How to remove tea stains for the best effect

The best methods for removing tea stains include cleaning with baking soda, soaking in white vinegar, dissolving in citric acid, rubbing with salt, and wiping with toothpaste.

1. Baking soda cleaning

Baking soda is an alkaline substance that can react with acidic components in tea stains. Mix baking soda and water into a paste, dip it in a soft cloth, and repeatedly wipe the inner wall of the tea set. Stubborn tea stains can be left to stand for ten minutes before rinsing. This method is safe for ceramic and glass tea sets, does not scratch the surface, and is suitable for daily mild tea stain cleaning.

2. Soaking in white vinegar

The acetic acid in white vinegar can decompose theophylline precipitates. Soak the tea set completely in white vinegar for one hour, and the tea stains will naturally fall off. Thicker tea stains can be enhanced by heating the vinegar solution to 60 degrees Celsius. Note that pure aluminum products should not be exposed to acidic substances for a long time. Adsorbent materials such as purple clay pots should be thoroughly rinsed after use to avoid residual acidity.

3. Citric acid dissolution

Food grade citric acid powder, when mixed with water in proportion, can quickly soften tea scale crystals. Pour the solution into the tea set and shake it evenly. After 20 minutes, the tea stains will float in a flocculent shape. This method is also effective for the oxide layer on the inner wall of stainless steel insulated cups, but the concentration of plastic products needs to be controlled to avoid corrosion.

4. Salt Friction

Coarse salt particles can physically remove surface tea stains. After moistening the tea set, sprinkle salt and use a sponge or soft bristled brush to wipe in circles, with a focus on treating the sediment at the cup mouth. Combined with hot water flushing, it can improve cleaning efficiency and is suitable for porcelain with intact glaze. Tea sets with cracks may aggravate glaze damage.

5. Toothpaste wiping

Toothpaste containing silica friction agent can gently polish tea stains. Take toothpaste the size of a soybean and brush it repeatedly with an old toothbrush. Use cotton swabs to assist in fine gaps. Mint ingredients can also eliminate odors, but the grinding force should be moderate to avoid damaging the coating of valuable tea utensils such as gold rimmed tea cups. Regular cleaning is the key to preventing the accumulation of tea stains. It is recommended to rinse the tea set promptly after each use and thoroughly clean it once a week. Different materials of tea sets need to be matched with corresponding methods. Purple clay pots should be kept with clean water, glass cups can be disinfected with boiling water, and metal tea sets should avoid strong acid corrosion. Do not use steel wire balls to scrape stubborn tea stains. For tea sets that have not been cleaned for a long time, it is recommended to treat them in batches and use the above method after softening with hot water to protect the tea set and thoroughly remove the stains.