Mum's 'ultimate' hack for banishing tea stains from mugs costs less than £1

10 March 2024 , 11:30

921     0

Tea stains are often difficult to budge (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

There's nothing like a good cuppa, but the staple British can often leave grim stains that can be a nightmare to clean.

Over time our mugs and teacups can slowly turn brown from tannin stains - a chemical compound found in hot drinks. Tannins exist in a variety of naturally occurring substances, including wood and, of course, tea and coffee.

While the stains are harmless, they can be unsightly and ruin your favourite tea-drinking cup - no one wants to invite someone around for a cuppa and have to use stained crockery.

Luckily, two mums and cleaning experts Purdy Rubin and Charlotte Figg - owners cleaning brand Purdy and Figg - have come up with a tried-and-tested solution to banish stains.

The "ultimate" hack will only cost less than £1 and takes seconds to work. Not only is the trick cheap and easy but it is a "natural" way of removing stains and makes your mugs look brand new.

Cleaning guru shares why you shouldn't make your bed first thing in the morning

In a video clip shared on Purdy and Figg's TikTok page - where they share cleaning hacks - the trick is demonstrated. The duo said: "A simple, natural cleaning tip from Purdy to remove tea and coffee stains from mugs. All you need to do is add a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda with a little water and gently wipe around with a cloth or sponge ."

You will need a small mixing dish to begin. Next, you need to put bicarbonate soda and white vinegar into the bowl and mix together to form a paste. Then dip a damp sponge into the paste and spread it around the mug - the stains immediately disappear. Be sure to rinse the mug out afterwards.

Stockwell's bicarbonate of soda - sometimes known as sodium bicarbonate or baking soda - can be purchased from Tesco for 65p. White vinegar is priced at 35p at Tesco and 40p at Sainsbury's.

Commenting on the TikTok hack, one commenter said: "Such a pet peeve seeing stained mugs." "I just use a little bleach and water," another said.

Have you tried the hack? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Lucy Marshall