Tannin family: detergent, then oxygen
How to get tea out
Strong tannin. Old tea stains turn orange-brown.
Do this first
Flush cold
Fresh stain
- Flush cold
- Gently work in detergent
- Wash warm
Dried or old
- Glycerin, then an oxygen-bleach soak overnight
- Fabric care
- No bar soap; table linen can take a hot wash once clean.
- Time
- 10 min
- How to tell
- Look: amber ring; Feel: none; Smell: tea
Where this fix comes from
We check every fix against these published guides. We do not run a test lab of our own.
Before you start
- Test on a hidden seam first.
- Never mix cleaners.
- Keep it out of the dryer until the stain is gone.