Tips to clean stained coffee mugs
DON’T you just hate it when your tea cups are covered in coffee or tea stains? There are easy hacks to this solution to remove these stains and have them looking its best.
Website thekitchn.com reports some easy methods below.
1. White vinegar
Vinegar can be an effective cleaning agent because of its mild pH, which helps break down tough grime and grease. Unless it’s used in relatively high concentration — like, high enough to make your kitchen smell like a pickle factory — it’s not powerful enough to cut through those deep-down coffee stains and requires quite a bit of scrubbing. While the mug did eventually come clean, it took too much work to achieve the white gleam I was looking for — and way too long to air out the house. Also, this method requires thorough cleaning after the fact to remove the smell and taste of white vinegar.
Method
Fill the stained mug halfway with boiling water, and top with white vinegar. Allow to sit for five minutes, then scrub using a sponge. Wash when done.
2. Lemon wedge
The only smell that comes close to being as lovely as coffee is the smell of fresh lemon, which is a perk of this technique — but that’s about the only one. It was awfully awkward to try to fit a whole adult human hand and a sizable lemon wedge into a standard-size coffee mug. Plus, that lovely smell also means you need to give the mug a thorough washing after the fact, as it might linger in your next latte.
Method
This method works exactly like how you might imagine. Cut up a wedge of lemon and rub it vigorously along the inside of the mug. Then, wash as usual.
3. Baking soda
Of course baking soda wins here; it’s such a great cleaner! While the baking soda paste did get a little gloopy in the mug, it was endlessly satisfying to watch it work. Baking soda’s grittiness makes a paste that’s just abrasive enough to get the job done and leaves behind no odor or flavors that could ruin your next brew. Plus, you probably already have a box in your pantry and it’s inexpensive! Method
Mix a bit of tap water into baking soda so that you get a thick paste. Dab your scrubby sponge into the paste and use it to clean the mug. (You can also make the paste right in the mug if you don’t want to dirty another dish!) Rinse when you’re done.