Why are stains caused by coffee or red wine so difficult to remove?

DoctorBeaver · « **on:** 04/05/2007 13:04:32 »

Why are coffee & red wine stains so hard to get rid of?

Also, do you know any good tricks for getting rid of stains?

Bass · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/05/2007 17:16:32 »

Fire works well...

but may create adverse consequences

another_someone · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/05/2007 18:46:09 »

The classic answer for red wine I thought was white wine. Not sure about the coffee.

Bass · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/05/2007 19:03:36 »

I'm fumblehanded enough with my morning coffee that my wife made up a special solution of water, mild dishwashing detergent and white vinegar (1/4 part) that seems to work well on cloth and carpet.
The secret is to blot, don't rub, the stain.

Ben6789 · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/05/2007 19:27:42 »

I learned that in Home Ec.!

JimBob · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/05/2007 20:37:56 »

Ech ?

moonfire · « **Reply #6 on:** 05/05/2007 05:13:07 »

Water immediately upon coffee right after it spills! If it spills upon white cotton, then buy a clorox bleach pen...works miracles!

There was another product that was fabulous even after these type of stains including, mustard, grass, blood, and tea. I will think of it and add it here when I do.

moonfire · « **Reply #7 on:** 05/05/2007 07:58:17 »

didi seven!

DoctorBeaver · « **Reply #8 on:** 07/05/2007 15:16:37 »

Quote from: moonfire on 05/05/2007 05:13:07

There was another product that was fabulous even after these type of stains including, mustard, grass, blood, and tea. I will think of it and add it here when I do.

I looked at that quickly & I thought you'd put "mustard gas"! [

]

Bored chemist · « **Reply #9 on:** 07/05/2007 17:00:09 »

IIRC bleach was used for decontaminating things exposed to "mustard gas" (It's actually a liquid).
Water is a very useful way to rinse stuff away before it has a chance to stick to the cloth and stain it. I find sodium bisulphite does a great job of removing red wine satins. I usually have some about the place because I used to do my own brewing (The bisulphite is used for sterilising bottles and such).

neowakit · « **Reply #10 on:** 28/11/2009 20:05:58 »

Red wine is an easier stain to remove because it is a water soluble stain that when set into the fabric can be removed. The deep red color causes the stain to stand out more, and if the detergent works well, it will either fade or dissapear.

Karen W. · « **Reply #11 on:** 28/11/2009 20:12:56 »

For mechanics grease or car and engine grease rub shortening into the stain then take a smooth plastic frosting spreader stiff or a butter knife and scrape the grease up with the excess shortening and repeat if needed until stain disappears then wash with highest temperature safe for fabric.. works wonderfully.. my moms old laundry trick...

graham.d · « **Reply #12 on:** 28/11/2009 21:22:38 »

I was told that immediate application of common salt on red wine was the right thing to do. I tried it on a carpet and it worked but then I didn't try not doing it by way of comparison.

Karsten · « **Reply #13 on:** 29/11/2009 13:51:18 »

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 04/05/2007 13:04:32

Why are coffee & red wine stains so hard to get rid of?

Also, do you know any good tricks for getting rid of stains?

Scissors.

sadarian · « **Reply #14 on:** 29/11/2009 19:14:33 »

can't answer either of your questions, but I will add thar your own saliva will help remove any blood stains. It works best if its your saliva on your blood, doesn't work so well on others...you should also probably refrain from spitting on someone else if they have a stain!

Karen W. · « **Reply #15 on:** 29/11/2009 20:17:20 »

Plain hydrogen Peroxide removes Blood stains easily.. I have used it for years.. soak the stain in the peroxide and it will bubble like crazy lifting out the blood.. it works well on most all protein stains and a friend at the hospital told me this years ago and low and behold it works very well. I have not lost a single item to bloodstain since..
My son was viciously attacked by a dog who tore the hell out of his arm.. the blood was everywhere.. his shirt was drenched.. they through his shirt in a bag at the hospital and it got left in my trunk for a couple weeks before I remembered it it was well dried and set in as it was summer and the trunk had been quite hot..

I took the shirt in and bought three big economy size bottles of peroxide and dropped in his very colorful blue shirt and allowed it to begin soaking the results began before my eyes bubbling and lifting the protein from the shirt.. It was crazy quick!
I I always rub the clothing together if there are any remnants of blood then I rinse it if necessary, I pour a tad more onto the stain and rub and rinse with the peroxide... works great!

Madidus_Scientia · « **Reply #16 on:** 30/11/2009 00:59:06 »

Quote from: sadarian on 29/11/2009 19:14:33

can't answer either of your questions, but I will add thar your own saliva will help remove any blood stains. It works best if its your saliva on your blood, doesn't work so well on others...you should also probably refrain from spitting on someone else if they have a stain!

Why won't someone elses saliva remove your own blood?

sadarian · « **Reply #17 on:** 30/11/2009 02:29:50 »

Quote from: Madidus_Scientia on 30/11/2009 00:59:06

Why won't someone elses saliva remove your own blood?

If I remember correctly it works, but not as well because your saliva has specific enzymes that break down your blood better than someone elses would. Additionally, this is why animals lick their wounds..their saliva helps to eat away the scab more quickly than water will.

sadarian · « **Reply #18 on:** 30/11/2009 02:32:32 »

Quote from: Karen W. on 29/11/2009 20:17:20

Plain hydrogen Peroxide removes Blood stains easily.. I have used it for years.. soak the stain in the peroxide and it will bubble like crazy lifting out the blood.. it works well on most all protein stains and a friend at the hospital told me this years ago and low and behold it works very well. I have not lost a single item to bloodstain since..
My son was viciously attacked by a dog who tore the hell out of his arm.. the blood was everywhere.. his shirt was drenched.. they through his shirt in a bag at the hospital and it got left in my trunk for a couple weeks before I remembered it it was well dried and set in as it was summer and the trunk had been quite hot..

I took the shirt in and bought three big economy size bottles of peroxide and dropped in his very colorful blue shirt and allowed it to begin soaking the results began before my eyes bubbling and lifting the protein from the shirt.. It was crazy quick!
I I always rub the clothing together if there are any remnants of blood then I rinse it if necessary, I pour a tad more onto the stain and rub and rinse with the peroxide... works great!

I've tried peroxide as well, and you're right it works great! btw, obviously the shirt is ok, but how's your son's arm?!

Karen W. · « **Reply #19 on:** 30/11/2009 12:14:38 »

Healed and well its been a few years..

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Why are stains caused by coffee or red wine so difficult to remove?

DoctorBeaver (OP)

another_someone

DoctorBeaver (OP)

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