What and how to remove tea stains from clothes? The answer is here

Updated: 04/23/2021 12:22:04

Expert: Sofia Borisovna Fridman

Tea is one of the favorite drinks of adults and children. But accidentally left stains on clothing, carpet or furniture are quite difficult to remove. Even many expensive synthetic detergents cannot cope with old marks. But housewives have several ways to remove tea stains that are available to everyone. Our experts have tested how effective all these methods are, conducted experiments, and are ready to offer the 10 most effective ways to remove tea stains.

Removing tea stains depending on the color of the item

When cleaning fabric from dirt, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the color of the item. It is easier to remove stains from white clothes, since in this case you can use different types of bleaches. But colored fabrics require a more delicate approach.

Colored clothes

The most important thing when removing tea stains from colored clothes is not to spoil the item itself. Therefore, to clean such products, you can use some household chemicals, such as Vanish. But before use, be sure to read the instructions on the package and make sure that it can be used in each specific case.

If you are still afraid of ruining the item, then you should use folk remedies that allow you to deal with black and green tea on fabric. This will help:

• vinegar;
• pharmaceutical borax;
• lemon with salt.

It is important to know! The fresher the stain, the faster and easier it is to get rid of it. Therefore, if possible, it is advisable to treat it immediately using lemon juice mixed with salt.

All of the above remedies will cope with the problem while maintaining the color and pattern in its original form.

White clothes

White fabrics are easier to wash, since you can work on them without fear of losing color. Here's how to effectively remove tea from white clothes by following these rules:

• cotton, thick white fabrics can be washed with bleach;
• items made from synthetic white fabrics, for example, blouses, should not be exposed to products containing chlorine - this will lead to their yellowing and destruction of the structure of the fabric itself.

Therefore, to clean tea stains from white items, depending on the type of fabric, you can use the following products:

• bleaches – optical, oxygen, containing chlorine;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• lemon juice;
• oxalic acid;
• citric acid.

Detergents containing chlorine

This method of removing stains is very aggressive. It is only suitable for clothes made from natural fabrics such as linen and cotton.

Removing tea stains using a chlorine-containing product should be carried out in strict accordance with the instructions for its use. As a precaution, rubber gloves should be used to protect your hands.

Differences in removing fresh and dried tea stains

The faster you treat a black or green tea stain with a suitable product, the greater the chance of saving the item and returning it to its original appearance. How to quickly remove tea stains:

• Squeeze lemon juice and mix with salt. Apply the resulting liquid to the stain, lightly rubbing and rinsing in running water.

• Make a strong soap solution in a small container. Remove the item and dip the stain into the solution, rubbing lightly. Then rinse thoroughly.
• If the tea brew is too strong, the cleaning procedure will need to be repeated several times.

Note! In order to remove an old stain, you will have to use more aggressive means. You may have to soak and wash several times to remove it completely.

Furniture and carpeting

An alcohol solution of ammonia, hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice will help remove green and black tea stains from light-colored furniture upholstery.

For colored upholstered furniture, other recipes are used. The first is glycerin. Dissolve a large spoon of the product in a liter of warm water. Wet the sponge with the mixture. Gently work the tea mark, traditionally moving from the edges to the center. Continue processing until the mark disappears. Then wipe the surface of the upholstery with a damp cloth.

For the second method, you will need to purchase a 10% borax solution. The application scheme is simple:

1. Treat the tea stain with borax, lightly rubbing the product into the surface.
2. Prepare a mix of equal parts salt and dry citric acid. Add water to make a paste.
3. Treat the dirt and rub it with a brush.
4. Wipe the surface of the upholstery fabric of the sofa or chair with a damp cloth.

It is advisable to wash spilled tea from a carpet or other floor covering immediately.

Product How to use

Traditional methods

Since it is not easy to remove tea stains from delicate items, it is better to use folk recipes. Their gentle effect allows you to preserve not only the color, but also the structure of the thread and the integrity of the fabric.

Glycerin+salt

Using substances such as glycerin and salt, you can effectively remove old tea stains not only from white fabric, but also from thick-pile carpeting.
To do this, prepare the following mixture - 60 g of glycerin and 7-10 g of table salt. All this must be thoroughly mixed until the salt crystals are completely dissolved. Apply the resulting paste to the stained area, rub a little and leave for 20 minutes until completely absorbed into the structure of the thread. Then collect the remaining mass and wash with water. If the carpet or upholstery is dirty, you can mix glycerin with ammonia. Proportion 1:1. Stir the mixture thoroughly and apply to the stain. Leave for 30 minutes for intense action, followed by rinsing.

Borax and lactic acid

If clothes are stained, especially plain colored ones or those with a colored pattern, then it is best to use borax. You can buy it at the pharmacy. A 10% solution of this substance does not affect the color of the fabric in any way, does not change it, but very effectively removes all stubborn stains.

In order to wash colored or white fabric from this type of stain, just soak a cotton swab in borax and treat the area. After this, sprinkle the area with fine salt so that it forms a dense, continuous layer. Exposure to substances should last 10 minutes. After this, you need to wash the item to remove dirt and remaining salt and borax.

