Cleaning guru Lynsey Crombie, known as the 'Queen of Clean' and a regular on This Morning, claims that a used teabag can tackle stubborn residue and stains on dirty dishes more effectively than washing up liquid.
How the Teabag Hack Works
According to Crombie, instead of reaching for washing up liquid, fill a grimy baking dish with water and add a used teabag, leaving it to soak while you eat. The tannins in the tea break down grease, muck, and baked-on remnants. 'Rather than use washing up liquid to clean a dirty baking dish, fill it up with water and add a used teabag, leaving it to soak,' she told Yours magazine. 'The ingredient, tannin, will lift all the stains.'
Centuries-Old Cleaning Wisdom
In an earlier Instagram video demonstrating the technique, Crombie explained: 'Tea has been used for cleaning for centuries, thanks to the power of tannins.' She added emphatically: 'TRUST me, this simple trick really works.' However, she cautioned that used teabags should not replace washing-up liquid for bacteria removal or deep cleaning of oily pots and pans.
Other Surprising Cleaning Tips
Beyond teabags, Crombie shared additional household hacks. Mayonnaise can remove rings from wooden coffee tables, as 'the oil in mayonnaise is great on wood.' Lemons also shine: 'I stick the remnants of used ones in the dishwater to give dishes a nice smell and sparkle. They're also great for descaling.'
Stain Removal on Clothes
During a This Morning appearance, Crombie demonstrated a two-item trick for removing ketchup, tea, and coffee stains from clothes. She stressed using cold water: 'Don't use hot water, everybody always goes straight to the hot water tap or soak it in hot water. Instead go for cold water,' as hot water 'sets the stain even more. It's like cooking the stain, particularly cooking stains like grease. You're cooking it further into the fabric.' She recommended dampening the garment with cold water, applying washing up liquid, rubbing it in, then putting it straight into the washing machine.
