How to Remove Coffee Stains From Cups: Life Hacks

The Easiest Ways To Remove Coffee Stains From Mugs: Hacks, Tips, and Tricks

Many of us love a good cup of coffee in the morning. However, coffee stains in your mugs and cups can be a real bummer. Does your favorite coffee cup have a ring around the middle, showing the evidence of past cups of coffee gone by? 

We’ve gathered some helpful tips so that you can clean up your favorite mugs and get rid of those stubborn coffee stains! Here are some great solutions to remove coffee stains quickly and effectively from ceramic mugs or even porcelain cups. 

How To Remove Coffee Stains From Mugs With Baking Powder

Using baking powder to remove coffee stains from your mugs and cups is easy, cheap, and effective. All you need to do is mix some baking powder with water to create a paste, and then scrub the inside of your coffee mugs with that paste. Rinse it all off with water and the stains will be gone! 

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to remove Coffee stains from porcelain and ceramic mugs using baking powder…

You'll need: 

• Sponge with a rough side
• Baking powder
• Water/sink 

 Here's what to do:

1. First, take one tablespoon of baking powder and combine it with one and a half teaspoons of water. This alkaline baking powder solution removes acidic stains more effectively than soap and water. 
2. Next, stir the baking powder and water to make a paste. 
3. Then, use the rougher side of a sponge and scoop some of the paste on it to scrub out the inside of your mug. 
4. Rinse. Just like that, you're ready for your next cup of coffee sans the stains!

How To Remove Coffee Stains From Mugs With Denture Tablets

You'd be surprised to find out how many uses denture tablets have besides cleaning out a set of teeth! For one thing, denture tablets can be used to keep fresh cut flowers alive in a vase for longer. However, removing stains from coffee mugs with denture tablets is another possible use! Who knew?

To get rid of coffee stains with denture tablets:

1. Fill a coffee mug with warm, but not hot, water. 
2. Drop an effervescent denture cleaning tablet inside of the mug. 
3. Let it sit for about 15 minutes or until the water is transparent/ mostly clear-looking.
4. Rinse the mug out or run it through your dishwasher. (You may have to do a little light scrubbing, but the coffee stains should go away pretty easily after the denture tab has finished soaking the stains off.) 

Use a Lemon to Naturally Get Rid of Coffee Stains That Won't Come Off 

Another method to consider if you want to naturally eliminate coffee stains from the inside of a mug is scrubbing the stains with a lemon wedge. Although it can be somewhat difficult to fit your hand inside the mug and scrub it down with the lemon, this is an all-natural option for people who want to remove coffee stains without the use of harsh chemicals. 

After thoroughly scrubbing the inside of your coffee cup or mug with the lemon wedge, simply dispose of the wedge and rinse the dish clean. As a bonus, you can pulverize the lemon wedge in your garbage disposal for a fresh-scented sink! 

Try White Vinegar for Getting Out Stubborn Coffee Stains

Last but not least is the use of white vinegar to get rid of coffee stains on or in mugs and ceramic dishes. To use vinegar for stains, simply fill the stained mug about halfway up with boiling hot water. Then, add about five or six spoonfuls of white vinegar. Allow everything to soak for about 10 minutes, and then wash clean. You can also finish things off by scrubbing your mugs down with soap and water and then doing a cold rinse. 

So why does vinegar work as a stain remover? Well, vinegar has a pH level that naturally breaks down stains, grime, and grease. So, high concentrations of vinegar can be used to get rid of old, set-in, or otherwise stubborn stains on ceramic dishes like coffee mugs. 

Cleaning Coffee Stains on Ceramic VS Porcelain Dishes: Considerations

When removing tea or coffee stains from cups, mugs, or other dishes, it is important to consider the type of material each dish is made out of. Different materials require different methods of cleaning.

The Difference Between Ceramic and Porcelain 

Both ceramic and porcelain dishes are made from a mixed type of clay fired in a kiln. However, porcelain is far more refined and fired at higher temperatures. As such, it has a smoother finish but more delicate properties. 

How to Clean Porcelain Tea Stains or Coffee Stains

Stains on ceramic dishes can be a real bummer. Generally, you should clean high-quality porcelain items with a gentle washing of soap and water. Harshly scrubbing these dishes can cause all sorts of damage. Hydrogen peroxide is another good option if you want to clean porcelain because it can remove stains without damaging colored or vintage porcelain items. 

Some experts also suggest using porcelain cleaners only. Others advise cleaning porcelain tea stains with lemon juice or a fine layer of baking soda paste (baking soda mixed with water) and a wet cotton towel. 

How to avoid coffee-stained cups and mugs? 

To avoid staining your fine tea cups and mugs, rinse them right away with soap and water and completely dry them off. Tea and coffee both contain minerals and oils that can begin to soak into porous materials (like porcelain and ceramic) if left sitting for hours on end. If you have hard water in your house, this effect can be compounded. By immediately cleaning off your dishes and drying them, you are less likely to have to deal with stains later on. 

Getting Coffee Stains Off of Plastic Cups and Mugs

Usually, running your plastic dishes through the dishwasher should eliminate stains. However, this doesn't always do the trick. Have you ever seen Tupperware turned red with spaghetti stains? Coffee stains can be just as bad. 

Most people use about a teaspoon of bleach and hot water on stubborn plastic stains. Just let everything soak for a few minutes and wash thoroughly afterward. You can also try adding a few squirts of soap and a wet paper towel. Here's how that method works 

Soap and a Paper Towel Stain Removal Method

If you have a plastic cup or mug that has a lid, you can get rid of stubborn stains with dish soap, water, and a paper towel. Just squirt a few pumps of dish soap into the container or cup. Then, add a little bit of warm water (about three spoonful's) and a paper towel. Put the lid on tightly, and shake vigorously for about a minute. It sounds crazy, but it absolutely works. 

Coffee Stains on Dishes: Final Thoughts

So there you have it! Now you have a better idea of how to get coffee stains out of ceramic mugs and even how to get tea stains out of your fine porcelain or china cups. Once you get those stains out, why not order some fresh roasted coffee or fine tea, shipped directly to your doorstep? Simply follow this link (click here) for some of the most delicious fresh-roasted coffee and fine tea out there!