A cleaning fan has revealed that denture tablets, not baking soda or vinegar, are the key to removing stubborn coffee and tea stains from mugs. The tablets fizz and dissolve in warm water, lifting stains in as little as three to five minutes.
How to Clean Mug Stains
Cleaning fan and TikTok creator Lou recommended using denture tablets, an item typically found in the bathroom, to tackle stains inside mugs and cups. In a video from September, Lou said: “Here are my favourite cleaning hacks to help you clean smarter and not harder. Because contrary to popular belief, I like to spend the least amount of time cleaning as humanly possible.”
Lou suggested popping a denture tablet into the cup with some warm water and allowing it to fizz and dissolve. The tablets can work quickly, taking as little as three to five minutes, but leaving them for between 10 and 20 minutes can tackle more stubborn stains. Once the stains have disappeared, give the mugs a quick rinse, and they’re ready to go.
Why Do Denture Tablets Work?
Denture tablets contain many of the same ingredients found in other cleaning products, including oxidisers, peroxide-based bleach, baking soda, and washing soda. The Spruce explained that the tablets can also “effectively” tackle stains on items such as “china, porcelain bathroom fixtures, glass and ceramic bakeware, and most glass or metal small appliance interiors”.
Martha Stewart also explained that denture tablets are good for tackling hard-to-reach crevices when cleaning. When the tablets fizz, they can delicately lift stubborn residue.
Claire Helen, a professional cleaner and founder of SisterPledgeCleans, told Martha Stewart: “They usually contain citric acid and bicarbonate of soda, which create the fizzing action. That effervescence helps lift debris from crevices and tight spaces without heavy scrubbing. They also contain a mild oxidising ingredient, often sodium percarbonate, which helps break down stains and has a gentle whitening effect.”
Lou also explained that denture tablets can be used to refresh kitchen sink drains and toothbrushes, adding: “They’re small but hella mighty.”
