Black tea, coffee or soot in particular, can leave unsightly edges, if you do not deal with them immediately. Textiles are particularly prone to stains because they absorb liquids and dyes can get stuck in the fibers. Not only carpets and upholstered furniture can get these types of stains. Edges and splashes can also look unsightly on the stainless steel stove, the ceramic sink or the plastic surface.
Removing brown stains – key steps
- Wash out brown stains with water: As with all stains, the dirty spot should be removed as quickly as possible and not allowed to dry. Rinse thoroughly under warm running water. In the case of light soiling, this can already be sufficient.
- Treating tea or coffee stains with cleaning products: If the stain is still visible, rub gently in one of the cleaning products or home remedies listed below without massaging the stain further into the fibers. Leave it on for a while and then wash it off well.
Remove stains with cleaners and household products
There are countless tools for removing nasty brown stains. Of course, you cannot put carpets, upholstered furniture and other non-washable textiles in the washing machine, but there are plenty of options here too. Choose the agent that is most suitable for the piece of furniture or clothing to be cleaned and ideally already in your closet.
- Detergents and stain removers: Whether it’s powder, liquid or stain remover, rub the stain with an available product and follow the manufacturer’s application instructions and the steps above.
- Dishwashing liquid: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid in 1 liter of hot water and soak the fabric in it for about two hours. Pay attention to the instructions for the textiles, because hot water may not be suitable for sensitive fabrics. Then wash the fabric in the washing machine.
- Gall or curd soap: You can also treat carpets and upholstered furniture as well as dried stains in this way: dab the tea stains dry with kitchen paper. Massage some gall or curd soap into the stain and let it work. Then clean the stains with a damp cloth, making sure there is no soap residue, before patting dry.
- Carpet Cleaner: Use carpet cleaner according to the manufacturer’s directions on the label when removing brown stains from carpets.
- Shaving Cream: It may sound weird, but many people use shaving cream when it comes to removing tea or coffee stains. Gently massage into the stain and allow to act before rinsing completely with a damp cloth and then drying.
- Lemon Juice: Lemon juice should only be used on white or colorfast fabrics as it can bleach the fabric. As usual, pat the affected area dry, gently rub in some lemon juice and then wipe off the stain with a damp cloth after it has taken effect.
