# I am a genius!! (Or how to get rid of those pesky coffee and tea stains on your cups) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 5, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419 "2014-07-05T19:02:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419/21 "2014-07-06T12:34:59Z")
> [@Queen\_Tonya](#): > > I just bought brown cups and mugs. Heh, works! At work I just rinse my coffee cup out with tap water. I like the patina that evolves. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419/22 "2014-07-06T14:45:12Z")
Bleach only changes the color of the stain to white. It’s still there, delivering foul old oils to your new tea. I use an empty net onion bag as a scouring pad to go in and scrub them out. Save your net bags, tie a few of them together for a great all-purpose scrubber, they last ten times as long as store-bought scrubbers. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419/23 "2014-07-06T16:19:23Z")
I’ve found that if I give the inside of the cup/mug a quick scrub with the wet tea bag after I finish my tea and before I put it in the sink, that helps keep hard stains from accumulating. Scrub lightly, not too hard, or the tea bag will break. Of course, this isn’t possible if I’m having a pot of loose-leaf. I also keep one or two old toothbrushes near the kitchen sink for any kind of small-spot scrubbing. They’re good for getting at the inside of the tea-pot spout or that thin line of stain that develops under the spout when you pour, but toothbrushes do not work well if you’re trying to clean the bottom of a mug. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419/24 "2014-07-06T16:36:22Z")
i find the patina soothing and identifying. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419/25 "2014-07-06T17:08:21Z")
Do _not_ put bleach in the dishwasher. Bad idea. Your owner’s manual should specifically state not to do this. The word “genius” in the subject is presumably being used ironically. Bar Keepers Friend is the answer for really difficult stains. I rarely have to resort to it. Just a soaped up scrubbing sponge usually does it. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419/26 "2014-07-06T20:41:11Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Do _not_ put bleach in the dishwasher. Bad idea. Your owner’s manual should specifically state not to do this. The word “genius” in the subject is presumably being used ironically. > > Bar Keepers Friend is the answer for really difficult stains. I rarely have to resort to it. Just a soaped up scrubbing sponge usually does it. Unless your dishwasher has stainless steel in it you’re wrong: [How to clean your dishwasher](http://dishwashers.reviewed.com/features/how-to-clean-your-filthy-dishwasher) > [@](#): > > One word of caution before we go any further: Bleach is harmful to stainless steel, so if the inside of your dishwasher is stainless, skip this cleaning method! > > The major benefit to cleaning your dishwasher with bleach is that this liquid is a surefire way to kill mold. Over at WiseGeek, they recommend the vinegar and baking soda method for a normal dishwasher cleaning. If you have really persistent mold, though, they suggest filling a cup with bleach and then placing the cup on the top rack. Run your dishwasher at its hottest setting and your mold problem should be no more. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419/27 "2014-07-07T00:18:32Z")
> [@Sandwood](#): > > Baking powder on damp/wet cups works too. Just needs a little gentle rubbing. ^ This is my method. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-genius-or-how-to-get-rid-of-those-pesky-coffee-and-tea-stains-on-your-cups/692419.md?page=1)