Sipping on delicious tea is one of the best self-care practices out there, and it works wonders in relaxing your body and bringing bliss to your mind. But tea can also ruin your mood when you see your favorite cup getting stained! Here at Tea and I, we know all about tea stains and will help you find the most effortless and natural solution to getting a clean cup at home.
How to Avoid Tea Stains
The only downside to being an avid tea drinker is the stains left on mugs and porcelain dishes. They’re due to the natural compounds in many tea blends called tannins. Tea tannins offer excellent health benefits, such as strengthening the immune system and decreasing the chance of infection, but they can also destroy your favorite dishes unless you find ways to prevent stains from happening in the first place_
Tip #1 | Wash as soon as possible
To prevent your ceramic tableware from staining, you need to make sure to wash your mugs and dishes as soon as you’re done drinking the tea. Easy enough, right?
Tip #2 | Use a water treatment system
Another reason for the stains is using “hard” water instead of “soft” water. Hard water has a high concentration of limestone, which reacts with tannins to make staining your mug easier. With filtered water that has less limestone, tannins have a harder time reacting, leaving your mugs stain-free.
Tip #3 | Don’t scratch the surface of your dishes
Using rough cleaning brushes and sponges on your dishes can cause scratches on the surface, which then become a primary hangout for stains. To prevent scratches, make sure you’re washing your dishes with a no-scratch sponge and drying them with a soft microfiber cloth. But if the damage is already done, the following tips will show you how to remove tea stains from your mugs and dishes naturally_
Solution #1 | Vinegar
Vinegar can effectively eliminate odors, remove stains, and leave your mugs squeaky clean. All you need is water, vinegar, and a cloth_
Preparation:
Step 1: Combine water and vinegar in a 50/50 mixture.
Step 2: Scrub the surface with the solution using a soft cloth until the stain lifts.
Step 3: Make sure to thoroughly rinse your mugs and dishes unless you enjoy sipping a vinegar-infused tea blend!
Solution #2 | Baking Soda
Don’t have vinegar? Try using baking soda and water!
Preparation:
Step 1: Sprinkle a few pinches of baking soda with just a few drops of water, creating a thick paste.
Step 2: Using a sponge, and scrub the paste into your stained mug.
Step 3: Leave the cleaning paste on the stains for 5 minutes.
Step 4: Rinse thoroughly.
Solution #3 | Lemon
When life gives you lemons…make a stain remover! Lemon juice is used as an active ingredient in many cleaning products and can be very effective at lifting stains and cleaning surfaces without causing damage. For this recipe, you will need fresh lemon and salt.
Preparation:
Step 1: Cut your lemon in half and squeeze the juice on the inside of the cup.
Step 2: Pour salt over the juice and start rubbing it into the stains.
Step 3: Once the stain has lifted, rinse the cup thoroughly.
Solution #4 | Toothpaste
Since it’s mildly abrasive, toothpaste can be used to clean your old tea mugs without damaging them! All you need is toothpaste and a hard brush.
Preparation:
Step 1: Squirt a bit of toothpaste on the stains.
Step 2: Using a hard brush or heavy-duty, non-scratch sponge, scrub stain with toothpaste.
Step 3: Rinse.
Solution #5 | Sugar
We bet you have never thought of sugar as a cleaning solution, but it works! It’s great at absorbing bad odors and removing tea stains.
Preparation:
Step 1: Mix 2 teaspoons of sugar with a few drops of water to create a paste.
Step 2: Using a damp cloth, scrub the surface of your dish.
Step 3: Clean thoroughly with water.
While tea stains aren’t the end of the world, they can be an annoying byproduct of regular tea drinking. So, whichever homemade method you choose, remember to try the solution on a small portion of the cup or dish first to check for an adverse reaction before covering the whole area.