I love coffee and I’m sure you also love drinking coffee to start your day. It has great benefits and can boost your day. However, having coffee stains in your shoes is not a great way to start your day, especially if your shoes are light-colored or leather and suede.
To remove the coffee stains, you’ll need a simple cleaning solution and a few cleaning supplies. Prepare a simple cleaning solution and remove the stain using these simple cleaning supplies:
Cleaning Solution:
- Water
- Detergent, Stain Remover, Soap, or any combination of these
- White Vinegar
- Baking soda or Lemon Juice
Cleaning Supplies:
- Dry Cloth (Lint-Free Or Microfiber)
- Paper Towel
- Soft Bristled Brush
The process of removing coffee stains on shoes varies. Dried coffee stains are a bit time-consuming, while fresh coffee stains are easy to remove. Keep reading to learn about the process of removing coffee stains on most types of shoes, as well as learn some tips on stain prevention and shoe care.
Removing Coffee Stains On Canvas Shoes
Canvas shoes are very comfortable and simple. It’s a kind of shoe that is best paired on a variety of occasions and styles. However, they can get dirty so easily, especially if they are light colors or white. So, how do you remove coffee stains from your canvas shoes?
Removing dried coffee stains from white Converse or white canvas shoes is fairly simple. Just follow these simple yet effective steps below:
- First, remove any treads by tapping the soles.
- Get an old toothbrush and then scrape off the coffee stains from the creases of the shoes to remove the large pieces.
- Prepare a cleaning solution in equal amounts of baking soda in water, dip the old toothbrush in the solution, and gently massage the stain.
- Prepare a mixed washing liquid or laundry detergent with cold water. Remove the coffee stain with a toothbrush while doing it in a circular motion.
- Rinse your canvas shoes once or several times if necessary.
- If the coffee stains are removed, you can put them in the washing machine or handwash your canvas shoes.
- After cleaning them, dry them in a well-ventilated area.
- If you want, you can stuff some clean clothes or paper towels to keep the shape of your shoes.
Removing Coffee Stains On Leather Shoes
Leather shoes are sturdy and fashionable, particularly on informal occasions and others, although you need to maintain them properly in order to last longer.
If your leather shoes have dried coffee stains, you can effectively remove them with these simple and easy steps:
- Prepare a mixed solution of warm water and white vinegar in equal amounts.
- Get a piece of cloth (I suggest lint-free or microfiber cloth) and lightly soak it in the solution.
- Dab the coffee stain using the cloth. Work from the edges of the coffee stains through the center. Gently perform this so the coffee stains won’t go deeper into the leather.
- Remove the vinegar residue from the leather shoes by getting another microfiber cloth and dab on the same area.
- Then dry the leather shoes in a well-ventilated area.
Removing Coffee Stains On Suede Shoes
Suede shoes are known for their velvety texture and they are less sturdy compared to authentic leather shoes. That’s why suede shoes must be well-maintained and properly cared for. If your coffee spills on your suede shoes, you should act immediately because this type of shoe can be damaged easily.
Follow these simple steps delicately and carefully so you can effectively remove the coffee stains:
- Get a piece of cloth or brush and remove the excess liquid. Keep wiping until the liquid is absorbed on the cloth.
- Prepare lukewarm water, then dampen the cloth and blot the coffee stain.
- Prepare a cleaning solution by mixing one tablespoon. of dish soap and 2 cups of room-temperature water in a bowl.
- Dampen the cloth in the cleaning solution and blot the coffee stain until it’s fully removed.
- Get a new clean cloth, soak it in clean water, and remove any residues. Get another dry cloth and dab it on the area to remove any moisture.
- If there are still coffee stains, I suggest that you prepare a mix of water and vinegar (in equal parts).
- Lightly soak the cloth in this solution and gently wipe the area until the stain has been completely removed.
- Make sure to perform this delicately and carefully. Any vigorous movements will damage your suede shoes.
Tips To Prevent Stains And Other Elements On Any Shoes
Once you have managed to remove the tough coffee stains in your shoes, maintaining the condition of your shoes should be a priority. I believe that it’s not enough just to get rid of those coffee stains but to properly care for the shoes — be they leather, suede, or canvas shoes.
Besides coffee stains, you need to watch out for other elements, such as dirt, dust, and weather, to name a few. These factors can damage your shoes, especially if you don’t clean them properly or don’t clean them at all.
Here are some tips that I think are helpful in preventing stains and other elements on your shoes:
Buy A Shoe Protection Spray – Shoe sprays a layer of invisible layer protection over your shoes. They are easy to apply and often last 2-4 weeks. (See article)
Invest In A Multi-Purpose Shoe Cleaner – If you own different types of shoes like myself, I recommend investing in a multi-purpose shoe cleaner. This type of shoe-cleaning product is versatile and extremely useful for various types of shoes, such as suede, leather, and canvas.
Additionally, these are resistant to most shoe-cleaning solutions. A multi-purpose shoe cleaner is extremely helpful and will prolong the good appearance of your shoes. I would also recommend using shoe cream or polish.
