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Culinary

How Do I Remove Tea Stains?

By Nicky Sutton
Updated Feb 12, 2024
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Tea stains are particularly stubborn because they contain tannin which is hard to remove. Depending on what the stain is on, different substances should be used for removal. Care should be taken with fabrics and clothing, and the wash care instructions on the label consulted. Natural home remedies can be used to effectively remove tea stains, and are often less harsh than using their chemical equivalents. Always clean up tea as quickly as possible when spilled, and try not to scrub it into the material or surface that it is on.

The removal method for tea stains depends upon the medium that you are removing them from. If you are removing tea stains from your upholstery or carpet, combine 2 cups (226.8 g) of cold water with 1 tablespoon (14.78 milliliters) of vinegar and 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and mix well. Dab the solution with a cloth onto the tea stain until it soaks in, then keep working the solution into the fabric until the stain is removed.

If you are removing tea stains from fabric or clothing, apply a pre-wash stain remover product to the stain. Follow the product instructions for the best results. After this, make up a mixture of 2 tablespoons (29.57 ml) laundry detergent with 1 gallon (3.78 l) of water, and soak the fabric overnight. Remove the fabric and wash it at the highest temperature possible.

Pay attention to the fabric care instructions on the label to ensure that you do not damage the fabric. Never place fabric in the tumble dryer if the stain is still present as this can the make removal impossible. Repeat the washing process until the stain disappears.

Instead of a pre-wash stain remover product, try beer as a pre-wash stain remover. Salt and vinegar are also good pre-treatments for tea stained clothes before regular washing. Mix 3 cups (680.38 g) of white vinegar to 1 cup (453.59 g) of water, and soak the tea stained area of the garment in it. Rub gently with a cloth and if the stain is still not removed, gently rub salt granules into the stain and wash as normal.

Remove tea stains from your drinking cups by dipping a damp cloth into baking soda and rubbing the cup. Rub until the stains are removed and wash the cup well afterwards. Beer can also remove tea stains effectively from drinking cups by soaking a cloth with the beer and rubbing the stain.

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Discussion Comments

By fify — On Jun 22, 2014

I use a pre-wash stain remover for stains like tea and coffee. It's the easiest way to deal with these types of stains. I get the stain wet with water first then rub in the stain remover and leave it to work. Then I wash it in the machine with the rest of the laundry.

By ZipLine — On Jun 21, 2014

I learned a tip from my mom to help remove both oil and tea stains from clothing. It's just salt. The only thing is that salt must be applied as soon as the stain occurs. Salt helps absorb moisture so when it's applied to oil and tea stains, it can absorb them. For tea, it helps absorb the tannins which give tea its color.

Of course, clothing still need to be washed afterward. But I've noticed that it makes a significant difference to use salt first thing. It makes it easier to remove the stain during the washing stage.

By bluedolphin — On Jun 21, 2014

Tea stains are very difficult to remove. That's where there's even a fabric dying method which makes use of tea. It basically just involves soaking fabric or clothing in tea for several hours. The tannins color the fabric.

My brother and I tried this once with rooibos tea which is red. It turned a white t-shirt pink! Of course the color faded a little after several washes but never disappeared altogether. I realized then that it's very difficult to get rid of tea stains from clothing.

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