Mug Cleaning

[lucca]

I live in a hard water area and mugs get very stained from tea (don't take milk). Someone suggested bleach but I don't fancy using stuff that is put down the loo! Any ideas? TIA

[trt]

Ive got a mug that is 20 yrs old with a birthday message on it, have used bleach many times and its fine.

[Canary42]

I find elbow grease totally satisfactory. It has the advantage of being non-pollutive.

[alavahalf]

I've just asked the expert and she say's ...'' Don't make excuses trying to blame the hard water... it's down right laziness that allows lime scale to develop in the first place... use a bit more elbow grease every time you wash the mug'' ... and for a restoration on your mug add a teaspoon of bleach in the mug and fill it with boiling water, leave it overnight and wash it in boiling soapy water the following morning ( a dishwasher preferably) before rinsing in fresh hot water, otherwise you will be left with an after taste.

[Hopkirk]

Bleach only removes the colour, but leaves the crud build up.

The stain therefore returns quickly.

[ladyalex]

I use Milton tablets or equivalent and that seems to work for me with no aftertaste....safe enough for babies, safe enough for me.
I live in a soft water area if that makes a difference.

[mrs.chappie]

I use this and it works a treat. I pay about a pound for it.

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

I also use a denture-cleaning tablet sometimes, and that works well too.

[RATTER15]

Sterident works well. Bleach is also fine, just wash thoroughly after.

[pixie373]

Tiny bit of washing powder and boiling water and leave it for 5 minutes. I agree though- it isn't hard water, it's not washing them properly each time.

[horseshoes]

We live a soft water area, probably have the nicest water in the UK, and our mugs still stain. The problem really IS when a mug just gets rinsed instead of washed up properly. Also, making your tea in a teapot helps somewhat.

[RATTER15]

I agree pixie, I hate tea stained mugs, people say "its only tannin" I dont give a damned, giving dirt a name does not stop it being dirt! People would soon change their mind if they were eating their food off a filthy plate!

[pixie373]

So do I, ratter, and teaspoons. Very offputting.

[RATTER15]

I once worked in a Residential Home where all the cups had gone brown with tea stains, I complained a few times to the manager, she said there was nothing wrong with tea stains, so one day when the directors were visiting, I was asked to make them a cup of tea :-) We had a load of sparkly new cups before the end of the week and they were kept that way!!

[pixie373]

Sounds about right! ;-)

[maggiebee]

I soak mine in a mild bleach solution then rinse with boiling water. Have done it for years with no ill effects. Must try the salt suggestion.

[Jademadina]

Little bit of salt rubbed in & rinse well. Works a treat ✨

[Barsel]

Don't use abrasives as this will eventually leave scratch marks around the cup. Buy a bottle of baby sterilising fluid, it will last for ages as you only need a drop. Fill each mug with cold water and pour a small amount of the stuff in, leave to soak. As ladyalex said, if it's safe enough for babies. You wouldn't give a baby a drink out of something that had been soaked in household bleach.x