How to remove tea stains from clothes

Tea is one of the beverages that are taken daily in almost all households. Whether you are giving tea to your colleagues, friends, family, or drinking by yourself, there are chances that you may get a few drops of it on your clothes. Tea may look extremely light in color but the fact is that it still emits a brownish color that stains various kinds of surfaces where clothes, mugs, and floor are the most prominent.

After experiencing such a situation, the first question would be; how to remove tea marks from clothes? There are various tips, tricks, ways, and products that can get you to the other end of the issues where you will have cleaned clothes as they were before getting tea stains. Just follow this brief guide and you will get all the information you require while removing tea stains.

How to remove tea stains from clothes

Does tea stain clothing?

If you are asking this question, it is clear that you haven’t experienced any tea stains till now but the truth is that tea can stain cloth and sometimes in a severe form as well. Tea not only causes stains on clothes but can leave marks on other hard surfaces as well.

Usually, people think that tea is just the natural form of the tea plants’ leaves. They truly believe that tea is processed in its original form without adding any other ingredients. Well, the reality is that many other ingredients are included in tea’s composition. Some of the additional ingredients and colors can cause stains.

The good news is that removing these stains is not that hard if you know the right procedure and products to do so.  Although all these ingredients are safe and are only included to either enhance the taste or give it an attractive color, some chemical compounds are capable of causing stains. This is the reason that brownish color along with these chemical compounds leave marks and can become tough as well if left unattended.

Does green tea stain clothes?

There is no oil in green tea composition and it is completely a water-based product. It doesn’t mean that green tea will not stain your cloth but the relieving factor is that removing green stains is more than easy. All you need is just to wash them as you normally do by hand or in a washing machine.

Does black tea stain clothes?

Black tea leaves stains on cloth and they can become difficult to remove if kept unattended and get dried effectively. They usually leave yellowish stains which can ruin clothes of almost all colors no matter if it is black or white. Tannin is the major reason why black tea stains clothes.

Does Thai tea stain clothes?

Thai tea is a lot like coffee in terms of composition and it does include chemical compounds which can cause stains to the clothes. They usually cause blotches or patchy areas where it is spilled but can be removed easily by using many household remedies. Thai tea not only stains clothes but teeth as well.

Does peppermint tea stain clothes?

Peppermint tea is extremely light in color and looks almost like green tea but when it comes to staining, peppermint tea also stains clothes because of its natural colors and some additional chemicals. The good thing about peppermint tea stains is that they are easy to remove as compared to other teas which have high coloring artificials.

Does sweet tea stain clothes?

It can be said that sweet tea is just a combination of black tea, syrup, and sugar. These ingredients give you a clear indication that sweet tea can make heavy stains on clothes which can easily become tough as well. You can use homemade remedies as well as some commercial products for such stains. 

Does hibiscus tea stain clothes?

Most people assume that hibiscus tea won’t stain clothes as it is considered a form of herbal tea but the fact is that it does stain cloth and this can sometimes become bad or permanent as well. In most cases, stains from this kind of tea can easily be removed or mitigated. Sometimes only washing the cloth is enough.

Does herbal tea stain clothes?

Herbal tea is one of the only tea types that are considered completely safe to drink as they are manufactured only using natural ingredients. This makes it a good option for the people who want to drink tea while keeping their health good but as long as stains are concerned, herbal tea is not an exception.

Does matcha tea stain clothes?

Matcha tea is almost powdery and medium-light in color but it can leave a mark if spilled over your clothes. There are possibilities that some fabrics may show stains as an extreme mark while others just reveal it as a yellowish light shade.

Does milk tea stain clothes?

Milk has a good amount of oily factor in its composition which can easily cause stains if spilled in its original form. When this milk is heated along with tea and sugar, the tendency of causing stains increases too many folds. Such stains can easily be removed mostly by just washing clothes in a washer.

Does chamomile tea stain clothes?

