How to remove coffee stains from a mug

How to remove coffee stains from a mug

Coffee stains are very easy to remove from mugs using regular ingredients you can find in your kitchen. A simple rub with a lemon, a soak in vinegar or salt, or a baking soda paste are all effective ways to remove coffee stains from your favorite mug.

On a rainy morning, the vibe often calls for a cup of coffee. Even on regular mornings, the same cup wakes you up and pulls you off your bed. Caffeinating while procrastinating can be a warm and cozy experience, but when your favorite cup gets stained with coffee, you will probably eventually choose to start using another unstained cup. But don’t worry your new cup isn’t ruined forever, you can get rid of the coffee stains with a few simple steps.

Removing coffee stains on a mug using lemon

If you have a lemon lying around in your kitchen, just grab it and follow this simple procedure to remove your coffee stains from your favorite mug.

  1. Cut the lemon horizontally into halves.
  2. Using any shallow container, squeeze the lemon to release its juice.
  3. Get a clean cloth and dip it in the lemon juice.
  4. Once the fabric is wet with lemon juice, use it to scrub all the stained area on your mug.
  5. You will notice slight disappearance of the stain at this time.
  6. Continue rubbing until no further stain is visible.
  7. Wash the mug, and once it dries, you can use it again.

Removing coffee stains on a mug using vinegar

Just like the acidic lemon, another sour liquid can help you too. The acidic nature of white vinegar will get the stubborn stain off your mug. If lemon is not available, you can use distilled white vinegar instead, and the results will be the same.

  1. Start the process the same way you would make a cup of coffee.
  2. Fill your stained mug with hot water. The volume will depend on the last coffee stain inside your cup. If stains are only in the bottom part, a half-filled cup with hot water is enough.
  3. Once filled with hot water, add white vinegar. No exact measurement is necessary, make sure that the water becomes slightly cloudy once you add the vinegar. This change in clarity will serve as a signal.
  4. Let the mixture of hot water and vinegar stay for a minimum of 10 minutes.
  5. After sitting for the allotted time, pour the mixture down the sink. And while the inside of the cup is still moist with the mixture, start scrubbing with an abrasive sponge and the stain should start disappearing.
  6. Finally, rinse the cup and wash it as you usually do your dishes.
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Vinegar has a lot of uses. Some people might get confused when they encounter the use of vinegar in a procedure for stain removal, but it’s actually a very effective and natural method. Distilled white vinegar is a must-have for your kitchen. 

Using salt and ice to remove coffee stains

Salt is another very simple ingredient that can be used as a stain remover when dealing with coffee stains.

Just grab your salt and give the coffee stain a farewell. Coffee stains usually appear on the inside of your mug, although they can also be seen on the outside. No matter where the stain is, you can always use salt.

  1. To start, wet the inside or outside of your mug where the stain has formed.
  2. The next step is to sprinkle the salt on the stained area.
  3. Once the salt is coating the area, use a clean, dry cloth and rub it.
  4. Rinse the mug from time to time so you can observe the disappearance of the stain.
  5. If you got rid of the stain, rinse the mug. But if there is still a thinly stained part, continue sprinkling salt and scrubbing with the cloth.
  6. After the stain has fully disappeared, rinse the mug.

In addition to the above procedure using salt, you can also do the technique below, which requires an additional component – crushed ice.

  1. Place salt at the bottom of the mug and crushed ice on top of it.
  2. Use plastic wrap as a lid and secure it so it won’t fall when you start shaking.
  3. Once salt and ice are in place and the tight-fitting plastic wrap is covering the mug, vigorously shake your mug.
  4. After shaking it, remove the contents of the mug, wash it with lukewarm water, and scrub the stained area.
  5. After scrubbing the area, rinse it with clean water and dish soap.
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Using a baking soda method

Baking soda is a common remedy when removing stains from any surface. Here is how you can remove coffee stains using baking soda.

  1. In a bowl with an adequate amount of baking soda, gradually add water until you reach a paste consistency.
  2. This baking soda paste can now be used to coat the coffee-stained area thinly.
  3. Using a sponge, gently rub the area.
  4. The stain will eventually disappear. At this point, rinse the mug and enjoy a cup of coffee afterward.

Common questions about coffee stains 

Does vinegar remove coffee stains?

Vinegar is one of the household remedies that can remove coffee stains. Distilled white vinegar is the best type to use as a stain remover, due to its acidic property. It is also convenient to use, and it does not require complicated skills or equipment.
Other types of vinegar like apple cider will not be effective in the same way.

How do you clean coffee stains out of a stainless steel mug?

It is possible to clean a coffee-stained stainless steel mug with simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen – baking soda and vinegar.
Add baking soda to the stainless steel mug. Afterward, pour the white vinegar in it and allow it to form bubbles.
When the bubbles finally settle, cover the mug with its lid and shake.
Toss out the mixture and rinse your mug.
The most important thing to remember with this coffee stain removal method is that you need to let the bubbling stop before covering the mug. This will prevent the chance of explosion due to the reaction of baking soda and vinegar.

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Are coffee stains permanent?

No, coffee stains are not permanent. There are a lot of ways to remove them from any surface.
While methods may vary depending on the stained surface, it does not change the fact that coffee is not a lifetime tragedy because even normal kitchen condiments like lemon, salt, or baking soda can easily take the coffee stains off different surfaces.
There are also stain removers available on the market. But if you want to get rid of them by yourself, it will be a piece of cake.

Final thoughts

The build-up of coffee stains cannot mask the joy brought by sipping coffee from your favorite mug. There are multiple ways to battle this kind of stain, which is, as compared to other stains, is much easier to manage. Your day is never short, and long days of hard work usually need a strong and hot cup of coffee from your favorite mug.

How to remove coffee stains from a mug

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