Honestly, we can’t say enough great things about coffee.

Coffee is great for weight loss, has quite a few health benefits, and boasts a wide variety of flavor profiles depending on the roast.

But the same can’t be said for Coffee Stains.

Coffee doesn’t play very nicely with either fabrics or our teeth. It leaves our teeth looking yellow and leaves a very visible dark Stain on your new dress shirt.

That goes double for that new nylon-based, chiffon blouse you got at the brand name department store.

And since those of us in the United States consumed over 3.2 billion pounds of coffee in 2018, the demand for teeth-whitening products has also increased.

(By the way, that’s the weight of over a quarter-million elephants.)

Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to Remove Coffee Stains from your clothes and teeth.

Want to see how to remove coffee stains?

Here are the best ways to keep your smile bright and stain-free.

Click the following links to jump to the appropriate section.

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Fabric

How to Remove Coffee Stains from Teeth

Why Does Coffee Stain?

In order to combat stains on our clothing and teeth, we need to first understand why coffee stains are so hard to remove.

Just like tea, coffee contains both dark pigments and acidic compounds. The chemical reactions between these two elements make fabrics and your teeth more susceptible to stains.

On your teeth, coffee stains teeth because the tannins — acidic compounds found in both coffee and tea — break down into dark pigments. These pigments then become embedded in the tiny ridges and pits covering the surface of your tooth enamel.

Just as in fabric, this can cause your teeth to become permanently stained if left untreated.

So the moral of the story?

The longer you let a coffee stain sit, the more likely it is to remain permanent.

How to Remove Coffee Stains From Fabric

If you can, take steps to blot out the stain as soon as you notice it.

If you treat the stain before it has had time to set, you can most likely use cold water to rinse the stain out.

However, if the stain has been sitting in the fabric for a while, you may need to try a few different methods to get the stain out:

1. Laundry detergent
2. Distilled white vinegar & dish soap
3. Commercial stain removers
4. Hydrogen peroxide & dish soap

Let’s go into detail about each.

Method 1: Laundry Detergent

If the stain is fresh, try these steps.

1. Mix a bit of cold water with some laundry detergent and apply it to the stain.
2. After about 5 minutes, gently blot out the stain with a damp paper towel. If the stain is pretty fresh, resist the urge to rub out the stain as this will only cause the stain to spread.

If the coffee stain has been sitting for a while, you’ll need to put in a little more work to get the stain out.

1. Apply the detergent-and-water solution to the affected area.
2. Submerge the clothes in cold water and gently rub out the stain with your fingers every 5 minutes.
3. If the stain is still there after 30 minutes, submerge your clothing in warm water for up to 15 minutes and then try rinsing the stain out again.

Method 2: Distilled White Vinegar & Dish Soap

Because coffee is slightly acidic, you may want to try using distilled white vinegar instead of cold water to help blot out the stain.

1. First, try rinsing out the stain with cold water from the opposite side. Doing this will keep the stain from traveling further into the fabric.
2. Next, apply dish soap to the stained area and rinse the soap out with distilled white vinegar. If the stain still doesn’t come out of the fabric, you may need to repeat these two steps up to seven times to remove the stain.

Method 3: Commercial Stain Removers

If the above two methods don’t work, you may need to resort to commercial products, such as these Shout Instant Stain Remover Wipes. They’re nice for on-the-go stain removal for two reason:

1. They’re disposable, and
2. They lift the stain away from the fabric.

Though they are safe for most colors and types of fabric, try these wipes on an inconspicuous spot first. Then, apply the wipes to the affected area.

Method 4: Hydrogen Peroxide & Dish Soap

If you have neither wipes nor distilled white vinegar, you can try using hydrogen peroxide to remove the coffee stain.

Hydrogen peroxide, which is a weak acid formed from the chemical bond between two atoms each of hydrogen and oxygen, is used as a bleaching agent for both teeth and fabric.

