India is a country that lives for tea. It is a drink that soothes the soul and energizes the mind. But while we all know how much love and respect we pour onto this fine drink, do we know how to remove tea stains from clothes? Our beloved drink, if spilled onto our garments can leave behind a brown stain, which we are sure is highly unpleasant. Hence, we're here to give you some easy tips.
Quick Tea Stain Removal from Clothes
Immediate tea stain removal from clothes is vital, especially because it is a liquid and will take really less to spread further on your garment. Hence, the first step for you to take upon spilling this addictive drink on yourself is to get your hands on some dry paper towels and blotting out the stain. Always remember, never rub the stain rigorously as it will not remove it but rather spread it and might also make it messier and harder to get rid of. Instead, apply the cleaning tips listed below.
But before you apply any of the cleaning methods, it is a must for you to check the fabric care tag attached to your cloth and see whether it is suited for hand wash or is supposed to be dry cleaned. If the latter is the case, drop it to your dry cleaners and let them know of the stain. They shall clean it up for you. But if it is washable, our tips shall answer how to remove tea stains from clothes.
Ingredients Checklist:
- Liquid detergent
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- Clothes brush
- A bucket filled with warm water
- Spray bottle
Tea Stain Removal for Delicate Fabrics
Delicate fabrics like wool, silk and lace are to be handled with great care. Hence, tea stain remove from clothes as such would differ from other normal fabrics.
1. Preparing the Stain Removal Solution:
Create a solution by combining 1 teaspoon of vinegar and a cup of water. Mix well and pour into the spray bottle. Once done, spray this solution on the tea stain that's tampering with the appeal of your beloved garment. This water and vinegar mixture must help to lift the stain.
2. Applying Liquid Detergent:
Pour a tablespoon of mild liquid detergent into a bucket full of warm water. Mild detergents are apt for lifting stains off of your delicate fabrics, and we recommend using Love and Care. It is widely available in the market and can help lift your tea stain by simultaneously protecting the delicacy of your cloth. After adding your liquid detergent to the warm bucket of water, soak your garment in it for around 10 minutes. Make sure to not exceed this time frame, as soaking your delicate fabric, especially silk, for too long might hamper its finishing.
3. Scrubbing Off the Remaining Stain:
After following the first two steps, your tea stain must almost be gone by now. But to get rid of it completely, scrub off the remaining traces of it by using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Scrub it while it's soaking in the soapy solution, and then finally rinse it off with clean water. Finally, let it dry in the open air before storing it in your wardrobe.
Tea Stain Removal for Normal Fabrics
Normal fabrics like cotton, chiffon, and polyester are a little easier to deal with, given you have an odd-looking brown stain on them from your most loved beverage, tea. Follow along to see how to remove tea stains from clothes that are your everyday wear.
1. Pre-treating with Baking Soda:
Dampen the tea-stained area of your cloth with clean water and apply 1 tablespoon of baking soda on it. Rub it on the stain using your fingertips and allow it to rest for about 10-15 minutes.
2. Soaking in Liquid Detergent Solution:
After you’re done pre-treating the stain with baking soda, fill up a bucket with warm water and 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent. Our choice would be the Surf Excel Matic liquid which can fully dissolve in water and also leaves zero residues behind, unlike powdered detergents. Soak the stained clothing in warm water and detergent solution for about 10 minutes. You could take a look into the detergent’s packaging for better instructions on using it.
3. Scrub, Rinse & Dry:
While your garment is soaking in the detergent mix, scrub off the stain with a clothes brush. Do not use too much force while doing so. Afterwards, rinse off the cloth like you usually do and let it dry thoroughly. It's always better not to dry your clothes directly under the sun as the rays from it might discolor them. Now finally, you have now finally gotten rid of the tea stain!
To sum up, Indians are too fond of tea to be worried about the stains they might possibly get from it. And we wholeheartedly appreciate this spirit of yours. Plus, we also hope these tea stain lifting tips come in handy for you!