5 ways to remove coffee stains from mugs

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Johny Morrisson


As a coffee enthusiast, you have a go-to mug, but it’s plagued by stubborn coffee stains that won’t go away despite your best cleaning efforts.

Don’t worry! It happens to everyone who loves tea or coffee. In this article, I will teach you how to clean coffee stained mugs using baking soda or vinegar.

Remove coffee stains From your Mugs with Baking Soda
(The Best Method)

Removing the coffee stains from cups with the help of baking soda is the most efficient and accessible way, as everyone already has baking soda in their kitchen.

Follow these steps to clean your Coffee cups.

  • Pour about one tablespoon of baking soda powder into the mug.
  • Then, add some amount of mildly warm water to make the paste.
  • Then clean the stains by gently rubbing the bottom of the mug with the help of your fingertips.
  • Now scrap the stains with the help of a sponge for 30 to 40 seconds.
  • Rinse the mug with water AND WHERE ARE THE STAIN? THEY ARE GONE!

Baking soda is mildly abrasive and will gently scratch off the stains from the bottom of the mug.

Washing-With-Baking-Soda

Use Dishwashing soap

If you have a good habit of washing your coffee mug right after drinking the coffee, then there is no chance that these stains will develop. Cleaning the mug with dishwashing soap should always be your priority, but it’s unlikely to remove coffee stains from your mug if they are very hard.

Especially it will not work if you don’t have a habit of washing your coffee cup right after drinking the coffee, because these coffee stains become more stubborn as time passes.

These stains need time to grow, and they become strongest when the remains of the coffee in your mug get cold. After these stains become strong, cleaning them simply with dishwashing soap will be tough.

Remove Coffee cup Stains with Vinegar

Vinegar is an acidic liquid and can be very useful to get rid of the stains of coffee from cups.

  • Fill the mug halfway with vinegar and add boiling water to the rest of the cup.
  • Leave the cup for 10 to 15 minutes and let the chemistry do its work.
  • Now empty the mug, scrub it with the sponge and dishwashing soap, and then rinse it with water.

While Vinegar can clean the coffee stains effectively, I don’t normally recommend using it as it leaves a very strong smell

Washing-With-Vinegar

Use Melamine Sponge

Melamine sponges are highly effective at removing coffee stains from cups as they have an abrasive texture that helps scrub off stubborn dried coffee residue.

  • Wet a melamine sponge with water
  • Gently scrub the coffee stains inside the mug
  • Continue scrubbing until the stains disappear
  • Rinse the mug thoroughly with water

It’s the best way of cleaning without chemicals making it safe and simple.

Use Denture tablets

Denture tablets contain active cleaning agents that break down coffee stains from mugs effectively.

  • Fill the stained coffee cup with warm water
  • Drop one denture tablet into the water
  • Allow it to fizz and dissolve for about 30 minutes
  • Once the stain is lightened, gently scrub the inner surface with a soft sponge
  • Empty the cup and rinse thoroughly to remove any cleaning solution

How to Avoid or prevent Coffee mug stains?

While you can clean brown coffee stains from your mug easily by following the above-mentioned tips, avoiding them in the first place should be your priority. Here are some techniques that I personally follow to keep my coffee mugs clean.

1)Use Filtered Water

Tap water is usually hard and contains calcium and magnesium salts. These salts bond with coffee and make brownish stains that stick to the mug’s ceramic material.

So, it is recommended to use filtered water for making coffee as it contains fewer salts. It will also make your coffee more hygienic and tastier.

2)Wash the mug as soon as possible

You should not leave a dirty coffee mug to clean later as stains develop harder and become difficult to clean with time.

So please don’t be lazy and clean your mug as soon as you finish the drink!

If you don’t want to wash the mug, at least fill it with water so the remains of the coffee get diluted and it will not harden with time.

Final thoughts

Banishing those pesky brown coffee stains from your favorite mugs is easier than you think.

With a little scrubbing using home staples like baking soda, Vinegar, or denture tabs, you can painlessly erase coffee spots and rings.

We’d love to hear your favorite coffee mug cleaning hacks and stains that refuse to budge – leave a comment below!


FAQs

Is Vinegar Or Baking Soda better for removing Coffee stains?

Baking soda is better for removing coffee stains because it acts as a mild abrasive that helps scrub away stains without damaging surfaces. Vinegar also removes the stains but it leaves a very strong smell.

Are Coffee stains permanent?

No, luckily, coffee stains are not permanent. You can easily remove the stains of coffee by applying the methods written in this article.

Why are my coffee mugs stained?

Coffee mugs can become stained due to the porous nature of ceramic or porcelain materials, which absorb coffee pigments over time. As leftover liquid evaporates, it leaves behind a film of residue that accumulates over repeated use. That’s why it is recommended to clean the coffee mugs right after use.

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Johny Morrison is a founder and content creator at Coffee About. He knows everything there is to know about coffee and loves sharing his passion with others.

You can often find him sipping a single-origin pour-over, rich French press, or pulling espresso shots at home. Johny loves full-bodied dark roasts – the bolder, the better!

As a former barista, he takes coffee equipment seriously and enjoys experimenting with the latest gear. When he’s not brewing or blogging, Johny is scouting local cafes for his next coffee fix.

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