Here’s how to remove coffee stains with hydrogen peroxide:

1. Check that the hydrogen peroxide won’t discolor the fabric.
2. Rub it over the stained area and leave it on for 30 seconds.
3. When time is up, rinse it out with cold water.
4. If the stain is still there, reapply the hydrogen peroxide and leave it on for an additional 30 seconds.
5. Rinse it out and reapply if the fabric is still stained.
6. Repeat until you’re satisfied with the results.

If the stain has been left to set into the fabric, you’ll need to mix your hydrogen peroxide with a little dish soap before performing the above steps.

How to Remove Coffee Stains From Your Teeth

Coffee stains on your teeth are easier to remove if you consistently practice good oral hygiene:

• Brushing at least twice a day
• Flossing consistently
• Drinking water throughout the day

Doing these things will keep your teeth in great shape.

But, if we’re honest, we don’t always drink enough water or floss as often as we should. If you have stained teeth from your daily cup of joe, incorporate some of the following methods to brighten up your smile. Here are 4 methods of removing coffee stains from your teeth:

1. Teeth whitening pen
2. Baking soda
3. Apple cider vinegar
4. Activated charcoal

Let’s explore each in detail.

Method 1: The AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen

If you need a convenient, portable teeth whitening solution, the AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen may be a good choice.

To use the pen:

1. Twist the tube to apply gel onto the brush.
2. Smile and paint each tooth with gel.
3. After 1 minute, relax your smile and refrain from eating or drinking for 1 hour.

AuraGlow’s teeth whitening gel contains 35% carbamide peroxide, which brightens teeth faster than hydrogen peroxide. Plus, the flexible brush makes it easy to evenly apply the gel in the natural ridges and pits on your teeth.

Method 2: Baking Soda

If you’d rather brighten your smile with a natural method, try baking soda.

1. Mix 1 part of baking soda to 2 parts water
2. Brush and rinse normally.
3. For best results, do this 3 times a week.

Method 3: Apple Cider Vinegar

Another all-natural method to removing stubborn coffee stains from teeth is apple cider vinegar (ACV). The acetic acid in ACV helps break down plaque and remove surface stains, while ACV’s other probiotics work to rid your mouth of harmful bacteria.

Here’s a video of a certified dental assistant talking about why apple cider vinegar is effective in whitening teeth.

To whiten your teeth with apple cider vinegar:

1. Fill a small cup with apple cider vinegar.
2. Swish the apple cider vinegar around in your mouth for up to 2 minutes.
3. Rinse your mouth out well with water.
4. Brush normally.

As the acid can potentially damage your tooth enamel over time, don’t forget to perform that last step.

Method 4: Activated Charcoal

OK, before you stop reading, hear us out.

To be clear, activated charcoal is not the same as bricks of charcoal you’d normally use for your summer barbecue.

Instead, carbon, together with other gases, undergoes activation under intense heat. This heat causes the surface area of the carbon to increase. It’s this increased surface area which makes activated charcoal excellent for absorbing toxins and impurities.

Activated charcoal, which is typically made from coconut husks, frequently is used for the following:

• Remove poisons from the body in the emergency room, and
• Serve as a natural way to purify water.
• Relieve bloating
• Whiten your teeth!

Though you can buy activated charcoal toothpastes, one of the best ways to whiten your teeth is with a natural activated charcoal powder like this one.

Here’s how to remove coffee stains from your teeth with activated charcoal:

1. Dampen your brush with water.
2. After getting rid of the excess water, lightly dab your brush into the powder. (You only need a little bit.)
3. Brush your teeth normally for up to 2 minutes.
4. Rinse your mouth out thoroughly.
5. Brush your teeth with normal toothpaste to get rid of any remaining charcoal.
6. Rinse your shower or sink out well.

Now, it’s your turn. Have you tried any of these methods? Do you have any additional suggestions for how to remove coffee stains? Let us know in the comments below.

The post 8 Great Ways to Remove UGLY Coffee Stains From Clothes & Teeth appeared first on The Coffee Maven.