Amazing cleaning fix for heavily stained tea mugs

[RogueFemale]

I might be late to the party but I have only just discovered this to deal with heavy brown tea staining (which also makes the mug surface rough).

Half a scoop of Vanish Oxi-Action in the mug, add boiling water, leave for 10-15 minutes, and the brown stain just lifts off like magic in a sort of 'skin'. Quite odd, I didn't expect it. You then rinse the mug and lightly scrub a few small bits, but the end result is like new and the glaze perfectly smooth again.

Again, sorry if you all know about this already!

Washing powder contains sodium carbonate rather than sodium bicarbonate. It's a stronger alkaline and is a better cleaner but don't eat it!

The only mug we get stains on is one that can't be put in the dishwasher. I assume that @RogueFemale doesn't have a dishwasher and that's why she gets stains?

Denture cleaning tablets work well too.

Soda crystals do the same thing, much cheaper too. £1 for 1kg

Just a note because I learnt this recently and I don't think it'sbeen mentioned - if you're using old crockery that's getting persistently stained then you need to check for crazing and if it's crazed you need to bin it or use for display only because it's not food safe any more. Check for tiny zigzags in the glaze.

You can buy tubs of sodium percarbonate and that works brilliantly. It's what's in Vanish, but it's much cheaper to buy it unbranded.

Don't use bleach, it's terrible for the environment.

I was brought up to use a tiny dab of Cif ( was Jif back in the day) on a sponge, works a treat. Cheap and no lasting smell.

Sodium percarbonate. Cheaper and healthier.

I squirt a bit of mould remover spray in before rinsing and washing. Works almost instantly. I suppose it's bleach.

@Crumpelstiltskin and @Tortephant does the sodium percarbonate work well n the loo as well ?

Bleach and water does it.

Yes, brilliant

I still fet stains in my mugs but we do drink a lot of tea. I use a drop of bleach & top it up with water

1/4 Milton tablet and water gets cups sparkling

I also put 1/2 tab down the loo every few days works a treat

Thanks for this, I've not come across it before so have ordered myself a tub. Stopped buying bleach from the supermarket as I don't like the smell and agree, it's not great for the environment (or anything it gets splashed on!)

I steradent tablet per cup plus boiling water. It’s better than bleach.

Some useful tips here. I tend to use bicarb first, trying to cut down on too many chemicals.
It brings to mind my dear old dad, who swore by Daz washing powder for any heavy duty cleaning. That includes making a paste to clean the inside of the oven, the oven racks and baking trays, roasting tins, greasy pots and pans. He'd mix some with boiling water for a smelly sink or drain.

I just use denture tablets or bicarb

Brilliant tips, thanks everyone.

Just to note re the steradent tablets - don't make the mistake of buying supermarket brand denture tablets, they're not as good. Go on, ask me how I know 🙄

Great, thank you! and also @Tortephant

The Astonish arrived today and worked great - but different to yesterday's Vanish test. Yesterday, the mugs were done in 15 mins max, plus the brown stain came off in a 'skin', whereas with Astonish today, it took a lot longer and it was all dissolved. When you say it cleans cutlery, what do you mean exactly?

Magic erasers take it straight off! Literally a 2 second job and they cost next to nothing

Denture tablets are just as effective and a lot less toxic than a lot of suggestions here!

This is what I use, no chemicals and the mugs are completely stain free. They also work on stained tea spoons

I learnt this a few weeks ago and tbh I am beginning to use it for so much now 🤣 tempted to try my mesh trainers