Remove tea stains from clothes in ‘minutes’ with common skincare item

If you’ve had an accident with a cup of tea, this cleaning hack could be a lifesaver.

We’re a nation of tea drinkers, and some of us get through multiple cups of the beverage every day. The downside to that, however, is that sometimes mishaps can occur with our drinks – and tea can easily stain.

Whether you’ve somehow completely missed your mouth and tipped your cup directly onto your shirt while trying to take sip, or you’ve accidentally bumped your coffee table and sent your mug tumbling, spills are bound to happen every now and again.

Tea contains tannins, organic compounds that cause the colour pigments in tea to bond to other surfaces, which is why you can sometimes get tea staining inside your favourite mug. However, this also means tea can easily stain clothes, carpets, and furniture.

If you’ve got tea stains that you desperately need to remove, then worry not. Cleaning fans on Facebook have shared an easy way to remove stains from clothing in “minutes” – using something you probably already have at home.

The hack was shared on a Facebook group for fans of cleaning expert Mrs Hinch. One fan said she was having trouble removing a tea stain from her jumper and wanted help from fellow cleaning enthusiasts on the best way to tackle it.

Among the suggestions was one simple yet effective option – using a bar of soap.

The commenter wrote: “Rub some white bar soap into it. Leave for a few minutes and wash as normal. [It works] with lots of stains and doesn’t discolour fabrics.”

Any bar of soap will work for the trick, and it’s something many of us will already have in our bathrooms. However, it’s recommended that you use a white bar to avoid the potential for any colours in the soap itself to further discolour or stain your fabric.

Using soap wasn’t the only suggestion, as a couple of commenters also recommended the woman use washing up liquid to remove the stain. This trick works in a similar way to the soap hack, and is another item many of us will have in our kitchens.

One person said: “Cold water, then Fairy liquid.” Another also wrote: “[Use] Fairy liquid [and] let it soak into it. When you wash it, the stain will disappear.”

How to remove tea stains from clothes

If you spill tea on your clothes, the best thing to do is act quickly. The sooner you treat the stain, the easier it will be to remove. If the stain is very fresh, you should blot (don’t rub!) with a clean cloth to soak up the excess moisture.

Next, rinse with cold water. Hot water can set the stain and make it harder to remove, so rinsing the area with cold water is always advised. If possible, you should also rinse the stain from the back to try and push the tea out of the fibres instead of in.

You should then apply either washing up liquid, laundry detergent, or bar soap to the stain. Use your fingers or a clean sponge to gently work the product in, and then let it sit for five to 10 minutes to allow it to break down the tannins.

Rinse the product off with more cold water and then wash as normal.