.

I'm actually a Lara too. My parents were on a Dr. Zhivago kick. I don't go by it though becuase people have so many problems with correct pronunciation. It is a beautiful name.

[LaraW]

The coffee did not have any milk in it, fortunately. Do you just add the white vinegar to the rinse, or would you suggest putting it directly on the stain and letting it sit?

Of course when I spilled coffee all over myself was as I was getting in the car to go to work. Not only was I running late, but I also had to stop and mail a package before going to work. So I had to run inside and change at the last minute, and could not really deal with it until later.

My name came from Dr. Zhivago also. I have not met too many other people with this name. People do have a hard time with it. What makes it worse is that when I got married I went from one hard name to two hard names!

[This message has been edited by LaraW (edited 06-19-2001).]

[BosunsWife]

I drink coffee with milk and find that the best thing to get it out is Shout. IMO it works great on just about anything. It even gets nasty "red" dirt out of anything but white clothes. Not an advertisement lol!

[SusanL]

Bosunswife-by red dirt, do you mean clay? I have been working with Brooklyn Red clay for pottery and it stains everything. My apron is a mess. I am hoping that you mean clay/dirt, because I will go out and buy some today!! Understanding that it won't get out the stains that are set, possibly I can prevent more...
LaraSorry to get away from your coffee stain problem!!

[This message has been edited by SusanL (edited 06-20-2001).]

[funnybone]

I'm a "Shouter" myself. My kids would need disposible clothes if it weren't for that product.

If the shirt is white, and you can always use some bleach. I have even put bleach on full strenght on some white shirts in the past (on old stains) and they come out clean with no damage to the fabric. You have to wash it right away thougg.

[Beth]

We have gone through an incredible amount of Shout in the last few years to keep two young boys from loking like they eat only ketchup and live under a bridge, and a muddy one at that. I have also collected a few stain charts along the way which I keep inside the laundry room cabinet. Here's a summary:

Martha says to flush with vinegar. Wash.

Clorox says to sponge or rinse immediately in cool water and pretreat. Launder right away with hottest water safe for fabric (and bleach if safe for the fabric).

Tide doesn't address coffee individually, but says for juices and drinks generally, rinse promptly, pretreat or presoak using a detergent with enzymes and wash using chlorin bleach if safe for fabric, color safe bleach if not, and hottest water safe for the fabric.

I got Martha's chart off her website, and I think Tide and Clorox also has stain tips on-line. Hope you get it out.

[BosunsWife]

SusanL, I live in Hawaii so the dirt is volcanic in nature. I suspect that there is a lot of iron in it. By all means try the Shout, I have found it is the only thing that works for me. Even bleach won't get the dirt out of white clothes! I know what you mean about kid's clothes. I have a very active two year old and when we first moved here (six months ago), I had hysterics about the dirt. Then I just decided that we had to have "play clothes" and "good clothes".

[This message has been edited by BosunsWife (edited 06-20-2001).]

[gobluem82]

I use Stain Stick, and that works pretty well. It may take a few washings. Be careful not put the garment in the dryer in between, though, or it will set the stain.