How to Clean Tea Leaves Out of a Teapot

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: September 9, 2020 References Tested

Steeping loose leaf tea is one of the best ways to get a fantastic pot of tea, but it does leave you with a bit of a mess. Unfortunately, you can't put the leaves down the drain, but they are safe to throw in the trash or compost bin. Using tea leaves might seem like a hassle at first, but you'll quickly find a disposal system that works for you and leaves your teapot ready for the next brew.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Discarding Tea Leaves

1
Dump the tea leaves into the trash or compost container. After you've steeped the leaves for as long as you like, lift up the infuser basket and tap the side of the basket into the trash or your compost container.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If you didn't use an infuser basket, set a strainer over your teacups and pour the tea into the cups so the strainer catches the leaves. Then, dump the leaves into the trash or compost.
2
Don't put the tea leaves down your sink's drain. The tea leaves can clog your pipes as they continue to swell and they might get stuck in the bend of the sink. Always put the tea leaves into the trash or compost so you don't have a plumbing problem on your hands.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Don't be tempted to put the leaves through your sink's garbage disposal since they can still clog the pipes.
Advertisement
3
Fill the teapot with tap water and swirl it a few times. Once you've enjoyed your tea and you're ready to clean the teapot, fill it with water from the tap. Swirl the teapot a few times to catch leaves that might be stuck on the sides of the pot.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- You can use hot or cold water to rinse the teapot.
4
Pour the water through a strainer and discard the remaining tea leaves. Hold a metal strainer over the sink and pour the water from the teapot through it. The strainer catches the leaves so they don't go down the drain. Then, tap the strainer over the trash or compost container to get rid of the leaves.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Look inside the teapot and keep rinsing it until all of the tea leaves are gone.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Getting Leaves Out of a Strainer

1
Bring 2 cups (470 ml) of water to boil. Pour tap water into a saucepan and set it on the stove. Then, turn the burner to high and bring the water to a rolling boil.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Set a lid on the pot to help the water boil faster. You'll know the water is boiling when you see steam escaping from under the lid.
2
Add 1 tsp (4 g) of baking soda and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Put the baking soda and 2 to 3 drops of liquid dish soap into the boiling water. Stir it for a few seconds to dissolve the baking soda and soap.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Use your favorite type of liquid dish soap. The soap and baking soda loosen the built on tea stains so you can easily scrub them off.
3
Submerge the metal strainer and bring it to a boil. Put your tea strainer into the mixture so it's completely covered. Keep the burner turned to high until the water starts to boil again. This only takes a few seconds.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- You can also soak tea infusers or other tea brewing equipment that's stained.
4
Turn off the burner and soak the strainer for 5 minutes. Leave the strainer in the mixture so the soap and baking soda break down the tea stains. You'll see the mixture begin to turn brown as it works on the strainer. Then, use tongs to take the strainer out of the hot mixture and set it aside until it's cool enough to touch.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- If you're short on time you can skip this step, but you may need to scrub the strainer a little harder.
5
Scrub the strainer with a soapy toothbrush. Take an old toothbrush and squeeze a drop of liquid dish soap onto it. Rub the bristles back and forth over the strainer to loosen leaves and stains. Then, scrub the other side of the strainer to get it completely clean.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- If the strainer is really dirty, add a few more drops of dish soap to the toothbrush as you work.
6
Rinse the strainer with clean water. Hold the soapy strainer under the tap and run clean water over it until all the soap and baking soda is gone. If you still see stains, repeat the process. Once your strainer is clean, pat it completely dry with a clean towel.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Wash the strainer and your teapot with soapy water after every few uses so tea stains don't have a chance to build up. This also improves the taste of your tea.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing Teapot Stains

1
Wash your teapot with soapy water. Your glass, porcelain, or ceramic teapot might need a gentle scrub with warm, soapy water and a sponge. The soap can loosen the tannins from the tea that make the stains on the sides of the pot. Then, rinse the pot thoroughly to see if the stains are gone.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- You don't need to clean your teapot with soap and water after every use, but wash it down whenever it starts to look scaly.
2
Mix equal parts of baking soda and water to make a paste. Pour a few spoonfuls of baking soda into a small bowl and add an equal amount of water. Stir the mixture to dissolve the baking soda and create a thick paste.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- Baking soda is slightly abrasive so it's great for removing surface stains.
3
Rub the paste over the stains and set a timer for 20 minutes. Dip your fingers into the paste and spread a thick layer of it onto all of the stains. Check the outside of the teapot, especially near the pour spout, for other stains. Then, leave the paste to work on the stains for 20 minutes.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- If you don't want to rub the paste over the stains with your bare hands, put on kitchen gloves first.
4
Scrub the teapot with a damp sponge and rinse it with clean water. Soak a sponge in warm water and squeeze most of the moisture out. Rub the damp sponge over the stains to lift them before you rinse out the teapot. Then, set the teapot upside down in a drainer to air dry.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- If there are stubborn stains still in the teapot, you may need to repeat the process.

Warnings

Avoid using stainless steel teaball infusers that screw together since they're difficult to assemble, open, and clean.^{[15]
X
Research source}

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0