Consider Buying A Specific Stain Repellent For Shoes – Other than investing in a multi-purpose shoe cleaner, it’s much better to also invest in a stain-repellent shoe that is formulated for a specific kind of shoe.
If your shoes are suede or leather, better buy a leather stain repellant. If your shoes are made from mesh or canvas, I think that most repellants will work.
I recommend pre-treating your shoes before wearing them by applying some stain repellent to keep them clean and preserve their good condition. Don’t forget to include the laces and soles too.
Shoes Must Be Away From Moisture – Shoes are susceptible to moisture and over time, it can be the root cause of bacteria growth, causing the material to weaken and break down easily upon wearing the shoes.
To prevent any moisture, I use desiccants such as gels or silica pouches, making sure they’re free of bacteria and moisture.
In case you don’t have any silica, you can use old newspapers and stuff them in your shoes and replace them every week. Not only it’s cheap, but it’s also efficient to drive away from the moisture.
For White Canvas Shoes And White Sole – Both men and women love the color white in their sneakers. Even I have Stan Smith and Converse Chuck 70, which are both white colors.
What I would do with my white shoes is to clean them with a clean magic eraser dipped in a laundry detergent to remove the elements like dust, stains, etc.
White shoes can be aesthetically appealing but they also can get stains and dirt, not to mention coffee stains so easily. Just make sure you maintain them with extra care and often clean them after wearing them.
Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide Can Make Your Shoes Shiny Again – After you have removed the coffee stains on your shoes, you’ll notice your shoes lost their brightness due to the stain or maybe because of the detergent you have used.
But there’s a quick solution to this problem. I have tried using hydrogen peroxide and baking paste and thankfully, both of them work. This is also applicable to old light-colored shoes.
What you’ll need is just a soft-bristled toothbrush. Lightly dip it in hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste, then gently scrub it all over your shoe. After that, you’ll notice that your old pair of shoes look brand new.
To make hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste, you’ll just need the following:
1 tbsp. of baking soda
½ tbsp. of hydrogen peroxide
½ tbsp. of warm water
Mix these ingredients until it turns to paste form.
Watch Out For Your Shoes When Having Coffee – There’s no better way to prevent your shoes, whether it’s suede, leather, or canvas, from coffee stains than being too careful. Try not to spill your coffee is a good start to taking care of your shoes.
But life happens. Sometimes, there’s a moment of clumsiness in us. So, I think you need to be knowledgeable about getting coffee stains, even dirt, dust, and other elements.
In case you still don’t know how to remove coffee stains on shoes, I encourage you to scroll up and read it because it’s extremely helpful.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Coffee Stains Permanent?
The good news is coffee stains can be removed regardless of whether it’s a dried stain or a fresh spill. Because of their light brown color, they can be a hindrance to your shoes, especially if the coffee stains have been fully soaked in and become dry.
The difficulty of removing coffee stains varies from one shoe to another. I have included some simple guides on how to remove coffee stains from your shoes.
In case you have missed it, just scroll up a bit and you’ll see the simple guides on getting the coffee stains out of your shoes.
Can I Put My Shoes In The Washing Machine?
There are only certain types of shoes that you can put in the washing machine. Generally, they are made of materials such as polyester, cotton, and nylon. Those shoes are tennis shoes, canvas shoes, and running shoes. Leather and suede are not advisable to put in the washing machine.
Before you put your shoes in the washing machine, make sure you remove the insoles and laces first. Insoles should be washed by hand only, while shoelaces could get tangled while on the machine.
I suggest that you use a liquid detergent for your shoes. Select only a low-spin wash cycle, as this ensures the cleaning will stay balanced.
Are The Steps Applicable To Older Coffee Stains On Shoes?
In case you forgot there’s a coffee stain on your shoes several days from now, I believe following the steps above can still be applicable to any shoes. However, you might need to repeat the steps to get the coffee stains out of your shoes.
I recommend that you allow your shoes to sit with laundry soap and water for several minutes to penetrate the deep stains.
However, I think that you shouldn’t let the coffee stains stay for too long on your shoes as this can damage them while you are cleaning them. If there are coffee stains on your shoes, you should act quickly on them.
Does Dish Soap Remove Coffee Stains On Leather Shoes?
I haven’t tried using bleach when removing coffee stains on my leather shoes. But I think it will work with the correct amount. Similar to baking soda, white vinegar, and cold water, dishwashing soap is a great solution for removing stains.
However, too much dish soap will damage the leather material of your shoes, which can lead to drying, stiffness, cracking, and leaving some residue over time.
For the best result, I would recommend buying conditioners or cleaners that are meant for leather shoes.
Final Thoughts
Coffee stains on your shoes can look undesirable, particularly if you are using leather shoes, suede shoes, or a white canvas shoe. If you happen to have coffee stains on your shoes, I think that you should act immediately on them.
Also, you need to be familiar with how to remove them from your shoes. The guides I have provided in this article are simple yet effective and less expensive. They are also applicable to most shoe kinds.
Besides knowing how to remove the coffee stains, shoes must be well kept and well maintained, making sure your shoes will preserve their good condition and prolong their longevity.
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