Who'd know that a visit to the drug store is the first step to having the right supplies to clean tea stains from a teapot?
Follow these simple steps for a sparkling clean cup or teapot.
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Less than 5 minutes, plus waiting time
Here's How:
- Take the chill out of the pot or cup with a rinse of warm water.
- Use very hot or boiling water to fill the stained teapot or cup to cover the stained area. Be sure that the hot water goes into the teapot's spout so it can be cleaned, too.
- For a tea cup, cut a denture tablet into quarters and drop a piece into each cup. For a teapot, use one or two denture tablets.
- Leave the denture tablets in the cups or teapot for one hour.
- Check to see if the stains are gone.
- For very stubborn stains, leave the water and tablets in overnight to give the solution longer to work.
- When the stains have disappeared, wash the teapot in hot soapy water.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
- Wipe the teapot or cups dry with a soft, absorbent towel.
- Before replacing the lid on the teapot, let the pot air dry for several hours.
Tips:
- If you have a very valuable or collectible teapot or cup, you should consult an expert before using any corrosive cleaner on the piece.
- Be sure to wash the teapot in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly to remove any cleaner.
- Carefully wipe and air dry the teapot before you store it.
- If the stain is particularly stubborn, try wiping the stain lightly with a soft damp rag dipped in baking soda. Rinse and dry.
What You Need:
- Tea-Stained Cup or Teapot
- Denture Cleaning Tablets
- Hot Water
- Soft Towel