How to remove a tea stain:
A transparent betrayal with a surprising consequence

A story from life

"I was drinking black tea in the morning and it splashed on my beige pants. I could barely see the stain, so I let it go. After washing, there was a yellow-brown stain. It wasn't until I tried lemon, soda and our EcoHaus paper that the stain disappeared completely."

- Klara, EcoHaus customer

Why tea stains - and why it's not just "water"

Tea (black, green and herbal) contains:

tannins and flavonoids - natural dyes that oxidize
oils and acids from the leaves and flowers
sugars (in sweetened drinks) or milk (in tea with milk)

The stain may be invisible at first, but after drying and washing it becomes a visible map that turns yellow or grey.

How to stain tea step by step

What helps:

Cold water
Baking soda
Citric acid or fresh lemon juice
White vinegar 10%
EcoHaus Washing Papers
Sodium percarbonate - for white and light fabrics

Procedure:

Lightly blot the stain with a napkin - do not rub it into the fabric.
Rinse with cold water on the reverse - the pigments will come out, not go deeper.
Apply a mixture of baking soda and lemon or citric acid with a little water.
Why it works: Soda absorbs residue, acid breaks down tannins.
Leave on for 10-20 minutes, gently blot.
Wash with EcoHaus Washing Papers - 30-40°C programme.
For light textiles, add sodium percarbonate.
Why it works: Active oxygen removes pigments and brightens the fabric.

What not to do

Don't use hot water right away. The tannins will set into the fabric.
Do not delay pre-treatment. The stain will "come out" after washing.
Do not scratch the fabric. The pigment will expand and eat more.

➙ Tip from Grandma Petra

Lemon and soda helps with tea - especially right away, before the stain dries. For a white shirt, percarbonate, a little sun - and it's as good as new. We used to do it by hand, nowadays the paper does it for us.

➙ Tip from Vlaďka - the cleaning lady

For a dried tea stain, I recommend soaking in a solution of lemon and vinegar, then sprinkling with soda. Leave it on, then wash with paper. I always add percarbonate when I want to brighten.

Dealing with another stain?

Check out The Spotter - for coffee, cocoa, chocolate, snacks, tomato and tartar. Need help now? Write to Vlaďa in the bottom right corner - she always has a solution.

Your tip may help

Email us at marketing@ecohaus.cz or add a comment. We'll publish the best practices - and help other households save their favorite scarf or coverlet.

Summary

Tea is great for keeping warm - but not on your sleeves. If you know how to make it, it won't leave a memory behind. Just clean laundry and peace of mind.