Lemon acid

What is the best way to remove tea stains from white. You can resort to using citric acid. A better result can be achieved if you mix citric and oxalic acids in a 1:2 ratio. Afterwards, take about 10 grams of this mixture and dissolve it in 200 grams of warm water. Drop 3-5 drops of ammonia tincture into a glass. Dip the stained fabric into this solution. For a fresh stain, you don’t even have to rub, while for a dried one, you will either have to apply little effort or repeat the procedure twice.

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Ammonia

To make sure that tea can be washed from clothes with ammonia, you should use this product exclusively in combination with cold water.

Important! To remove tea stains, use ammonia, not ammonia!

The effectiveness of the effect in this case is determined by the action of the alkaline environment. A change occurs in the molecular structure of the tea stain itself, and this facilitates the process of its removal.

Ammonia in combination with cold water can remove old stains. To do this, mix two liquids in equal proportions and soak the product in this mixture for 5 minutes. After such exposure, it is necessary to thoroughly wash the item to remove the ammonia components of ammonia, since its evaporation has a certain toxicity.

Colored clothes

It is much more difficult to remove traces of drinks on colored items. The reason is possible changes in the shade of the fabric. Bleaching agents and local stain removers will discolor the material - such clothes will only have to be taken to the dacha. You can experiment with jeans, “varenki” are coming back into fashion, so even discolored spots will be appropriate here.

Several proven recipes will help you completely remove tea from colored items.

Table vinegar

You need to take exactly 9% white vinegar; apple, wine and essence are not suitable. What to do:

If the stain has not completely disappeared, it can be washed with laundry soap or in a washing machine. The main task of vinegar and water is to break down tannins without discoloring the fabric.

Lemon + salt

This powerful and aggressive product removes and washes away old traces of tea leaves. To remove stains, pour pure lemon juice onto the tea marks and sprinkle salt on top. Leave for 10 minutes. After this, rinse the item, put it in the machine or wash it by hand in soapy warm water.

Washing is necessary to restore color and remove residual citric acid from the fabric fibers.

Borax + salt

Borax or sodium tetraborate is a pharmaceutical drug that can be bought without a prescription. It is used for washing delicate, colored items. A mixture of borax and salt in equal proportions will help remove complex tea stains. Apply like this:

Sometimes only outlines remain of a trace of tea. You should try to remove such stains with hydrogen peroxide, and then wash the clothes in the machine.

Stain remover

Chemical products will help remove tea stains with guaranteed results. However, not all compositions work equally well on colored fabrics and, moreover, are not always available at hand.

The most popular means for local removal of stains, including tea stains:

It is strictly not recommended to use one product to remove tea residues from jeans and a silk blouse. Before use, special attention should be paid to the type of material for which the product is intended.

A little advice: it is better to apply stain removers locally or dissolve them in cool water. In boiling water the mixtures lose their properties.

Household chemicals against tea stains

If you don’t want to bother with folk remedies, then you can simply turn to household chemicals, which are quite effective in combating any stains, including tea stains. Today the range is quite large. The older tea stains are on white, the more difficult it is to remove. But any type of stain remover can still cope with this task. Also, some types of such products can be used for colored things.

Here is a list of fixed assets:

1. Vanish. It is able to overcome stains on any type of fabric, from synthetics to cotton. And all this regardless of color or patterns. The only negative aspect of its use is the fact that Vanish copes better with fresh stains. Whereas to remove old stains, repeated exposures, washing, and possibly soaking will be required.

2. Dr. Beckmann from a German manufacturer. This product effectively fights all types of stains - greasy, fruit, tea, coffee. The effect is due to the active oxygen included in the components of the product. Therefore, it can be safely used to get rid of stains on colored fabrics.
3. Ace OXI Magic - this product is available in the form of a powder, which must be diluted in water and soak the soiled item in it. Effectively affects both white and colored fabrics, without changing the brightness and degree of color of the latter. It works best in hot water.
4. Bos Plus Maximum - but this product is different in that it can only be used on white fabrics. Strictly do not use for colored people, as this may lead to a change in the degree of coloring. On white fabrics, the effectiveness is already evident at 40°C washing.

Important! To effectively get rid of unwanted contaminants, you should strictly follow the instructions that are written on the label of any product.

How best to withdraw

Below are ways to quickly remove stains on each type of fabric. It is very important to maintain the proportions of the compositions so as not to spoil the item.

On white clothes

To remove traces of tea on white clothes, experienced housewives use ammonia. Dip a cotton pad into ammonia and wipe the stained areas. Alcohol helps to corrode dirt. After putting in ammonia, dissolve 5 g of citric acid in water. The disc is moistened in liquid and applied to a cloth that has been treated with ammonia. The stain is removed from the reverse side. Place a paper towel under the material.

On a T-shirt

You can wash your favorite T-shirt with a Vanish type stain remover. This popular product can be used on any type of fabric. It is much more effective to wash clothes with fresh soil.

On jeans

You can remove stains from jeans with vinegar and washing powder. For this, 2 tbsp. vinegar are combined with washing powder. The product is applied from the wrong side. The active process of treating stains will begin in a couple of minutes. After this, the clothes are washed with washing powder.

Difficulties in removing dried tea stains from carpet and sofa

If tea, whether black or green, gets on the carpet or upholstery, it is advisable to immediately wash the stained area. If the stain sets in, it will be much more difficult to remove. This is due to the multilayer structure of the fibers that form the carpet or upholstery of upholstered furniture.

Most likely, dried tea will have to be removed in several stages, soaking with chemicals.