How to Remove Coffee Stains and Tea Stains

A nice cup of tea or coffee can set us up nicely for the day, so it's no surprise that 60 billion cups of the stuff are drunk every year in the UK.

However, the stains these refreshments can sometimes leave are troublesome and tea and coffee stain removal can be extremely challenging, so our guide and range of troubleshooting products will help you. There are many tips and a large selection of products that will help combat tea and coffee stain challenges, including removing:

• Tea stains from carpet
• Coffee stains on carpet
• Dried tea or coffee stain from your best shirt
• Tea or coffee stains from your sofa
• Stubborn tea stains from your favourite mug
• A build-up of tannin on your teeth

Removing Tea Stains and Coffee Stains from Carpets and Upholstery

Two of the most common questions we get asked are:

• Tea stains from carpet
• How to get tea stains out of carpet
• How to remove coffee stains from carpet

Heard of the saying less is more? Well, firstly we need to blot up any excess spillage with paper towels, removing as much liquid as possible to prevent a coffee stain on carpet. Then, just start dabbing at the stain with just water and a clean cloth to see if it clears up.

Next, apply a stain removing product like The Pink Stuff Oxi Stain Remover or Evans Vanodine Oxy Powder, both of which will help you combat the stain.

Before applying any cleaning product, make sure you check the guidelines on the fabric you are cleaning. We always recommend testing the product in an inconspicuous area and allowing the area time to dry before re-applying.

Evans Vanodine Oxy Powder stain remover is versatile and excellent at getting rid of tough stains. 12.5g of the powder is dissolved into 1 litre of hot water before dabbing at the stain, working from the outside in. It needs only 10 minutes to settle before wiping clean with a damp cloth.

Tea and Coffee Stain Removal from Clothing

Accidents happen and scolding from a spill of hot tea or coffee can be painful. When it comes time to remove tea stains or coffee stains, this process can be painful too! It is always best to act as fast as possible, firstly checking the care label. Garments may need to be taken to the dry cleaners. Silk and wool may also need to be professionally cleaned.

If the garment is safe to treat, soak it in a solution of cold water and Evans Vanodine Oxy Powder for at least 15 minutes. The item then needs to be placed in the washing machine and set for the hottest water temperature the care label allows. A good quality detergent should be added such as The Pink Stuff Non Bio Laundry Liquid.

It is probably good to note here that powdered laundry detergent may be able to remove coffee stains better in some cases than liquid detergents. Don’t try to machine dry the item after washing, as the heat will set a stain if you have not managed to remove it completely.

Remove Tea Stains and Coffee Stains From Teeth

Food and drink stain teeth. Fact. Tea and coffee cause staining on teeth because of the tannin which are in both. This builds up on our tooth enamel.

There are things we can do to avoid these stains, like adding milk to our drinks, drinking through a straw, or rinsing our mouths with water afterwards. There are many oral hygiene products on the market with enhanced whitening formulas, such as Colgate Max White Toothpaste.

Keeping a toothbrush and paste at work for use after refreshments, polishing away the tannin residues before stains occur is something to consider. Despite our best efforts, it’s likely that at some point we’ll need to remove tea stains and coffee stains from our teeth.

Removing Tea and Coffee Stains From Hard Surfaces

Hard surfaces can easily become victim to tea and coffee stains, including items such as crockery, cutlery and teapots. If we don’t have a dishwasher, or it is not working as effectively as it should, our mugs and teaspoons will start to grow an unappealing brown colour over an extended period.

You can easily remove these markings by soaking the mugs and cutlery in chlorine tablets. Not only will the quick dissolving tablets remove unsightly tannin stains,they will also provide a powerful and safe disinfectant solution which kills bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores. These chlorine tablets are designed for a wide range of uses so are extremely versatile and provide excellent value for money.

Removing tannin stains from work surfaces does not have to be difficult either. The miracle paste, The Pink Stuff is ideal for this. Just gently rub the area being cleaned in a circular motion. The Pink Stuff is a mild abrasive cleaning paste that does all the work, so we don't have too.

An Alternative Method for Tea and Coffee Stain Removal

This alternative method may not be suitable for everything, and a small area of your surface should be tested first before applying using this method in full. Apply Baking soda to the stain and add a little water to make a paste. Dab this with a damp soft sponge. The abrasiveness of the paste will help lift the tea stains from the surface. Once you have finished scrubbing, rinse well to remove any remaining baking soda.

Alternatively, if you don’t need to remove the stains immediately, you can soak mugs and teapots in baking soda, boiling water, two spoonful’s of dishwash detergent and two denture tablets and leave overnight. Don't forget to rinse your mugs thoroughly after using this method!