Chamomile tea contains a wide range of ingredients mainly including chemical compounds, natural products, sugar, and honey. All these things can cause stains whether they are in individual form or combined to create tea for your morning.

Why can tea stain clothes?

The main ingredients that cause stains on clothes are the chemical compounds which are usually known as Tannins and are included in the composition of various beverages and foods and tea is one of them.

Some ingredients are used to give a bitter flavor which enhances the taste of the tea but these chemical compounds are also the main reason that causes stains on clothes.

Also, tannins (tannic acid) can improvise the color of the tea which can give you a clear idea of how it can be dangerous when it comes to causing stains. Apart from this, the actual leaves of the tea can also cause stains on clothes but not on hard surfaces.

Can tea stains be removed from clothes?

Tea stains can be removed from clothes as long as they are new and don’t have been dried for a long time. The factor of “how long” depends on different factors where the type of fabric is a major one.

Some fabrics allow the tea stain residues to get out of the thread even if it has been dried completely while some fabrics require you to treat stains as soon as possible.

To protect yourself from all these hassles, it is better to start treating tea stains immediately. Also, there are plenty of methods and products that can be used for varying kinds of fabrics, clothes, and stain integrity.

What can get rid of tea stains in clothing?

There are various commercial as well as homemade ingredients that are either found in the kitchen or can be made by mixing two or more ingredients all together. The first thing you should consider is the type of fabric and then choose the best suitable products that can remove the stain in one place while keeping it safe as well.

Some of the best ingredients include vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, liquid detergent, rubbing alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, salt, toothpaste, Woolite, Goo Gone, etc. In simple words, tea stains can be removed with any minor to major stain remover product. Make sure you always test the product on a small part of the cloth which is not usually visible to see if it reacts well or causes issues.

How to take off tea stains from clothes?

The best way to get rid of tea stains from clothes is to follow a proper procedure instead of doing whatever you hear from common people. Some people start to rub their clothes as soon as they get tea spilled as they think that this will not allow the tea to get settled in the clothes. Honestly, it can make the stain worse and you may add extra dirt from your fingertips as well. The general and comprehensive procedure to take off tea stains from clothes is as follows:

  1. Pre-treat the stain as you normally do by running a good amount of water through the stain.
  2. Choose the product to be used and then make a solution/mixture of it with other ingredients or simple water.
  3. Apply the solution/mixture to the stained area.
  4. Gently rub the area but not scrub harshly or with any brush or related equipment.
  5. Wash the cloth with water to remove each last residue of the tea stains if it is still there in the fabrics of clothes.
  6. Repeat the steps if necessary.
  7. Let the cloth air dry without ironing or folding it in any manner.

How to remove tea stains from clothes using lemon?

Tea stains can be removed from clothes by mixing lemons with various other ingredients such as water, laundry detergent, and salt. Apart from this, you can use lemon juice directly to treat stains by following the procedure mentioned below:

  1. Firstly run water from the stain to get rid of as much liquid tea as possible.
  2. Apply lemon juice directly to the stained area. Gently rub the juice with your fingertips. Using harsh or even soft brushes are not recommended as lemon juice makes the fabrics a bit soft for some time and scrubbing powerfully may break some threads as well.
  3. If you are using any additional product such as water, simply make a solution with a ratio of 34% lemon juice and 66% water. You can change the ratio depending upon the toughness of statins.
  4. Now wash the stain with your hands or inside a washing machine. Hopefully, a single run will wipe off all the remaining residues and marks on the garment in almost no time.

How to remove tea stains from clothes after washing?

As you have tried washing and the stain is still there, you may want to get rid of it with a method that doesn’t require washing the whole garment again. In such cases, going on with white vinegar is the best option.

