How To Clean Tea Stains From Mugs

There's no denying that Great Britain is a nation of tea lovers, with us Brits sipping our way through 100 million cuppas every day!

There's nothing quite like catching up over a steaming brew and a biccy. But, unfortunately, all this tea drinking means there are also plenty of opportunity for tea to stain hard surfaces, clothes and household textiles.

It's the pesky chemical compounds known as tannins in tea that make tea stains so tough to shift. But with the right know-how, you can remove them in a jiffy. Simply follow our expert guide to find out how...

Teaspoons and mugs

Bicarbonate of soda is your best ally here.

To use this handy store cupboard staple as a stain remover, mix two teaspoons with a few drops of water to make a loose paste. Next, use a soft cloth (a square cut out of an old, clean T-shirt is ideal) to rub the mixture onto stained teaspoons, cups or saucers.

No bicarbonate of soda? Soak the corner of a cloth in white vinegar, dip it in table salt and rub it over the stain.

Stop tea stains building up by rinsing your teaspoons and mugs after use, even if you don't have time to wash them properly.

Worktops

Prevent long-term staining by mopping up spills as soon as they happen. The bicarbonate of soda paste above should clean tea stains from laminate or wooden worktops. Half a lemon dipped in table salt may also prove effective.

Granite and marble worktops tend to be more resistant to staining, but they require gentler cleaning. Use a washing up liquid solution or try a specialist surface cleaner such as HG Natural Stone Kitchen Top Cleaner.

Cup, Coffee cup, Cup, Mug, Tableware, Drinkware, Flooring, Caffeine,

Carpet and upholstery

Soak up as much of the spilled tea as possible with a paper towel or soft cloth, before using Bissell Oxy Stain Destroyer (£12.99 for 396ml). Spray it into the stain, leave it to soak for five minutes, then dab - not scrub! - with a clean, white cloth that's been soaked in cold water and wrung out. Don't be tempted to treat the stain with salt, as this may set it permanently.

GHI TIP: Test stain removers on an inconspicuous patch of carpet or upholstery fabric first to check its colour fastness.

Clothing

If the fabric is stained with milky tea, rinse it in cool water before washing: milk is protein-based, so using hot water could set the stain.

Treat stained silk clothing with Dr Beckmann Stain Devils Tea, Red Wine, Fruit & Juice, then follow the washing instructions on the care label.

Soak wool in a cool solution of detergent suitable for delicates. If you don't have any, use your non-biological detergent, before hand washing the garment in lukewarm water.

Tea stain removal products

HG Natural Stone Kitchen Top Cleaner

BISSELL Oxy Stain Destroyer Carpet Shampoo

Bissell amazon.co.uk

Stain Devils Tea, Red Wine, Fruit & Juice

Dr Beckmann amazon.co.uk

£2.31

Dri Pak Bicarbonate of Soda for Cleaning

Dri Pak amazon.co.uk

£2.71

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