You do not necessarily need special stain removers to get rid of tea stains: simple home remedies often help. We’ll introduce you to the best options for textiles, upholstered furniture, carpets and crockery.
The tea bag is dripping or the tea cup is too close to the edge of the table: a tea stain can easily happen. Black tea and other dark types of tea can leave unsightly stains, especially on light areas. It’s best to treat them as soon as possible after the mishap happens. The fresher they are, the easier it is to remove the disaster. Despite this, they can sometimes be stubborn.
If tea stains cannot be removed with clear water, various home remedies can help. We show you the most important ones.
Gall soap
Tea stains on fabric furniture often do not disappear completely, even after a normal wash cycle. You can help by treating them with gall soap before washing. Many tea stains can still be removed in this way.
- Rub some gall soap into the stain. Be careful not to damage the fabric.
- Let the gall soap work for at least a quarter of an hour.
- Then use a damp cloth to remove the soap residue and then pat the treated area dry with a second cloth. This procedure will prevent circles from being left on the fabric.
Important: It is better not to treat sensitive fabrics such as silk or wool with gall soap – they can suffer as a result. Instead, we recommend using ecologically compatible mild detergent.
Shaving foam
Shaving foam is particularly suitable for removing tea stains on light-colored surfaces. To do this, put some foam on the stain, rub it in gently and leave it on for five to ten minutes. Then remove the shaving cream with a damp cloth and make sure that no traces remain. Then pat the stain dry.
Lemon juice
Lemon juice is also best suited for white or colorfast surfaces and textiles. Put some lemon juice on a cloth and rub it on the tea stain. Leave the juice on for about ten minutes. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth and pat the area dry.
Important: You should either not use these home remedies on sensitive materials such as silk and wool, or use them only very carefully. With darker fabrics, there is also a risk of fading. If you want to remove tea stains, it is always best to try the respective agent on an inconspicuous area first.
Baking soda
Even if tea stays in the cup, it can leave stains: over time, it often stains porcelain and other materials stubbornly. Especially with white cups, they are not nicely looking. Such stains in cups or pots are often not so easy to remove with simple rinsing.
Because of its bleaching properties, baking soda is a natural stain remover in this case. Pour 2 teaspoons of baking soda into the cup or pot, then fill the cup with boiling water to the brim. Stir once, then let the mixture steep for at least an hour. Then pour off the water and clean the piece of dishes with a sponge and some washing-up liquid. The tea stains should now be easy to remove.
