How to remove tea stains from a teapot

The tea stains in the teapot can be removed by soaking in white vinegar, scrubbing with baking soda, dissolving with citric acid, rubbing with salt, or boiling potato skins. Tea stains are mainly formed by the oxidation and deposition of tea polyphenols, and long-term accumulation may affect the appearance of tea utensils and the taste of tea soup.

1. Soak in White Vinegar

Mix white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio and pour into a teapot. Soak for 2-3 hours and then wipe with a soft cloth. Acetic acid can react with calcium and magnesium salts in tea leaves, making it suitable for removing stubborn tea leaves. Please note that breathable tea utensils such as purple clay pots should not be exposed to acidic substances for a long time.

2. Baking Soda Scrubbing

Take a small amount of baking soda powder and add water to make a paste. Dip it in a sponge and repeatedly scrub the tea stains. The weak alkalinity of baking soda can decompose organic substances in tea stains, making it particularly effective for stainless steel teapots. After scrubbing, rinse thoroughly with clean water to avoid residue.

3. Citric acid dissolution

Add hot water and 5 grams of food grade citric acid to a teapot, let it stand for 30 minutes, and then pour it out. Citric acid can chelate metal ions in tea stains, making it particularly suitable for cleaning white scale on the heating tube of electric teapots. This method is non corrosive to ceramic tea sets.

4. Salt Friction

Sprinkle coarse salt on the tea stains and use a damp dishwashing cloth dipped in salt particles for polishing. The physical friction of salt can remove surface tea stains, and it is more effective when combined with a small amount of detergent. This method is suitable for smooth surface utensils such as glass teapots.

5. Boil Potato Peel

Put fresh potato peel into a teapot and add water to boil. After cooling, pour out the liquid. Oxalic acid and starch in potato skins can soften tea stains, and the boiling process can clean dead corners such as the spout. Natural methods are safer for baby products and food containers.

Rinsing the teapot promptly after daily use can prevent the accumulation of tea stains. It is recommended to thoroughly clean it once a week using the above method. Special materials such as purple clay pots should avoid chemical cleaning agents and can be wiped with specialized pot cleaning wipes. Do not use a steel wire ball to scrape stubborn tea stains to avoid damaging the surface of the tea set. Keeping the teapot dry and ventilated during storage can reduce the probability of mineral deposition.