How to Get Coffee/Tea Stains out of a Porcelain Cup

I thought there was a How to Clean Stuff thread somewhere, but can't find it.

I have this really pretty cup and saucer but the cup is stained on the inside. Is there a way to clean it safely, assuming someone might drink out of it again? I was going to soak it in bleach water but that doesn't sound good for the next cup of tea.

Here it is, TY!

 

Ok, I will give that a try. Thanks!

 

NEVER chlorine bleach..............I forget the name for the reaction/condition, but if there is any crazing the bleach gets under the glaze and eats the "clay" resulting in a sort of white fuzz the creeps out of the cracks in the glaze....and it creeps out for EVER............

 

Hi,
It should clean, doesn't appear to be bleeding into the body of the cup. I would pour just good old H2O2 hydrogen peroxide into half of the cup and add warm water to fill to the edge. Let it sit for a while and rinse it well. If you have to use bleach, do not let it sit in the cup. Pour it in, slosh it around and dump it and rinse well.
greg

 

Yeah, cheap denture tablets, three of them, really hot water. If that doesn't work, strong soution of hot washing detergent, or a dissolved dishwasher tablet.

 

Oh my! Glad I asked, that sounds dreadful.

I think I have some Polident around here somewhere that I'll try first (after soapy water, although don't think that will work). Then move onto hydrogen peroxide.

Thanks for all your help. Will let you know how it turns out.

 

Mr Clean Magic Erasers work well too. I try them first and then the denture tablets for the tougher stains.

 

NO Bleach. I lost all the pattern color from an 1800s English C&S by letting it sit for a day.

I now use straight peroxide from the pharmacy. Let it sit. Sometimes takes a day. Once white, wash well with soap and water.

However, if there is crazing in the cup. Using for coffee or tea, I suspect will eventually stain it again.

 

A very easy and safe method is to use baking soda. Dump a small amount into the item, then rub with a damp paper towel. Rinse.
This removes coffee and tea stains easily and quickly, no waiting required; and is totally safe.

 

For gnarlier staining, soaking in peroxide can take days. It does work eventually.

 

Curious...is that also good on stains inside vases, from dirty water? Or, is dish detergent the preferred way to go?

 

If you are talking about the white cloudiness - that is called sick glass. It's lime deposit that stains the glass from water or liquid having sat for in it for a long period of time.
Very difficult to remove and usually not completely successful.

Several different methods:
1. A bottle (or something difficult to get your hand in) - Rice, with half ammonia and water and a drop of Dawn dish washing detergent. Leave sit and swish every time you walk by. May take a month or more. (I've even let it sit for a year in one particular piece)

2. A bowl (or something your hand fits in) - Make a paste of Bar Keepers Friend, use an old scotch brite pad with elbow grease. It acts as a polishing compound. (Adding: be careful on colored pieces of glass)

Others have said, and I haven't ever tried:
CLR

If not going to use and only want it to be decorative, rubbing alcohol is supposed to mask it.

 

Hi,
This is what I use on decanters. I pour a ¼ cup of mineral oil into the vessel swirl it around turn it up side down to drain, When it stops dripping out, put the stopper back in and it will look wonderful for years. Then i wash it out and do it again.
greg

 

Don't know about vases; but stubborn "lime stains" in bathtubs or sinks (actually mineral deposits, for example from a long-time dripping faucet):
Cover with a scrap of cloth, soak in vinegar. Let sit for 12-24 hours. This softens the mineral deposit so that other cleaning methods which have previously failed can be used with success.
I've spent hours scrubbing these with tub cleaner, with no result; after the vinegar soak, the tub cleaner takes them right off.
So I suspect a soak in vinegar might make similar stains in vases a bit easier to remove.

 

I'm still working on it. So far, I've tried Denture Tablets (3) and that lightened it about half. Then Baking Soda, that did nothing so I added vinegar and that was fun to watch. Let it stand overnight, maybe a tiny bit of lightening. Magic Eraser didn't work. I think maybe peroxide would work but I don't have any. The cup looks like someone drank black coffee in it. Will let you all know how it turns out.

 

Thank you for the suggestions.

 

ola402, the denture tablets take time, sometimes you have to let them sit for days. For cleaning just the one cup you could use just half a tablet, let it sit for several days, see how it looks and then repeat.

 

cxgirl, good to know. I have to be out most of the day so I'll get it started this AM and let sit as long as I can stand it. Always want to see what going on.

 

Neat strong liquid washing detergent smeared in. If it wasn't metal gilded, I'd shove the thing in the dishwasher and risk it.

Glass sickness: the only true remedy is muriatic acid which is vicous stuff.