Banish tea stains: Simple kitchen remedies revealed
When it's grey outside and the mornings greet you with their chill, hot tea becomes an essential companion. Whether you're enjoying rooibos, Earl Grey, or green tea, an unsightly residue can sometimes appear in mugs, glasses, and flasks. You can easily get rid of it.
Although tea residue in a mug is not harmful, it certainly spoils the visual appeal and annoys those with a keen eye for aesthetics. If your mug has turned brown, and the inside of your favourite flask starts to look a bit concerning, rely on two proven ingredients. They will work much better than ordinary washing-up liquid.
Tea residue
Tea residue in a mug is the result of a natural chemical reaction that occurs between components of the tea and minerals present in the water. Tea leaves naturally contain oxalates, and water (especially hard water) contains calcium. When you brew tea, the oxalates from the leaves combine with the calcium from the water, forming insoluble compounds that accumulate on the sides of the mug. The more calcium in the water, the more intense and quickly the residue forms.
There's no need to worry about tea residue—it's merely a regular chemical reaction. The more valuable the tea is in terms of polyphenol content, the more intense the colour of the residue can be. However, it does not affect the taste or aroma of the brew.
Reach into the kitchen cupboard
Although the residue is a natural phenomenon, the brown stains on cups definitely diminish their appearance. But there's no need to cry over spilled tea. Reach into the kitchen cupboard and take out vinegar and salt. They will perform much better than scrubbing the sides with washing-up liquid.
Prepare a paste made of equal parts table salt and white vinegar. Vigorously rub it into the stained areas of the flask. Leave it for about 10 minutes to let the ingredients work. After this time, thoroughly scrub the mug or flask with a sponge, and then rinse well with warm water. Your mug will look like new.
Citric acid or bicarbonate of soda will work in a similar way. Just sprinkle it into the mug, pour hot water over it, and set it aside for a few hours.