  1. Start by making a solution of vinegar along with distilled water. (usually, 1 tablespoon of vinegar would be enough for a single cup of water)
  2. Apply this solution directly to the stained area. You can also put that small stained area by pinching the cloth together and then dipping it into the cup of solution.
  3. Rub the stain carefully with your fingers or simply let the garment sit still for about 5 to 10 minutes. This will break down the tea stain residues and make them easy to get removed.
  4. Scrub the area gently with water to see if the stains have gone completely.
  5. Repeat these steps a few times until you get your desired results.

How to remove old tea stains from white clothes?

Using commercial products is usually the best option for old tea stains especially when they are on white clothes.

  1. Start by pre-treating the stain with any commercial stain remover. Test the product on a small portion before directly applying it to the stained area.
  2. Once you have mitigated the stain, run water through the fabric.
  3. Put some laundry detergent on the stain and then rub it with your fingers.
  4. Let it sit for a few minutes and rub again.
  5. Wash the cloth to remove detergent to see if the stain has been wiped off completely.
  6. Repeat the steps if necessary until you get shiny white clothes.

How to remove green tea stains from clothes?

Green tea stains can easily be removed by simply washing clothes in a washer using detergent. In most cases, you will not have to use any other method or commercial products as green tea stains are only water-based and do not require powerful products.

  1. Start by washing the cloth with water to remove the excessive tea from the fabric.
  2. Put it into the washer along with laundry detergent powder.
  3. Give it a spin or two and then air dry.
  4. The stain will probably go after this procedure but if it still remains, you may repeat the steps by using lemon juice or vinegar for the removal process.

How to remove milk tea stains from clothes?

Removing milk tea stains could be a bit tricky as it contains a good amount of oil, carbohydrates, and various other things that can make a stain worse. The combination of all these things with tannins in tea makes it a tough one to remove. You can remove the tea stains with the normal procedure but the solution should consist of white vinegar, distilled water, baking soda, and a powerful detergent. You may add baking soda as well. Treating the stain with this solution and letting it soak before washing will bring your shining results.

How to remove ice tea stains from clothes?

  1. Start by making a mixture of soapy water or a powerful laundry detergent.
  2. Apply it directly to the stained area and gently rub the area for a few minutes.
  3. Let it sit still while having the solution on it for about 5 to 15 minutes.
  4. Wash the stained area with water to verify if the stain is still there.
  5. Repeat the steps a few times until you get the desired results.

Home remedy for tea stains on clothes

There are a lot of ingredients and daily use products in the kitchen that could become an effective agent when it comes to removing tea stains from clothes, mugs, floors, and many other surfaces. Below are some major and easiest ones to practice on such surfaces.

Baking Soda:

Baking soda is one of the biggest stain removers and many experts and professionals suggest adding baking soda in almost all kinds of homemade remedies when it comes to removing stains or making your cloth shine. All you need is to just add baking soda in warm water or detergent. Simply treating the stain with this remedy will bring your cleaned clothes without a single residue or marks of tea stain left behind.

White Vinegar:

Vinegar is no doubt the most efficient stain removing agent when it comes to homemade remedies that too while removing stains like tea, ketchup, juice, etc. You can apply white vinegar directly to the stain in its original form fr tough stains.  For light stains, you can mix it with water and baking soda as well. Make sure you test the solution on a small hidden portion of the cloth before using it on the original stains. You may have other vinegar types at home but using white vinegar is recommended as it is safe and efficient at the same time.

Lemon Juice:

Lemon juice is another good cleaning agent because it includes acetic acid which can treat almost all kinds of stains that can occur while working in a kitchen or having tea or any other food. You have the option to apply it directly or mix it with ⅔ of water depending upon the delicacy and different types of fabrics.

Hot/Boiling Water:

A bit of warm water can also bring you good results in some cases. Also using this is safe as it will not affect the color or fabrics of the cloth. The only thing to consider is that using warm water should not make the stain worse.

Resources:

  1. A colorimetric study of coffee and tea staining of four composite resins
  2. Antimicrobial properties of tannins
  3. Types of Tannins

You may also like the below household cleaning articles