There’s nothing more relaxing than a warm cup of tea. What’s not relaxing, however, is when you spill it. Accidents happen, and you might not even notice a pesky stain right away. If you spill on the counter, no big deal, you just wipe it up, but what happens when you're left with stains on fabric like your favorite t-shirt.
The most important thing is not to stress. Even if you notice the stain after it’s been there a while, there’s still hope! What causes tea to stain, anyway? Let’s look at how tea can discolor fabric and learn proper tea stain removal techniques.
To start, we all know what tea stains look like. They’re typically a light brown or yellow and can seem impossible to remove. Tea has the ability to stain mugs, carpet, or your favorite shirt because of tannins. Tannins are chemical compounds found in many different plant-based foods. They are polyphenols, which are notoriously healthy.
Depending on the type of tea you drink, you’ll encounter different tannins, which are also used in dyes because they’re so good at staining. Fortunately, even though you threw your shirt in the wash and didn’t notice the stain until later, you should still be able to remove it.
Tannins can do some damage to your fabrics, and when you’re enjoying an open-top beverage with liquid sloshing around, you’ll always have the potential to spill. The good news is, if you act fast, you can typically resolve the situation.
Once you notice a tea stain, whether on fabric, carpet, or upholstery, follow these removal tips to avoid a permanent spot!
Before You Start
It’s important to remember a few things before you begin. The first thing you’ll want to do, no matter the fabric, is BLOT, BLOT, BLOT. If you notice the stain while it’s still wet, you should remove as much liquid as you can. This will make the tea stain removal process much easier.
But if you’ve already run it through the wash and notice a dry stain, don’t worry, it’s still possible to remove it. More on that later.
Another thing to note is that you should always read the care label before using any products on fabric. You don’t want to do further damage that could make the dreaded stain even worse. This is especially important for couch upholstery and other expensive items in your home. If you’re accident-prone, you may already have a cleaning system down and products on hand.
How to Get Tea Stains Out of Carpet
Spilling on the carpet, especially when it’s not your own, can be stressful. Fortunately, there are several effective tea stain removal techniques for carpets.
● Carpet Cleaner
○ Blot the stain to remove as much liquid as possible.
○ Pour a small amount of water directly onto the stain to dilute it. This will ensure the carpet cleaner can do its job.
○ Apply your carpet stain remover directly onto the stain
○ Rinse and repeat until the stain is gone.
○ Let it dry.
● White Vinegar
○ If you don’t have a carpet cleaner or want a more natural approach, white vinegar is your best bet.
○ Blot as you would with a carpet cleaner.
○ Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with a cup of warm water.
○ Dab the mixture onto the stain.
○ Let it sit for 10 minutes or so.
○ Rinse with water.
○ Blot up the excess.
○ Let it dry.
Removing Tea Stains From Upholstery
Cozying up on the couch with a cup of tea is the best, but one wrong move, and that tea is going all over the upholstery. We’ve all been there. Blot up as much as you can and get to work so you don’t have a permanent splotch.
● Always check the care tag first to make sure you can clean the upholstery.
● If you have upholstery cleaner, use that as your first line of defense.
● If not, you can use dish detergent or white vinegar.
● Use a sponge or white cloth to work the mixture into the stain.
○ Be careful not to touch other areas of the upholstery, because you could spread the discoloration.
● Continue rinsing and repeating until the stain is gone.
● Blot out the liquid.
● Let it dry.
Getting Tea Stains Out Of Clothing
There’s nothing worse than pulling your favorite shirt out of the wash and realizing there's a big brown tea stain on it. But don’t lose hope! Even if it’s been through the wash once or twice, you will be able to at least reduce the visibility of the stain.
With t-shirts and other clothing made of durable fabric, you may be able to get the stain out with a few runs in the washer. For more delicate items like knitted sweaters or dry-clean-only items, you may want to spot clean the stain.
Your best bet is to catch the stain as soon as it lands on your shirt. Removing it while it’s still wet will keep you from having to take extra steps. For tea stain removal on clothing, your method will depend on the fabric.
● Delicate Clothing
○ After blotting, or not blotting if it’s dry, mix together equal parts water and white vinegar. You can apply it gently with a rag or use a spray bottle.
○ Blot up the mixture and reapply until you see the stain start to disappear.
● Cotton and Polyester
○ Wet the area with warm water after blotting.
○ Apply 1 teaspoon of baking soda to the stain.
○ Let it sit for about 10 minutes.
○ Scrub the stain with a toothbrush or rough cloth.
○ Rinse it off and wash.
To sum it up, a tea stain is not the end of the world. There are many ways to deal with tea stains on fabric, both with chemicals and naturally. Don’t deprive yourself of delicious tea if you’re afraid of stains. To learn our top natural and effective remedies to remove tea stains from your mugs and dishes, click here. And remember, keep white vinegar on hand, and don’t forget to blot!