Housekeeping · 식기 세척·관리

Coffee and tea stains on a ceramic mug: 6 gentle cleaning steps

A gentle approach to brown tea or coffee rings on everyday glazed ceramic mugs. Check the glaze and maker's care label before trying baking soda.

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Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Niki Odolphie / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 (unaltered). · CC BY 2.0 ↗

Not every mug tolerates the same treatment. Arm & Hammer describes a baking-soda approach to mug staining; Le Creuset recommends letting stoneware cool and soaking stubborn residue in warm soapy water for 10–20 minutes. These steps apply to ordinary glazed mugs, not gilded, hand-painted, antique or cracked pieces.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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1. Let the mug cool completely. Inspect the glaze, rim and handle for chips or cracks. Follow special care rules for gilded, decorated or coated pieces.
2. Empty the mug and rinse gently with lukewarm water. Avoid shocking a hot ceramic cup with cold water.
3. Use mild dishwashing liquid and a soft sponge on the interior and handle. Do not use steel wool or sharp scrapers.
4. For persistent residue, soak in warm soapy water for 10–20 minutes. Only if the manufacturer permits, try a baking-soda solution, testing a discreet area first.
5. Gently work the mark with a soft sponge and rinse repeatedly until no detergent or baking soda remains. Never mix the method with bleach or acidic cleaning chemicals.
6. Dry fully with a clean cloth or in a ventilated rack. If glaze crazing, chips, damage or unusual odour persists, discontinue food use until the maker advises.

Arm & HammerHow to Clean Coffee Mug Stains / Cleans Tea Pots ↗Baking-soda manufacturer suggests using a diluted baking-soda soak for tea/coffee residue and gentle application with damp sponge; presented as optional for suitable ordinary glazed mugs.Le Creuset SingaporeCare & Use | Stoneware ↗Manufacturer instructions: cool stoneware before cleaning, use warm soapy water and dry; stubborn residue may be soaked 10–20 minutes.IKEA KoreaIKEA 365+ Mug White 36 cl - Materials and care ↗Glazed feldspar porcelain mug marked dishwasher- and microwave-safe; demonstrate that care varies by specific model, without claiming all ceramic is safe.Wikimedia CommonsFile: Used coffee mug (4356081928).jpg ↗Author Niki Odolphie, verified CC BY 2.0; original JPEG directly opened with recognizable coffee residue.Wikimedia CommonsCommons technical reuse and hotlinking policy ↗Hotlinking allowed, with separate conditions for file-level attribution and license compliance.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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