How do I remove tea stains from cups and teapots?
Removing tannin staining from china, stainless steel and plastic without scratching the surface.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 20 min
- Read
- 2 min
Short answer
Bicarbonate of soda paste removes tea staining from almost anything without scratching. For stubborn cases, soak in a solution of denture tablets or oxygen bleach. Never use a scouring pad on glazed china or plastic.
Tea stains are tannins bonded to the surface. They are chemically removable, which means abrasion is unnecessary and actively harmful — a scratched surface stains faster afterwards, so scrubbing makes the problem worse over time.
What you'll need
- Bicarbonate of soda
- Denture cleaning tablets (optional)
- White vinegar (optional)
- Soft cloth (optional)
Step by step
- Make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and a little water.It is mildly alkaline and very slightly abrasive — enough for tannin, not enough to scratch glaze.
- Rub it around the stained area with a soft cloth or your fingers.Most staining lifts within a minute. Rinse and check before doing anything more aggressive.
- For stubborn stains, soak overnight in a stronger solution.A denture tablet or a scoop of oxygen bleach in hot water. It works on china, stainless steel and glass equally.
- For a stained teapot spout and interior, fill and soak.Fill it completely so the whole interior is submerged, and leave for several hours or overnight.
- Rinse extremely thoroughly afterwards.Any residue affects the taste of the next pot. Rinse several times and let it dry.
- Use white vinegar for limescale as well as staining.In hard water areas the deposit is often both. Vinegar handles the scale; bicarbonate handles the tannin.
- Do not scour plastic or glazed china.Scratches hold stains and are permanent. Every subsequent cleaning gets harder.
- Rinse cups soon after use to prevent it.A quick rinse before the tannin dries prevents nearly all staining, and takes seconds.
Tips
- Cast iron and unglazed clay teapots should never be scrubbed clean — the seasoning is intentional and part of how they work. Rinse with hot water only.
- Dishwashers often leave tea staining behind, since the detergent is optimised for grease rather than tannin.
- Do not use bleach on anything you drink from repeatedly. Oxygen-based cleaners and bicarbonate are safer and just as effective.
Common mistakes
- Scouring with an abrasive pad — It scratches the surface, and a scratched surface stains faster and more deeply from then on.
- Scrubbing a seasoned clay or cast iron pot — The patina is deliberate and contributes to the tea. Hot water only for those.
- Not rinsing thoroughly after soaking — Cleaner residue taints the next pot noticeably. Rinse several times.
Questions people ask
How do I get tea stains out of a mug?
A paste of bicarbonate of soda rubbed with a soft cloth removes most of it in a minute. For stubborn staining, soak overnight with a denture tablet in hot water.
Should I clean the inside of a teapot?
Glazed china and stainless steel, yes. Unglazed clay and cast iron pots should only be rinsed with hot water — their interior patina is part of how they work.