Mugs and cups, which are used for hot drinks such as tea and coffee, can become stained with brown marks. It is the staining agents, known as tannins, within the beverages that produce this stain on the cup. Whilst they are perfectly fine to drink from, just like limescale-stained kettles, they can be unsightly, especially if offered to guests.
Posting on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, Tia Macaulay wrote: “Does anyone know how to get rid of tea stains in a mug? I have a lovely Cath Kidston one, but I can’t budge the stains. I also can’t put it in the dishwasher. I’ve tried soaking it in boiling water with washing-up liquid, and nothing has worked.”
The post attracted hundreds of comments, including recommended hacks, such as using denture tablets.
Sonia Alden commented: “I use denture tablets and boiling water. Let it sit for a bit, then wash as usual. It is much safer than bleach and does the job perfectly.
“I prefer to buy the minty denture tablets as then I can smell if the tablet has lingered for a bit and I need to wash the cup a bit more.”
Harriet Young also recommended denture tablets as her “nan used denture tablets for her teeth”, but they also work well for everyday household tasks. She added: “They work so well and are so cheap.”
Joanne Westwood advised using denture tablets dissolved in hot water. She said: “Old trick I learned years ago from my nan. Cleans teaspoons up a treat too.”
When combined with hot but not boiling water, the two react to create a fizz, which helps to banish the stains.
Start by soaking the mug for around 10 minutes, and repeat if necessary; one time is usually sufficient.
Denture tablets can be picked up for as little as 3p per tablet, making this a very affordable cleaning tip.
They can be purchased from supermarkets, as well as from Boots, Amazon, and more budget-friendly stores like Home Bargains.
Other group members recommended using table salt to help scrub the brown stains away.
Linda Thomson said: “Salt with a little bit of water will work. Rub with your fingers around the stain, it’s like exfoliating the inside.”
If you’re looking for a specialist product, Astonish has a product called Clean and Revive, which helps to bring mugs and crockery back to life.
Elbow Grease also does its own version, which works in the same way to remove the brown marks.
