5 Methods to Tackle Mattress Coffee Stains

Enjoying a coffee in bed on a leisurely morning is one of the simple pleasures in life until disaster strikes. Then, a sleepy morning turns into a frantic dash to figure out how to remove the rich dark stain on your bright white mattress. 

Do not panic! There are a variety of natural and specialised products you can use.

They rely on these basic steps: dry excess liquid, apply solution and let soak, blot with a sponge, and repeat until the stain is removed. You can use household or professional products.

The steps below will help eliminate nasty mattress coffee stains. 

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

Why Should I Clean My Mattress?

You never really see your mattress, so it is easy to forget its essential role in your life. On average, you spend around 7-9 hours per day in your bed.

That’s almost 3000 hours per year! So it is crucial to make sure it is kept in the best state possible because most people keep their mattresses for between 7-10 years. 

Your body will naturally shed oil, sweat, and skin cells. Combined with a warm environment, it provides the perfect conditions for dust mites, bacteria and fungus to grow.

Therefore, ensuring you sleep in the cleanest and most hygienic environment should be an essential part of your routine. 

Purchasing a mattress is a significant investment, so it is essential to ensure it is in the best condition for as long as possible. Tackling stains will ensure you keep your warranty intact and save you money in the long run. 

Coffee Stains – The Process.

Coffee is one of the quintessentially nasty stains to remove from any surface. But, like some of your other favorite drinks like tea, wine, cola and fruit juice, they are chock-full of something called tannins.

Tannins are compounds that give these drinks some of their distinctive flavor and are also brilliant at binding to other materials. From the enamel on your teeth to the wool in your carpet, tannins love to hold on tight to whatever they can. 

Coffee stains are particularly tough because they usually happen when the beverage is hot, encouraging fibres to open up and letting the tannins nestle more deeply into the fabric.

So it is always best to act fast to get the best results in removing coffee stains. But of course, sometimes life gets in the way, and you must rush to your morning engagement and deal with the cleaning process later. 

Here is the primary technique for using any product to attack those nasty mattress stains:

Step 1: Address the condition of the stain.

• Remove all of the bedding and sheets from the bed immediately.
• If the coffee is still wet, then work fast to absorb as much of the liquid as possible using clean paper towels or cloths.
• If it’s an older stain, vacuum the area and gently moisten it with a damp cloth or spray bottle. 

Step 2: Apply your chosen cleaning product.

• Whether it’s a professional product or a home remedy you use, it’s time to generously apply it to the affected area.
• Coffee stains can spread widely, so remember to apply the entire area thoroughly.

Step 3: Let the method works its magic.

• Now it’s time to let the coffee stain soak to loosen its grasp on the mattress.
• Leave it for 15-30 minutes or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• This is an essential step and it is important not to act too early. You have to let it do its job.

Step 4: Time to blot the stain.

• Get clean cloths and warm water and begin blotting, not scrubbing the coffee.
• The goal is to transfer the coffee from the mattress onto the cloth. So make sure you continually rinse the fabric once it begins to darken.
• This can take some time, but the more patient you are, the more effective it will be.

Step 5: Assess the Stain.

• After blotting for around 15 minutes, take a break and allow the stain to rest for 5 minutes.
• Check to see if the stain has been removed or if it needs some more work.
• If the stain is still holding strong, it is time to go back to step two and reapply your cleaning method. Depending on the severity of the stain you may have to repeat this step until you get the desired results.

Step 6: Drying time.

• If you are happy the stain has gone, it is now time to dry your mattress.
• Use a new cloth and wipe any remaining cleaning liquid off the mattress.
• Open a window and use a fan to get air to flow through the room. This will speed up the drying process and stop your mattress from remaining damp.
• You can use a hair dryer but be very careful and use it on low heat.

Mattress Stain Removal Methods.

White Vinegar

If you search at the back of most people’s kitchen cupboards, you will likely find a bottle of white vinegar.

Unfortunately, the long-forgotten white vinegar is often a disregarded kitchen product, but it is worth its weight in gold as an emergency cleaning method for even the worst stains. 

Vinegar has long been known as an effective cleaning agent. It is a gentle acid-based compound which is excellent at dissolving grime and grease without the threat of damaging your mattress, with the bonus that it is antibacterial too. 

Add a cup of white vinegar to around a gallon of water and follow the six steps above to remove a coffee stain. This is a more gentle product to use, so it may take a little longer to take effect, but it is a tried and tested method.

[amazon box=”B07CN5K12R” template=”vertical”]

Baking Soda

Baking soda is like white vinegar’s cousin. It, too, is found in dark recesses of kitchen cupboards.

It is a gentle alkali with the same grime and bacteria-busting properties as vinegar, which protects delicate fibers from being damaged or discoloured during the cleaning process. 

The added benefit of this non-toxic cleaning method is that powdered soda provides a very soft abrasive material. In addition, its tiny particles scrub the surface at a microscopic level for added stain-removing power without the risk of damaging your mattress. 

Before following the steps, take a cup of baking soda and add enough water to make it into a paste. The abrasive qualities of the soda will likely be a little more effective than vinegar. 

[amazon box=”B074J7X1DN” template=”vertical”]

Hoover Oxy Spot and Stain Remover

Sometimes we need a more aggressive method to clean stubborn coffee stains. Methods based on home products can be great, but sometimes you need to pack a bigger punch.

Companies like Hoover, who specialise in all aspects of home cleaning, have created a range of highly compelling products for various occasions. 

Hoover’s oxy spot and stain remover is a purpose-designed cleaning agent with fast-acting stain-removing properties and is ideally suited to removing old and new coffee stains from mattresses.

This product can be used with the 6-step method, but it will likely be faster than a more natural approach. 

[amazon box=”B07RC8B1YB” template=”vertical”]

BISSELL Woolite Advantage Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner

Stain removal requires time and effort combined with adequately applying the right products. However, an effective way to boost strain-removing potential is to add gentle but thorough abrasion to get the best results.

Using cloths ensures no damage to the mattress, but they can only be so effective. 

The BISSELL Woolite offers an edge in the cleaning method as the product provides additional abrasion power with its brush head while being specially designed not to damage the upholstery.

This would be a great addition to the cleaning method and will likely reduce cleaning time significantly. 

[amazon box=”B09WPSCLGT” template=”vertical”]

Bissell Multipurpose Portable Upholstery Cleaner

Of course, one can take some more professional approaches to ensure that they keep their mattress free from coffee stains. However, if you feel the manual cleaning methods are not for you, then a multi-purpose carpet cleaner may be the right choice. 

Shrinking technology has allowed more industrial products to be adopted in a home environment. Now portable upholstery cleaners can be purchased inexpensively for home use.

These electrical cleaners take away the stress and effort of coffee stain removal and allow you to take on new or existing stains easily. The Bissell Multipurpose Portable Upholstery Cleaner Provides powerful and quick results giving you a professional edge on your cleaning arsenal. 

[amazon box=”B0016HF5GK” template=”vertical”]

Summary

Coffee stains on mattresses will, unfortunately, always be a problem. But if you familiarise yourself with the six-step method and products outlined, you will easily tackle the next coffee nightmare you face.

Whether it is a more professional or natural approach, you should be equipped to eliminate those stains and stop a disaster from ruining your day and your mattress.