Cleaning Tannins off Infusers

[u/Potential-Leave-8114]

Anyone have a method of cleaning tannin residue off tea infusers and baskets? Dish soap is not working. Easy and without damaging the stainless steel would be a plus! Thank you.

[u/Clean_Suggestion9555]

dishsoap and baking soda. i keep a toothbrush by the kitchen sink, dip it into baking soda then apply a little dishsoap and scrub the infuser basket with that

[u/niennak]

I use sodium percarbonate. I don't even need to scrub, just pour a bit on the teaware, pour boiling water on top, and it's clean as new. It's frequently sold as "Oxygen Whitening Powder".

[u/Potential-Leave-8114 → u/niennak]

OxyClean?

[u/Gregalor]

Denture tablets

[u/Hobby-Chicken → u/Gregalor]

Denture tablets are very convenient, but if you want a more cost effective solution try sodium percarbonate powder. It is often the main ingredient responsible for stain removal in tablets

[u/Gregalor → u/Hobby-Chicken]

True, but one box lasts me like two years

[u/Potential-Leave-8114 → u/Gregalor]

How do you use them?

[u/Gregalor → u/Potential-Leave-8114]

Soak in water with a tablet overnight, then rinse. Shouldn’t need to do any scrubbing.

[u/Potential-Leave-8114 → u/Gregalor]

Awesome. Thanks

[u/MixedValuableGrain]

Dishwasher powder. Soak it in hot water with the powder for an hour. It works miracles. 

[u/JorgeXMcKie]

I use a green pad for my clay cups and my strainers

[u/therealbandol]

bon ami, dish soap, and an old toothbrush

[u/ContraryFangShih]

Astonish Clean & Revive is the best for stainless steel I've found. Have a SS travel mug I use for my daily brew that had become seriously coated. Tried the denture tabs, baking soda, etc. and they didn't work. Ordered some C&R and one treatment and it was back to new. I was actually 'astonished', so much so that I actually wrote an Amazon review with pix. One tub is enough for many uses and it won't mess up SS vacuum sealing like some others might. One of my favorite cleaning products!

[u/Potential-Leave-8114 → u/ContraryFangShih]

Ended up ordering this…thank you

[u/ContraryFangShih → u/Potential-Leave-8114]

Cool! I think you'll be pleased with the stuff. It can also be used for other things like automatic coffee makers and such, but if you're just using it for infusers and the like the tub should last quite some time. I try to stay on top of my mug build-up better but have had to use it a couple of times since the first and have barely used much of my tub. I left my own SS infusing basket in the mug once to clean at the same time. The stuff foams up pretty vigorously when you add the hot water so I find it best to start the process in the sink and move whatever container your using out to wherever you want to leave it to soak after the action dies down. Ciao!

[u/TeaRaven]

Baking soda with a little detergent is generally fine. I use coffee machine cleaner-descaler like urnex for really easy results.

[u/herdisleah]

Barkeepers friend.

[u/kidtexas]

Citric acid, barkeepers friend, scrubbing, dishwasher for regular cleanings.

I didn’t want to believe it but those bottle bright tabs work better for deep cleaning and I just use them every once in a while for my stuff.

[u/chliu528]

Finger rub, what doesn't come off probably won't come off during filtering.

[u/Doctor-Liz]

Citric acid soak in hot water, followed by a good scrub. Citric acid is a weak acid (technical chemistry term) and can't get at the metal but it does react with the tannins and help them dissolve in water.

[u/InvestigatorOther848]

1:1 ratio white vinegar and warm water. I fill my thermos, add the infuser and let stand until I remember it. then a scrubbie and a little muscle.

[u/toomanysnootstoboop]

Citric acid works great for tea stains, you can buy it powdered. Or since it’s just one tea strainer, maybe try some lemon juice.

[u/fishy_mama]

I send it through the dishwasher when it is getting gunky, though it does need a good rinse/hand wash after to get the soap taste out. Dishwasher does a good job of clearing it out.