Using plastic cups to drink tea is so handy. However, to keep it last longer, you must know how to remove tea stains from plastic cups.
Short answer: Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of water into the stained plastic cups. Mix them together to create a paste. Cover the cup, shake the paste gently, scrub it with a soft brush, and rinse with running water.
Tea is a great drink. It contains a certain substance that relieves your body and mind and helps you relax. Tea can also help with focus if you are working or trying to study.
If you visit China and other countries in Asia, you’ll discover that drinking tea is more than just enjoying a hot beverage. It is a way of life that anyone can enjoy once they learn how.
Drinking tea with plastic cups, popular nowadays makes it easier to drink and move around without worrying about breaking your cups. This is because they are durable, light, and inexpensive. They can also be used to serve hot or cold drinks, or even to take food in them.
If you have been using plastic cups to drink tea regularly, there will be many stains left on the cups. The more plastic cups are used, the more likely it is to be stained by the tea. The stains are caused by tea’s reaction to the tannin.
Are you sick of cleaning tea stains from your favorite plastic cups? You’re not alone. So many people have difficulty dealing with this dreaded problem.
In this article, I will walk you through a few tried and true methods of how to remove tea stains from plastic cups.
How to remove tea stains from plastic cups
1. Vinegar
When a tea stain happens on a plastic cup, use vinegar as the cleaning agent. Vinegar is a great cleaning product that can be cheap and easy on the environment. Also, it helps to neutralize the smell.
Prepare the following materials:
- 3 tablespoons of vinegar
- 3 tablespoons of water
Mix vinegar and water in the same ratio on the stained plastic cup. Seal the plastic cup using a plastic or other thing and shake the whole plastic cup stained by tea.
Make sure the inside of the tea plastic cups (especially in the tea-stained area) is exposed to the mixture.
Wait for 6 hours and wash it with a sponge. Then, rinse with running water. See the magic happen!
You can also use vinegar to neutralize garlic smell from the plastic containers!
2. Baking soda
You can get rid of tea and coffee stains from plastic cups, mugs, and glasses using baking soda. Baking soda is a mildly abrasive and nontoxic material that could be used to get rid of stains including tea stains in the plastic cups.
Prepare the following materials:
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 1 tablespoon of water
Pour 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 2 tablespoons of water into the plastic cups. Mix them together to create a paste. Cover the cup with plastic or another material. Shake the paste gently to spread the paste.
After that, wait for 1 hour. Next, brush it with a soft brush or soft cloth. Rinse with tap water to remove the residue.
Baking soda is also fine to remove yellowing from clear plastic.
3. Lemon water
Tea stains are hard to get rid of, but by using lemon water, you can make them vanish completely.
Prepare the following materials:
- 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon of water
Cut a lemon in halves and squeeze the lemon juice into the cup.
To keep the mixture from spilling, cover the cup with plastic or something similar. Shake the cup gently so the mixture reaches the whole cup. Wait for an hour and use a sponge to wash the plastic cup. Then, rinse under running water.
4. Vinegar + Baking Soda
You can easily get tea stains off of your plastic cups with a little bit of vinegar and baking soda. Actually, when you combine these two natural ingredients, it works best!
Prepare the following materials:
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 2 tablespoons of vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of water
Pour a mixture of vinegar and water into the stained cups, ensuring that the solution covers every part of the cup. Seal the cup with plastic wrap or another item to keep the solution in, and shake it around.
Wait for 5 minutes and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda after that. Seal the cups again and let the cup sit for an hour.
Next, brush it with a sponge. Then rinse the mixture out with water running directly on it.
The acidity of the vinegar and the abrasive trait of baking soda will get rid of the tea stains and make your plastic cups clean like a new one.
5. Lemon water + salt
You can get rid of plastics stains from your plastic cups by using lemon water and salt.
Prepare the following materials:
- 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of water
Squeeze the lemon juice in the plastic cup containing tea stains. Next, add salt and water to the plastic cup.
Shake the plastic cups gently especially in the stained Wait for 1 hour. After an hour, rinse the plastic cup with a soft cloth under running water.
6. Raw rice
Raw rice is a natural cleanser. It can get rid of stains from plastic cups, but it’s also effective for removing tea and coffee stains from the inside of ceramic mugs.
Prepare the following materials:
- 2 tablespoons of uncooked rice
- water
Mix 2 tablespoons of raw rice and fill your half plastic cup with water. Then, your plastic cups with the mixture gently especially. Wait for at least an hour, then rinse them using clean water and a sponge.
7. Dishwashing liquid
You can get rid of tea stains from plastic cups using dishwashing liquid. To do this all you have to do is add a little dishwashing liquid to your glass. Then place it under the warm water, turn on the tap and then rub the glass with the palm of your hand.
Then, scrub the cup by hand with warm soapy water. The stain should be completely gone.
8. Bleach
You can get rid of tea stains from plastic cups using bleach by filling your cup with boiling water mixed with a cup of bleach and letting it soak for 15 minutes.
You can gently scrub the inside of the cup with a sponge, and rinse the cup in cold water. The stains and the smell should come right off.
After that, wash the plastic cup with dishwashing liquid to make sure there is no residue.
Remember, always wear your rubber gloves when using bleach for cleaning. Bleach can cause irritation to sensitive skin.
9. Stain removal
Tea tends to leave stubborn stains on plastic cups which are really hard to remove, but you can use stain remover that works like a charm.
Put a few drops of the stain removal product onto the stains, and then let it sit for 20 minutes. Wash the plastic cup with the mixture of dishwashing liquid and warm water.
It’s important to read the instruction regarding the amount of water and cleaner to be used, as excessive usage can damage your cups or cause stains on other stuff. You should also make sure the affected areas are thoroughly cleaned.
How to prevent tea stains from plastic cups
1. Wash it immediately
Do not let your plastic drink cups sit around with tea in them. The stain that develops on these cups is caused by tannins in the drink, which come from the ground-up tea leaves.
If you let the cup sit for a day or two with a beverage remaining in it, you’ll likely notice a brownish color that stains the plastic when you clean the cup the next time.
To prevent this from happening, wash out your cup immediately after using it.
2. If you don’t have time to wash it, put water on the plastic cup
If you don’t have time to wash the cups immediately, pour some cold water on the tea stains. This method is completely natural and won’t do any harm to your plastic cups.
Water will prevent tea stains from plastic cups. This is because water contains electrolytes that reduce the strength of the tea’s acidity and dissolve its particles on contact.
FAQ
How do you get tea stains out of plastic cups?
How do you get tea stains out of Tupperware?
How does vinegar remove tea stains from cups?
Why are there tea stains on plastic cups?
Conclusion
You love the beverage called tea. Yet, you can’t enjoy it while using your favorite plastic cup. It’s a well-known issue that tea leaves an ugly stain on plastic cups. Even if you love tea, it is still very annoying. Today, I have some secrets that will teach you how to remove tea stains from plastic cups easily.
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Lemon water
- Vinegar + Baking Soda
- Lemon water + salt
- Uncooked rice
- Dishwashing liquid
- Bleach
- Stain removal
