Four tips for removing tea stains

We all love a cup of tea, but with more than 60 billion cuppas a year being brewed in the UK alone, it’s inevitable that some of those hot drinks will end up where they shouldn’t – across clothing and carpets, where they look unsightly and create a nasty stain.

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But don’t panic! Spilt tea doesn’t mean that you have to throw stained clothing away or rip out your carpets. The secret is to tackle the spill straight away and use appropriate cleaning products. Here are our top four tips for removing tea stains with the minimum of fuss.

Worktops

Some worktops can shrug off tea stains easily, and a swipe with a damp cloth will leave no trace whatsoever, but depending on your surface, spilt tea could be more of a problem. Granite and marble require special care, so tackle stains with a mild washing up liquid solution, or use a specialist cleaning product designed for these surfaces. Otherwise, use a little bicarbonate of soda mixed with a few drops of water to make a paste. Rub the paste into the stain and rinse clear before drying.

Carpet

According to Today, dabbing at the stain with a little plain water is a good first step, followed by a solution of one tablespoon of white vinegar mixed with a cup of water. Leave the solution in place for a few minutes before removing it with a damp cloth. If in any doubt, call in the experts, such as the Cheltenham carpet cleaning company, http://gnccontractservices.com/.

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Clothing

Use paper towel to absorb as much liquid as possible, then dab the stain with a damp cloth, avoiding hot water as this will set the stain permanently. Wash the item of clothing according to the label before it has a chance to dry.

Cups and mugs

Even the best dishwasher can’t always remove tea stains from cups and mugs, but it’s easy enough to give them a new lease of life. Simply mix bicarbonate of soda into a paste with a little water, apply to the stained surfaces of your crockery and gently rub with a soft cloth. If you don’t have an bicarbonate of soda to hand, a little white vinegar on a cloth which is then dipped in table salt will buff away stains in no time.