If you are one of the two billion Americans that drink tea every day, you will know the glory of that early morning cup. Whether you go for earl grey, mint tea, or a strong blend with milk; that first cup is what can set you on the road to having a great day. But if your tea-making equipment isn’t properly cleaned, your delicious brew can taste grainy and unpleasant. You don’t need to use harsh chemicals to clean your tea-making pots and filters: These chemicals can not only affect the taste of your tea, but also be harmful to your body. Instead you can use natural cleaning methods that will leave you with a lovely, refreshing cup of tea.

Removing Limescale

If you are in an area that has hard water, you are more likely to get a buildup of limescale on the inside of your kettle or your teapot over time. This can be tough to remove if you don’t do it regularly. Limescale — also known as calcium carbonate — is an alkali; therefore you will need a mild acid in order to get rid of it. Lemon juice is one of the best ways to naturally remove limescale. It is also good instead of commercial cleaning products if you have allergies or sensitive skin. Simply fill the inside of your kettle or teapot with lemon juice and leave it overnight. In the morning, pour away the juice and then run water through your kettle a few times.

Stubborn Deposits

If it has been a long time since you cleaned your kettle or teapot, then there might be more stubborn deposits of limescale. You can deal with these by making a pickle from lime juice and vinegar. Mix 200ml of each and leave in your kettle or teapot overnight. In the morning, top up the kettle with water and boil it before leaving the water to cool. Once you have done this, run the kettle through with cold water a few times to rinse away the pickle, before you use it again.

Cleaning Teapot Staining

The natural tannins and dark color of your tea can over time cause stains on the inside of your teapot. These are unsightly and will affect the taste of your tea. Denture tablets — which contain bicarbonate of soda — are an excellent way to remove the brown stains. Boil the kettle and fill the teapot with hot water, then drop in a couple of denture tablets. Leave these fizzing inside your teapot for a couple of hours. Once you have emptied these out, use a soft cloth that is soaked in lemon juice and vinegar to remove any remaining residue. Use a straw brush to clean the inside of the spout of your teapot – these can be bought in most grocery stores.

A spotless teapot means that you will have a delicious and untainted cup of tea. Make sure that you regularly clean your tea-making equipment so you consistently get a fresh and tasty drink.

Photo “Breakfast that was…” is copyright under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License to the photographer Milada Vigerova and is being posted unaltered (source)