A Guide to Removing Tea Stains from Everything (Clothes, Mugs, Stainless Steel, and More!)

Written by

L. Daniela Alvarez
L. Daniela Alvarez
Daniela is a freelance writer who covers lifestyle and culture. In her free time, she's either cuddling with her goldendoodle Chai, buying plants, or having a picnic. Daniela is a Chicana from Los Angeles living in San Diego.
published Jan 29, 2025
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
overhead shot of tea spilled on a kitchen towel
Credit: Alex Lepe

For more than a decade my mom worked in marketing for a tea company, and I eventually joined her for a couple of years. During this time, we gained invaluable knowledge about the health benefits and homeopathic uses of tea, as well as how to clean with it (and that you can use it to remove harsh odors).

Quick Overview

How to Remove Tea Stains

Tea stains are typically not permanent — especially if you are able to get to them quickly. Try any of the methods below to remove tea stains from clothes, floors, carpets, upholstery, dishware, and stainless steel.

Unfortunately, we also learned that some of our favorite brews caused stains on certain surfaces. After years of trial and error, a bit of elbow grease, and a couple of reliable cleaning agents we learned how to remove tea stains effectively. 

What You’ll Need

  • Laundry detergent
  • Mild dish soap
  • Vinegar
  • Water
  • Baking soda
  • Microfiber cloths

How to Remove Tea Stains

With the helpful insight from Laura Ascher, natural cleaning expert and founder of Our Oily House, along with my own tips, you can worry less about tea stains and more time enjoying your morning cuppa. Read below to learn how to remove tea stains from clothes, floors, carpets, upholstery, dishware, and stainless steel. 

Clothes

Like any liquid, some drops of tea might find themselves on your favorite T-shirt after a few sips. Thankfully, Ascher says they’re relatively easy to clean. Here’s what she recommends.

  1. Rinse the stained area with cold water.
  2. Gently dot the stained area with a liquid laundry detergent and let it sit for five to 10 minutes. Ascher recommends that you spot-test your cleaning solution first in a small, inconspicuous area before applying — especially on delicate fabrics or surfaces.
  3. Wash the garment on a cold cycle.
  4. Repeat the process if the stain persists, or consider using a stronger stain remover. “Remember, never put stained clothes in the dryer, as the heat can set the stain permanently,” says Ascher.

Floors

Black tea, due to its slight acidity, can actually be a useful ingredient to clean with and even use to disinfect finished wooden furniture and hardwood floors (Ascher actually swears by this homemade cleaner). I’ve also had great success cleaning dark cabinets with black tea. Other types of surfaces and flooring, such as laminate, however, might not handle tea stains too well. 

  1. Use a simple solution of a few drops of mild dish soap mixed with a half gallon of warm water. You can also use vinegar, but dish soap is more effective, shares Ascher. 
  2. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and gently wipe the stain.
  3. Dry thoroughly.

Carpet and Upholstery 

Maybe your pet knocked over your tea mug onto your couch, or maybe you overfilled your cup and some spilled onto the rug — whatever the case, Ascher says it’s important to work quickly when cleaning a stain from upholstery and carpet because the longer it sits the harder it will be to remove. 

  1. Mix a teaspoon of dish soap and a teaspoon of vinegar with a cup of warm water.
  2. Dip a clean cloth into the solution and gently dab the stained area.
  3. Rotate the cloth to a clean spot to avoid dabbing the dirty cloth back onto the surface.
  4. Wipe the area with a clean, damp cloth when the stain is gone.

Dishware

Tea stains might be most common on mugs, glassware, or plastic dishes. This is an especially prevalent issue if the stain has dried and set, creating a cloudiness of the tea color on your dishware. To get them back to their former glory, all you need is baking soda.

  1. Create a paste by adding a little water and a tablespoon of baking soda. 
  2. Use a damp sponge or microfiber cloth to gently scrub the stain.
  3. Rinse the dish thoroughly with soap and water once the stain is lifted.

Stainless Steel

Few of life’s pleasures compare to sipping your favorite herbal tea, hot or iced, from your favorite stainless steel tumbler. I actually have a designated tumbler just for black iced tea, my year-round drink of choice, but it does pose a slight problem. The tannins from the tea create dark stains that can only be removed with one of the most reliable cleaning agents.

  1. Fill the cup or tumbler with one part vinegar and one part water, or soak a clean rag in vinegar and water and lay it over the affected area (like a stain on your stainless steel sink or appliance). Make sure the vinegar is diluted.
  2. Let it sit for 20 minutes.
  3. Rinse it out with warm water.
  4. Wash thoroughly with soap and water.