Love for tea is a universal habit. Tea lovers worldwide have a fetish to try various flavours of the most loved beverage. But drinking tea without caution can land you in trouble. Apart from the fact that hot tea spilling may end up hurting you, it can also stain your favourite outfit. And believe me, removing tea stains from clothes is a task in itself. So, here are a few tips and tricks that can help you get rid of your garment’s tea stains.
An important tip:
Please do not allow the stain to sit in the garment for long, as the longer it remains in the clothing; the longer and harder it is to get rid of it. So ensure that you take timely action.
Either it is black or brown, tea leaves brownish discolouration on clothes, upholstery, and carpets. Removal of stains on such surfaces is challenging. But some tricks and techniques can aid in the removal of tea stains from clothes:
- Use cold water to rinse the cloth
Coldwater is a good way to remove tea stains from clothes. Work from the backside of the clothing. As soon as the tea spills on the cloth, take it off and rinse it immediately with cold water. If immediate action is not possible, follow the other techniques that can be useful enough to get the desired results.
- Use liquid detergent
Everyone has liquid detergent at home. Simply pour a little liquid detergent into the affected area and rub it on the surface. Ensure that you leave it like this for 5-7 minutes. Then rinse the garment with cold water. If you still think that the stain is visible, soak it with the detergent in warm water for 15 minutes and then rinse the cloth.
But if the stain is an old one, then a more laborious method is advisable. Take hot water and dip the affected area with detergent on it. Now, let it sit for 10 minutes and wash with normal water. Warm water helps to get rid of the stain faster than cold/normal water.
- Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is an essential ingredient that is available on the kitchen shelf. Use it for removing tea stains. You can apply a thick layer of baking soda to the stain. Ensure that you do while the tea stain is fresh and the cloth is wet with the stain. The powder/soda has the power to remove the brown colour of the tea from the garment. Leave it with the soda overnight. The next day, scrape the powder from the garment. You will notice that the stain is gone. Now wash the garment to remove the powder stain, and the task will be done.
- Stain removers
Stain removers for fabrics are available in the market. You can use one to remove the tea stain. Soak the affected area or the garment in a tub filled with water and stain remover. (The product will have the directions and the amount of liquid required to soak in water). Then take the garment out of the solution, wash it, and allow it to dry to check if it has worked.
If you still find some of the stains are left, you may repeat the process to get the desired results.
There are different ways and methods to get rid of the tea stain. Any of the techniques may or may not work for you. So you can try alternating the methods to get the desired results.
If the tea stain is old and dried, then a few other methods can be employed to remove the stains:
- Use glycerin
Glycerin is also easily available at home. Rub glycerin on your fingers and run on the affected area. Use glycerin on both sides of the garment. Allow it to remain on the cloth for 10 hours. Then wash the fabric to see the results.
- Use Borax powder
- Make a mixture of hot water and Borax, and let the garment soak in the mix. Wash the cloth after the process.
- Take three parts of Borax and 1 part of water to make a paste. Apply the paste in the affected area. Allow the garment to remain like this for half an hour. Brush the paste away and wash the garment with cold water.
- Use enzyme detergent
Allow the garment to soak in enzyme digestant for half an hour. Use warm water to wash the affected area.
Final thoughts
Tea stains can be removed using any of the techniques mentioned above. You can use any method to get the desired results. Though it is a challenge, the path is not very difficult. Moreover, all the products are easily available on the kitchen shelf. So, no heavy investment is required for the removal of tea stains from the fabrics.
