How to Remove Coffee Stains on Stainless Steel: Best Possible Solutions
How to remove those pesky stains: Coffee rings in the stainless steel mugs, thermoses or appliances can be said to be impossible to be entirely removed if cleaned moderately. And stainless steel is one of the toughest materials in the world, so there must be a weak link in it – the effect of repeated exposure to some kind of discoloration from coffee.
Happily even the most rusted stainless steel can be cleaned up to shine again.
Cleaners for stainless steel
Techniques for keeping them shining like new, using common household items and specialty cleaners.

1. Baking Soda and Water Paste
It’s a scrub. It is going to scour the stain, not damage the surface of the stainless steel.
What You’ll Need
- Baking soda
- Water
- A soft sponge or cloth
Instructions
You want to mix two tablespoons of baking soda with water in the form of a paste. Put paste on stain. Use sponge or soft cloth on the carpet; never use steel wool, because this would remove the rug off from abrasion. Remove using water and blot dry with clean towel. .
2. White Vinegar Soak
White vinegar is acidic by nature, which weirdly enough dissolves coffee residue; it is great indeed when it comes to working with stains.
What You’ll Need
- White vinegar Hot water
Instructions
Add stainless steel item to one half white vinegar. Fill with hot water. Soak for 30 minutes to hour. You’re going to have to rinse and wash off with soap and water.
Tip: In really stubborn stains, use a cloth to scrub it before you rinse and wash.
3. Dish Soap and Rice Scrub for bottles and Thermoses
That is a really good method if you are using a stainless steel thermos or travel mug, since there are so many nooks and crannies that the method is really effective.
What You’ll Need
- Dish soap
- Raw uncooked rice
- Water
Instructions
1.Add a few drops of dish soap, 2 tbsp. of raw rice, and warm water to the bottle or thermos.
2. Close the lid and shake it violently for 2-3 minutes.
3. Sponge under running water.

4. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda (for stubborn stains)
Hydrogen peroxide contains bleaching agents and hence the best for removing stubborn stains.
What You’ll Need
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
Instructions
1. Sprinkle the area that is stained with baking soda
2. Couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide so that it gets fizzy
3. Leave it for 5-10 minutes. Scrub with sponge
4. Rinse and let dry very thoroughly.
5. Lemon
Lemon has acidity and salt has abrasiveness-so there’s a good natural cleaner.
1. Cut open a lemon, rub salt on inside of the cut-open side of lemon
2. Rub the cut open half of the lemon on the stained surface
3. Rinse off with water and dry with soft cloth
6. Cream of Tartar Paste
Cream of tartar is a mild abrasive, which may be used to wipe away faint marks on stainless steel. Sponge over the area, gently scrub, rinse, and dry.
7. Stainless Steel Cleaner
Outside of the home, the other choice is a stainless steel cleaner that not only removes stains but also restore shine.
What You’ll Need
- Stainless Steel Cleaner preferably
- Soft cloth
Instructions
1.Dampen soft cloth with a bit of the cleaner.
2. Use the cleaner in the direction of the grain, across the stain.
3. Flip the rest off and shine through by adding water.
4. Using dry cloth polish shine back.
8. Hot water and Dishwasher Tablet
What You’ll Need
- Dishwasher tablet
- Hot water
Instructions
1. Pour hot water in a thermos or a mug.
2. Insert a dishwasher tablet into it. Leave it there for half an hour even for an hour.
3. Wash well. If you feel you still need this, then you can again do the above process using liquid dish soap.
How to Get Rid of Coffee Stain from Stainless Steel
1. Once you have drunk one cup of coffee, wash and dry your mug or thermos immediately in order to prevent the stains from bonding.
2. Bottle Brush For narrow-bottles, thermoses, and any others: in order to clean them fully, all nooks and crannies must be reached with a long-handled brush.
3. Dry Well Dry stainless steel immediately after washing otherwise, water spots will appear as well as staining.
4. Avoid stainless steel cleaners with steel wool and scouring pads, as they can scratch the surface deeply. Use soft sponge instead
5. Stainless steel containers and appliances are cleaned at least weekly.’

Permanent Coffee Stains Don’t Need To Happen
And I only really realize now, with the very same things I can find in my kitchen-in my pantry, if you please, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon-that possibly I might have been able to work miracles, so that coffee stains might make themselves disappear from stainless steel mugs, thermoses, and appliances.
Hydrogen peroxide and dishwasher tablets will also appear to save the really tough ones. Provided you clean them, and you wash them right after you are done using them, you’ll hardly ever remember that you bought them, and they will shine like on the very first day that you opened the box!
And now you’ll find that it is not so difficult to get rid of some of the worst stains coffee can cause without making a mess!
