Do you drink a lot of coffee or tea? Is your favourite mug now filled with unsightly brown rings on the inside? Have you fallen prey to coffee and tea stains? If so, you can restore your mug to sparkling condition with some common non-toxic household products and a bit of elbow grease. 

coffee stains

If you're a bit of DIY Problem Solver, you'll be well aware of how oddly useful Vinegar and Baking Soda can be. Well you'll be glad to know that both of those apply here, just in different ways. Vinegar is mildly acidic and useful for cleaning, while baking soda (alternatively you can use salt) can be applied as an abrasive and used to scrub the surface clean. 

To use vinegar to clean your cup of stains just:

  1. Add a mixture of boiling hot water and white vinegar
  2. Let it sit and cool
  3. Pour out the mixture and wipe down the insides of the cup

To use baking soda or salt, just:

  1. Give your cup a quick rinse so it's slightly wet
  2. Add some salt or baking soda to the cup, the moisture will allow the grains to stick to the sides
  3. Using a cloth, your finger, or a sponge, give the mug a good rub. The abrasive grains will help scrub off the stains.

 

So with some common and harmless products in your pantry you can keep your drinkwear pristine. Just remember to give them a thorough cleaning afterwards to ensure you're not left with the delicious lingering taste of salt or vinegar in your cup. Great addition to hot chips, not so great an addition to a cup of tea.

Or alternatively just buy a black ceramic mug. Won't have to worry so much about visible stains there.