Tea stains are a common problem in many people's lives, which not only affects the beauty of tea sets, but also may contain harmful substances. This article explains the causes of tea stains and five simple and effective ways to remove them, including using baking soda, white vinegar, toothpaste, lemon juice, and edible alkali. These methods all use the principle of acid-base neutralization or physical friction, and can be easily practiced at home to restore the smoothness of your tea set.
Tea stain refers to a layer of yellow-brown dirt deposited on the surface of the tea set, and the main component is a compound of tea polyphenols in tea and calcium and magnesium ions in water. When water is heated, the solubility of calcium and magnesium ions decreases, and insoluble calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate are precipitated, and these precipitates will combine with tea polyphenols to form tea stains. Tea stains not only affect the beauty of the tea set, but also may harbor harmful substances. Because water may contain trace amounts of heavy metal ions, such as cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, etc., these metals will oxidize with tea polyphenols to form tea rust, which will cause harm to human health.
In order to keep the tea set clean and hygienic, we need to remove tea stains regularly. There are some specialized tea scale cleaners on the market, but they may contain chemical ingredients that can be harmful to both the tea set and the human body. In fact, we can use some items in our daily life to easily remove tea stains, here are five common methods:
Baking soda: Baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, is a weakly alkaline substance that can neutralize the acids in the tea stains, making the tea stains soft and easy to clean. To use it, sprinkle a layer of baking soda powder in the tea set, then gently wipe it with your hands or toothbrush, and rinse it with water, and the tea stains will disappear.
White vinegar: White vinegar, also known as table vinegar, is a weakly acidic substance that can dissolve calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate in tea stains, making tea stains loose and easy to clean5. To use it, pour an appropriate amount of white vinegar into the tea set, soak it for about 10 minutes, and then rinse it with water, and the tea stains will disappear. Note that white vinegar is not suitable for use in tea sets that are not acid-tolerant such as purple clay pots, otherwise the surface of the tea set will be damaged.
Toothpaste: Toothpaste is a common cleaning product that contains ingredients such as fluoride and abrasives, which can remove tea rust and tea dirt from tea stains and make tea sets smooth and clean6. To use it, squeeze some toothpaste on a toothbrush, then scrub it on the tea set, and then rinse it with clean water, and the tea stains will disappear.
Lemon juice: Lemon juice is a natural acidic substance, rich in vitamin C and citric acid, which can dissolve calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate in tea stains, and can also remove odors from tea sets. To use it, pour an appropriate amount of lemon juice into the tea set, steep it for about 10 minutes, then rinse it with water, and the tea stains will disappear. Note that lemon juice is not suitable for use in tea sets that are not acid-tolerant such as purple clay pots, otherwise the surface of the tea set will be damaged.
Edible alkali: Edible alkali, also known as sodium carbonate, is a strong alkaline substance, which can neutralize the acidic substances in the tea stains, make the tea stains soft, and easy to clean. The method of use is to pour an appropriate amount of edible alkali into the tea set, then gently wipe it with your hands or toothbrush, and then rinse it with water, and the tea stains will disappear. Note that edible alkali is a corrosive substance, wear gloves when using, avoid contact with ** and eyes, and thoroughly wash the tea set after use to avoid residues.
The above are the five ways to remove tea stains introduced by Science Xiaoquan for you, they all use the principle of acid-base neutralization or physical friction, which can be easily practiced at home to restore the smoothness of your tea set. Of course, in addition to these methods, there are some other methods, such as using milk, egg shells, potato skins, etc., and you can try them out for yourself to see which method works best for you. I hope this article was helpful to you, and if you like it, please give me likes and followers so that more people can see it. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a message in the comment area, and I will reply to you as soon as possible. Thank you for reading and see you next time!