Remove Stains from Tea Cups Using Baking Soda

Drinking tea and coffee in cups results in a residue build-up over time. There's no need to use harsh chemicals to remove it; follow this method for ease of removal and mere baking soda will do the trick.

Steps

 * 1) Dampen the tea cup. There needs to be a little moisture present for the baking soda to cling to.
 * 2) Rub baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) over the stained area of the cup with the soft cloth. A paste-like film should form as you rub over the dampened cup.
 * 3) Continue rubbing. Put some effort into rubbing directly over the stained areas of the cup. Continue doing this until the stain lifts. You will need to turn the cup around as you are scrubbing, to ensure that you reach all areas of the stain.
 * 4) Rinse. Remove the baking soda residue off the cup. Check that you have removed all the stain. If not, repeat. If yes, turn the cup upside down and leave to air dry before returning to its usual storage spot.

Tips

 * Salt can be used in place of baking soda if wished.
 * You can also soak the stained item in white vinegar. That will remove tea and coffee stains as well as hard water deposits.
 * Dental cleaner works well also.
 * Try adding a teaspoon of bleach (sodium hypochlorite) along with the regular dish washing detergent and run a normal cycle. Your cups will come out sparking clean!

Things You'll Need

 * Baking soda or salt - the amount needed varies according to how much the cup soaks up and how effective the cleaning is; if in doubt, add more.
 * Soft yet slightly abrasive cleaning cloth (the modern plastic scrubbers work very well for this purpose)

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Clean the Stains from the Inside of a Coffee Cup
 * How to Remove Deep Stains from Dishes
 * How to Use Baking Soda