The messy tea folks respond:

• I have had this happen with a cotton sweater. I dyed the entire sweater with strong tea. Looks great now as beige instead of white. They say that pouring boiling water through the stain helps, but, believe me... Tea is forever. (Linda H., a pessimist)
• Try spraying it with Lysol Kitchen Anti-Bacterial spray. It even removed a blueberry stain from a white t-shirt! (Catherine Skinner)
• To get tea out of a dress try a product called "zout" found in the detergent section of the store. This stuff is really great!!!!!!!! (Toby S.)
• In answer to Judy's query regarding tea stains, she was wise not to put remaining stain-laden clothing in the dryer. At that point, there is a much greater chance that the stain cannot be removed. Of course, the best answer is to treat before laundering, which she attempted to do. Cold water soaking and rinsing is the best answer for FRESH stains. If that doesn't work, then stretching the stained portion over a bowl and pouring boiling water over it should work for FRESH stains, but is worth a try for hers. If all else fails, there is a product called "Goof Off," available in auto parts supply stores. (Phyllis R.)
• a. Mix 1 teaspoon mild no bleach pH balanced detergent with 1 cup warm water. Blot the fabric with this solution.
  b. Mix 1/3 cup white household vinegar with 2/3 cup water. Blot onto fabric.
  c. Repeat step 1 entirely, i.e., 1 tsp mild detergent mixed with 1 cup warm water and blot again.
  d. Sponge with clean water to remove cleaning mixtures.
  e. Blot dry.
  May be repeated if necessary. (Grandma Nina)
• Try soaking it in vinegar. (Bertha R.)
• I've always had good luck with using lemon juice on the damp area and hanging the article of clothing in the sun, this also works for grass stains. (Adrienne Pasipanki)

Sam O'H. asks:

How do I remove tea stains from the inside of my white Correlle (by Corning) cup?

The messy tea folks respond:

• This solution for removing tea stains come from an old Irish woman who has been drinking tea every day for the past fifty years. The answer is salt. Put a half-teaspoon of ordinary table salt on a damp kitchen towel or sponge and rub it into the stain. It will remove it right away. Interestingly enough, bleach does not work, but fortunately the salt does. (Joe B., our resident Irishman)

• My best ever stain remover is 1 part liquid bleach to 4 parts water. Even at room temperature, it will soak anything away. Don't splatter, spill, or drop. One cup full may be prepared, and after the stains are gone bye bye, pour it into another cup, etc. etc. I recommend using protective gloves too. Since you only need to thoroughly wash the cleaned item afterwards, use the solution to pour into other stained items and recycle that mixture till everything is spotless. Caution: do not use bleach in electrical appliances. For things like coffeemakers, use "Dip-It" Brand. Found in most Wal-Mart stores with cleaning goods, or even with coffee sales. It's a winner. Just wash thoroughly after cleaning process. Not for human consumption. Practice safe and careful handling. This stuff really works. (Nina I.)

• They come off great in the automatic dishwasher. But if you don't have a dishwasher put some baking soda on a paper towel, dampen a little and rub the stain out that way. (Barbara in FL)

• Take about a teaspoon of electric dishwasher detergent, put in bottom of cup, fill with very hot water up past top of stain. Stir until detergant is desolved. Let sit several hours or over night. Rinse very well, repeat if necessary. Be careful not to get the water with detergant on your skin or clothes. It may irritate the skin, and probably will bleach spots on your clothes. You can use this method for cleaning coffee carafes also. You can buy a commercial product for this purpose, but it costs a lot more, and the electric dishwasher detergant works just as well. If you have stains on a polyester or nylon white shirt, use the same technique. If it is colored, and you have tried everything else, go ahead and try it on colored clothes, cause it might work and they are probably ruined anyhow. When I was practicing nursing, I used to do this to my uniforms about once a month. Kept them very white. (Sharon M.)