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t shirt stain. text: from spill to spotless

how to remove coffee stains.

04 Apr 2025

Coffee stains. It’s not the pick-me-up you were after BUT it’s a battle you CAN win. 


Spilling coffee is going to happen at some point if you’re a caffeine connoisseur; we’ve all been there. The good news? Coffee stains don’t have to be forever. With a little know-how (and maybe some smol magic), your clothes can be as good as new. 


Let’s break it down: synthetics vs. cotton.

coffee stains on synthetic clothes.

Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon are best tackled by the following 5 steps:



1. blot, don’t rub.


Seriously, no scrubbing. You’ll make things worse. Gently blot up the excess coffee with a clean, dry cloth.



2. mix your potion.


Combine 1 litre of warm water, with ½ teaspoon of smol washing up liquid and 1 tablespoon white vinegar.



3. let it soak.


Dunk the coffee-stained area into the potion and leave it to work its magic for 15 minutes.



4. rinse & wash.


Use warm water to rinse the fabric before washing as usual in your machine. Pick a cool temperature of around 30°C or below and pair with smol laundry capsules for a really deep clean. 



5. air dry.

Top tip: stains love dryers. It can set them solid. So don’t throw your synthetic garment into the dryer - there are lots of ways to air dry indoors and out and it will save on your energy bills too!

stain-free and fabulous.

Remember, whatever the fabric, the key is swift action. Don’t let the stain settle, and always check before drying. (We repeat: don’t dry until the stain is gone).


So next time you spill your coffee, take a deep breath and chill like an iced caramel macchiato. You need a cool head and cooler temperatures to fix this mess. You’ve got this!