Why does tea leave traces?
Both green and black tea contain tannins. These are tannins found in tea leaves. When they come into contact with any material, they leave marks on it with lightning speed. Which penetrate deep into the tissue and firmly settle there. Therefore, removing tea stains is quite difficult.
Moreover, the traces from the green drink are more noticeable than from its black counterpart. Since green leaves contain a huge amount of tannin. It will of course take some time and patience to remove the stain.
Especially if the divorce has a long-standing effect. But with due effort, everything will work out, even at home, using both traditional methods and modern stain removers.
Bonus: How to Clean Carpets and Furniture
Cleaning large items is impossible by washing or soaking, but applying a solution of the product to stains is quite possible! Apply the stain remover of your choice, wait until it dries and remove the residue with a vacuum cleaner or a cloth dampened with clean water. Also, sprays and pencils for local cleaning are always available in stores.
If you get down to business in a timely manner and wisely, the result of removing tea stains will not disappoint. Do not underestimate the value of instructions for household chemicals and the power of folk methods. Everything will work out!
How to remove a stain correctly (step-by-step instructions)
Depending on the situation, where and how the tea stain was placed, the following actions are applied. If the stain is made at home, then the item is soaked in warm water and washed with laundry soap, stain remover or washing powder.
If tea gets on your clothes while visiting or at work, you need to try the following options:
- Moisten the stain with a disk soaked in alcohol or vodka (celebration);
- Wipe the stain with an alcohol wipe.
This contamination will not be completely eliminated, but some of it can be removed thanks to alcohol molecules. Then soak the item at home in warm soapy water with added stain remover.
To achieve the best result, it is recommended to wash the product in a machine, not forgetting to pay attention to the product label, which indicates at what temperature it can be washed.
Black tea stain
Unlike green tea, this drink is quite easy to remove if you immediately wash the stained item using high-quality stain removers.
- If the contamination is long-standing, then it is quite difficult to restore such a thing to its original form.
- Products that have a stain removal effect are also used here.
- But even they may not cope with the task, giving the stain only a lightening effect.
The highlight may also not be washable if the fabric with it has been ironed frequently. Which seals the dirt inside the fabric.
Green tea stain
This drink is very difficult to remove using modern means. The best effect for eliminating even old green spots are traditional methods. One of which is a product with glycerin.
It is prepared as follows:
- Take 1 s/l. glycerin and salt. Mix until a paste forms;
- Apply the mixture to the stain, leaving it in this state for 30-40 minutes;
- Rub the highlight a little with a brush, if the material allows;
- Wash off with warm water and wash in a convenient way.
Important! This product is very effective, but it must be used with caution on colored items. Since it can discolor the design of the product. Also, do not get carried away with a large layer of the mixture; a couple of millimeters is enough.
Lemon or lemon juice for tea leaves stains
The tannins that tea contains are easily broken down if you apply freshly squeezed lemon juice to natural light-colored tissues.
- You need to soak a cotton swab or pad in lemon juice and wipe the stain on your clothes. From time to time the tampon needs to be changed as it becomes dirty. Upon completion of this procedure, you need to rinse the item in warm water. Some housewives recommend simply squeezing lemon onto the stain and leaving the item for a while. After this, the item is rinsed in warm water and sent to the washing machine.
Folk remedies
The market offers a huge number of modern stain removers for various fabrics. But sometimes even they cannot help in removing glare from tea. Then there are two options left. Throw away the damaged item or use folk remedies that have been used for more than one generation to help.
The most effective of them will be discussed below.
Hydrogen peroxide
The product is used for plain items. The best result is achieved on a white canvas.
Used this way:
- A cotton pad is soaked in this solution, applying it to the area with the stain;
- Leave on the highlight for no more than 15 minutes;
- Remove the disc and wash it in a convenient way.
This product will be indispensable for white upholstery of the sofa. Stains on furniture are first treated with peroxide, and then alcohol wipes are used until a good result is achieved.
Boiling water
Hot water is used only for fresh highlights. It won't remove old stains.
- Also, boiling water is not recommended for use on silk, woolen products and artificial fiber materials.
- Which are deformed when exposed to high temperature water.
- As for cotton and linen, fresh stains can be removed by pouring boiling water until the stain lightens.
Then the product is washed manually or in a machine.
Glycerin and ammonia
These two products are mixed in equal proportions. And they are applied to the highlight using a cotton pad. After 15 minutes, the product impregnated with glycerin and ammonia is washed in the usual way.
Important! A mixture of these two products gives excellent results on products made from synthetics or natural materials. But does not apply to colored clothing.
Lemon juice
A folk remedy made from lemon juice or citric acid is used primarily for white fabrics.
- To do this, squeeze a little lemon juice or dissolve the acid in a small amount of water.
- And apply the solution to the blot using a cotton pad.
- Leave it like this for 15 minutes. Washing the item by hand or in a machine.
Bleaching
The solution is ideal for white items. Especially when it comes to table napkins and tablecloths. Bleach can bring these things back to their original condition.
This solution is not recommended for use on synthetic, wool and silk materials. As for linen and cotton products, it is best to soak them in a bleach solution.
Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar and regular vinegar are also used to remove stains. The first option will help if you need to remove highlights from a sweater or synthetic fabric. It has a more gentle effect compared to the second option.
- Regular vinegar is indispensable for white clothes.
- These two solutions are very easy to use.
- The disc is soaked in vinegar and applied to the highlight for 15 minutes.
- Then the canvas must be washed.
These are inexpensive, but at the same time products that bring good results, every housewife can use.
You don’t need a lot of money to buy them, and most often they are in every home, which is undoubtedly beneficial for any individual.
General recommendations
Regardless of the type of fabric and intensity of soiling, general washing tips should be used:
- To prevent tea from spreading over the entire surface of the fabric, you need to blot it with a dry napkin or towel.
- If a drink has been spilled on a colored or silk item, it is first recommended to look at the information on the labels about whether the particular item can be cleaned and washed in a machine or not.
- Before automatic washing, the item should be soaked with a small amount of detergent, then rinsed in clean water and washed in a washing machine. You can not soak the entire thing, but only the contaminated part.
- To remove stains, special concentrated products are used, and in the machine they are washed with ordinary powders of low or medium concentration. This is necessary in order not to harm the fabric.
If the dirty item is classified as delicate clothing, then it would be more advisable to take it to the dry cleaner or use traditional cleaning methods, which are safer for the fabric.
Photo instructions on how to remove a tea stain
Removing stains from delicate fabrics
Clothes made of silk, linen and decorated with lace inserts, sequins and rhinestones need careful cleaning. Standard detergents cannot provide this. They lead to fading of the fabric, the appearance of marks and stains after washing. In such cases, special products for delicate items or homemade solutions are used, which are available in the arsenal of almost every housewife.
For cleansing, you can take lactic acid or glycerin. The products are heated until warm and then applied to the stained area. It is important that the mixture does not fall on clean areas. The washing mixture is left for 10 minutes, then washed off with clean water. Before the procedure, it is recommended to test the chosen method on an inconspicuous area of dirty clothing. This will help avoid unpleasant consequences.
