[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

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]

Fire works well...

but may create adverse consequences

[another_someone]

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

[Bass]

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]

I learned that in Home Ec.!

[JimBob]

Ech ?

[moonfire]

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]

didi seven! 

[DoctorBeaver (OP)]

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]

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]

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.]

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]

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]

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]

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.]

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]

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]

  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]

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.]

Healed and well its been a few years..