Tea stains
An assortment of ideas for cleaning tea stains on mugs, teapots and kettles.

It is inevitable that any teapot or mug will eventually become tea stained, and where the tea is brewed within the kettle compartments of certain teasmades, such as the Russell Hobbs 7106 and 7107, they can quickly build up significant stains.
Tea stains are not only unsightly, but can also affect the taste of tea, leaving an unpleasant, stale aftertaste.
Why does tea stain?
All tea contains colour pigments to some degree. Tea also contains tannins, organic compounds responsible for the astringent, slightly bitter taste of tea. Tannins are the main culprits behind tea stains, as they cause the colour pigments in the tea to bond with the surfaces of mugs, teapots, and kettles.
Does black tea stain more than green or white tea?
Yes, black teas are more likely to cause noticeable and persistent staining than other types of tea. Black tea is fully oxidized during processing, making it darker and richer in pigment compared to less-oxidized teas like green or white tea. Oxidation also increases tannin levels, so the pigments in the black tea more easily adhere to mug, teapot, and kettle surfaces.
Does milky tea stain more or less?
Adding milk to tea reduces the astringency of tannins, but it doesn't eliminate their presence entirely. Some of the tannins will still bond with the surface of mugs, teapots, and kettles.
Does sugary tea stain more or less?
Sugar does not directly contribute to staining, but it can combine with tannins to form a stickier residue that makes stains more difficult to remove.
Commercial Products
Astonish
If you would like to use a commercial product, Doug recommends Astonish. It is available as Astonish Cup Clean. It is available as a single tub, or in a pack of three. Doug says:
"I have found that Astonish Cup Clean is very effective and simple to use. It can be used on ceramics, china, and stainless steel, but not on silver or aluminium kettles and teapots, as used on the Goblin D31/B/D32/B."

Here's an example of Astonish in use, before, during, and after cleaning. The teapot is from Doug's collection.



Using Astonish - Before, Effervescing, After
Cif
The classic Cif cream cleaner (and other branded alternatives) can be marginally helpful for removing tea stains due to their mild abrasive action, but that's all. They don't typically contain either bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Their other main ingredients are surfactants - detergents that help break down oils, grease, and dirt, allowing them to be rinsed away easily, and water-softening agents, which help to reduce the build-up of limescale and improve cleaning efficiency, especially in hard water areas.
Home-spun Cleaning Methods
Here's a further assortment of ideas for dealing with tea stains, which will leave your mugs, teapots, and kettles fresh and clean. Which one works best for you?
Mugs and Teapots

Vinegar and lemon juice methods use acidity to break down stains.
Vinegar
- Make a solution using 1 tablespoon of white vinegar per half pint of water.
- Let it stand for up to 15 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly.
Lemon juice
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice into the mug, focusing on the stained areas
- Allow it to stand for 15 minutes
- Scrub with a sponge
- Rinse thoroughly.
Vinegar and salt
This method adds salt as an abrasive.
- Pour 1 tablespoon of white vinegar into the mug
- Sprinkle salt on the stained areas
- Scrub the areas with a sponge
- Rinse thoroughly.
Baking powder
Baking powder is alkaline, but gently abrasive, hence its use in toothpaste.
- Make a paste of baking soda and water
- Apply the paste to the stains
- Scrub with a sponge or cloth until the stain lifts
- Rinse thoroughly.
Baking powder and washing up liquid
- Mix a tablespoon of washing up liquid with baking soda to create a paste
- Scrub the stains with a sponge or brush
- Rinse thoroughly.
Salt and ice
This simple method uses salt as an abrasive.
- Put a tablespoon of salt into the mug
- Add a handful of crushed ice
- Swirl the mixture around or stir with a teaspoon.
Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda
This is a good solution for tough stains in mugs and teapots, but do not use in kettles (see warning below).
If you assumed hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was too nasty a chemical to use in crockery, you'd be wrong. It has a kinder environmental footprint than bleach, and is effective as a disinfectant, working against a wide variety of bacteria.
It is generally completely safe at household concentrations, typically about 3%. It is used as an ingredient in baking soda toothpaste in low concentrations, about 0.5%. The hydrogen peroxide used in hair bleach is rather stronger at 7.5%.
It is only at industrial concentrations that hydrogen peroxide becomes dangerous, unstable, and a fire and corrosion hazard. Concentrations of H2O2 greater than 91% are currently used as rocket propellent!
Here's how to use it to clean mugs and teapots:
- Make a paste with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda
- Apply to the stained area and let it stand for a few minutes
- Scrub gently
- Rinse thoroughly.
Bleach
Bleach should only be used as a last resort solution for heavy stains, and should be used with extreme caution due to its corrosive nature. It is a severe irritant, affecting skin, eyes, and lungs. Do not use on metal mugs, teapots, or kettles (see warning below) - it can corrode steel and cause rust.
- Dilute a small amount of bleach with lots of water
- Soak for about 15 minutes
- Wash thoroughly with washing up liquid and water.
Kettles

Vinegar
- Fill the kettle halfway with water and the other half with vinegar
- Bring the kettle to the boil, then let it cool
- Rinse thoroughly.
Baking powder
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda to the kettle
- Fill the kettle with water, and bring it to the boil
- Let the hot solution stand for up to 30 minutes
- Empty the kettle and scrub any remaining stains with a sponge
- Rinse thoroughly.
Lemon juice
- Either slice a lemon and put the slices in the kettle, or add the juice of a lemon to the kettle
- Fill the kettle with water and boil repeatedly for 10-15 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly.
Warning
You should not use hydrogen peroxide in kettles. Hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen when heated, and this process can happen rapidly and unpredictably when boiled, potentially causing it to foam over or release oxygen gas at a fast rate. This may create pressure and be unsafe in the enclosed space of a kettle. Additionally, the high temperatures involved in boiling can degrade its cleaning properties, making it less effective.
You should not use bleach in kettles. It can corrode steel and cause damage and rust. It can severely irritate your skin and eyes, as well as your lungs. Finally, there is a strong potential that it will leave an unpleasant residue which will affect the taste of your tea.