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Do Dishwashing Tablets remove tea stains?Updated a day ago

TL;DR: Two steps. Wipe the stained mug with Universal Cleaner first, rinse it, then run it through a normal cycle with Dishwashing Tabs. Tea and coffee tannins bond to ceramic and porcelain and want to be lifted directly rather than washed at, which is the job Universal Cleaner does well. The Universal Cleaner + Double Dish Tabs refill kit pairs both in one box.

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Koh Universal Cleaner and Double Dish Tabs refill kit
Tea-stained mug being wiped clean with Koh Universal Cleaner

How do I clean tea-stained mugs?

Two steps. First lift the stain: apply Koh Universal Cleaner directly to the stained area inside the mug, wipe or gently scrub with a sponge or microfibre cloth, then rinse thoroughly with water. Second, wash as normal: put the mug in the dishwasher with a Koh Dishwashing Tab and run a normal cycle. Universal Cleaner does the work on the tannins and the wash cycle takes care of everything else. Older, darker rings may need a second pass with Universal Cleaner before they lift completely.

✓ Step 1: lift the stain

1

Apply Universal Cleaner directly to the stained area inside the mug.

2

Wipe or gently scrub with a sponge or a microfibre cloth.

3

Rinse thoroughly with water. A dark ring that's been there a while may need a second pass.

✓ Step 2: wash as normal

1

Put the mug in the dishwasher alongside your usual load.

2

Add a Dishwashing Tab to the detergent compartment.

3

Run a normal cycle. The wash takes care of everything else.

Why does it take two products?

Tea and coffee tannins bond tightly to ceramic and porcelain, more tightly than the food residue a dishwasher cycle is built around. Koh Dishwashing Tabs lift food and grease in the wash, which is what most dishwashing actually needs. A bonded tannin ring responds better to a cleaner applied straight onto the stain with a wipe or a scrub, and that is where Koh Universal Cleaner earns its place. Lift the stain by hand first, then let the wash cycle do the rest.

✓ Two products, two jobs

Tannins bond to ceramic and porcelain more tightly than everyday food residue. Dishwashing Tabs lift food and grease in the wash cycle, which is the everyday job. A bonded tannin ring wants direct contact and a bit of friction instead.

That's the step Universal Cleaner handles. Lift first, wash second.

Tannins bond tight Lift first, wash second

What about teapots, travel mugs and thermoses?

The same two steps work on teapots, travel mugs, thermos flasks and stainless steel keep cups. Apply Koh Universal Cleaner to the stained surface, wipe or scrub, then rinse thoroughly. Vacuum-insulated flasks and anything with a sealed lid mechanism are usually not dishwasher rated, so check the manufacturer's guidance and finish those by hand rather than putting them through a cycle. Stained plastic lids and silicone seals hold tannins too, so give them the same wipe.

✓ Same method, a couple of caveats

Teapots, travel mugs, thermos flasks and stainless keep cups all take the same treatment. Universal Cleaner on the stain, wipe or scrub, rinse thoroughly.

Vacuum-insulated flasks and sealed lid mechanisms often aren't dishwasher rated, so check the manufacturer's guidance and finish those by hand. Plastic lids and silicone seals hold tannins as well, so give them the same wipe.

Teapots Travel mugs Thermos flasks Check dishwasher rating
Koh Universal Cleaner and Double Dish Tabs refill kit

Universal Cleaner + Double Dish Tabs · refill kit

One Universal Cleaner box plus two packs of Dishwashing Tabs. The pairing for tannin stains and everyday dishwashing.

Add to cartView refill kitRead reviews
Koh Universal Cleaner bag in box

Universal Cleaner · for the tannin lift

Bag-in-box. Two ingredients. GECA certified. Lifts tannins from mugs, and works across 20 plus surfaces around the home.

Add to cartView productRead reviews
Koh Dishwashing Tabs

Dishwashing Tabs

Around 2 months in an average home. 10 ingredients, two enzymes, each tab sealed in water-soluble PVA film. GECA certified, Sensitive Choice approved.

No loose powder to handle
Add to cartView productRead reviews

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Last reviewed: September 2026 · Koh Australia

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