If you are asking yourself, “does matcha stain clothes” then the answer is yes. Like a lot of teas, matcha can stain clothes and will leave a brown-colored stain behind if you spill it.
While matcha stains can be annoying you should not worry about permeant damage to your clothes as this type of stain is usually easy to remove.
This guide will help you remove matcha stains in no time and have your clothes looking like new. We will look at natural ways to remove stains as well as advise on using commercial stain removal products.
It will also advise on removing stains from dark clothes and woolen clothes.
There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.
Why Does Matcha Stain Clothes?
Tea contains tannins which are the natural compounds in tea that give it the brown/green color that you are used to. These tannins do have benefits as they contain the antioxidants that are prominent in green tea and which are beneficial for your health.
If you have ever spilled tea on your countertop or table you will see that it leaves a brown stain. The same thing will happen if you spill the tea on your clothes but the good news is that the stain can be removed as tea is water soluble.
Flush with Water
The first thing that you should do if you spill matcha on your clothing is to take the garment off and flush it with water. By taking fast action and dissolving the stain with water you can avoid the tea staining.
Even if there is a slight stain left after flushing it has a better chance of coming out of your clothes when you launder them. It is important to use lukewarm water rather than very hot or very cold water as this can affect the material.
It is advisable to look at the label on your item of clothing before taking any action so as not to shrink or damage your garment.
Removing Matcha Stains From Clothes
If flushing does not completely remove the matcha you have spilled on your clothes then you can follow the method below to get rid of the stain.
You will need:
[amazon box=”B084W9WPFG,B00261ZYB6,B07CN5K12R” grid=”3″]Steps
Rinse The Affected Area
As stated earlier in the article, rinsing the affected stain area is the best action you can take as soon as you spill matcha on your clothes.
If you are at home this should not be an issue as you can quickly change your clothing but if you are out and about you should use the bathroom to flush as much as possible and dab dry or use a hand dryer.
If you can take the garment off you should rinse the stain from the inside can help move the stain away from the fabric rather than push it further in. You should be careful not to rub the stain in as this can force the stain deeper into the garment this way too.
Dish Soap and Distilled Vinegar Wash
Mix one teaspoon of dish soap with three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar in a bowl that will fit your garment. The acidity of the vinegar is great at removing stains and is used to clean many items around the house.
The soap can also work to remove the stain just as it would if you were removing dirt from your dishes.
Soak For 30 Minutes
Place the stained garment into the soap and vinegar solution and allow it to soak for up to 30 minutes but a minimum of 10 minutes. Soaking the item will allow the vinegar to work its magic.
Launder Clothing and Allow It To Air Dry
Once you have taken the garment out of the bowl and should launder as you normally would. You can use your standard laundry detergent and wash it by hand or on your machine.
Rather than put the item in your tumble dryer you should air dry if the stain doesn’t fully come out not the first wash then you risk setting it in the dryer. If it is a sunny day try to dry your clothes as the sun can also help remove stains.
Repeat if Necessary
If the clothing is air dried and the stain remains you can repeat the process above or use any of the methods below to remove any remaining matcha.
Ammonia
Applying ammonia to the stained area can help remove difficult spots of stubborn matcha stains from your clothes. You should take care to use gloves and a face mask/goggles to protect your hands and face as ammonia is a very strong product.
Steps
- Pour a small amount of ammonia into a bowl of water
- Use a cotton wool pad to dab a little of the solution from the bowl
- Starting from the outside of the stain run the bottom pad inwards to remove the stain
- Continue to rub the stain until it comes out. You will most likely need multiple cotton pads
- Wash the item of clothing as usual with detergent
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing Alcohol can be used to remove several stains, such as tea by following the below steps. You should try this method on an inconspicuous section of clothing to make sure the alcohol does not affect the color of the garment, especially if it is a dark material.
Steps
- Pour the alcohol into a bowl
- Soak a cloth or a cotton pad in the bowl
- Blot the stain moving from the outside in. Be careful not to rub too harshly as it will push the stain into the clothing
- Wash clothing as normal and allow to dry
Acetone
You can try acetone (you may have nail polish remover contenting acetone at home) on its own or combine it with some other household products listed in this article. The acetone works similarly to alcohol in removing stubborn tea stains.
You should check if your clothes contain acetate as you will not be able to use acetone if they do.
Steps
- Pour the acetone into a bowl
- Soak a cloth or a cotton pad in the bowl
- Blot the stain moving from the outside in. Be careful not to rub too harshly as it will push the stain into the clothing
- Spray with hairspray to remove the most stubborn stain
- Continue to blot with the acetone until the stain begins to go away
- Wash clothing as normal and allow to dry
Will my Tea Stain Be Permanent?
If you have tried all of the above methods and you still have tea in your clothing then it is not likely that the stain will completely come out. That said, it is very unusual for one of these methods to be effective at removing matcha so this shouldn’t be something to worry about.
If you are unlucky at being able to completely remove the stain it is likely to be very light and will become lighter the more you launder the item. All of the above methods should be used on both light and dark clothes as the stain may be hidden on darker clothes.
If you are removing stains from darker clothes you should always test an area beforehand especially when you are using products such as ammonia and acetone.
Can I get Stains out of Woolen Clothes?
You may be wondering if it is easy to remove matcha tea from woolen clothes then the answer is yes. While you may need to take extra care with woolen garments you should be able to rid them of tea stains.
It is best to use an approved detergent for wool rather than one of the above methods as this is designed especially for delicate materials. Usually, you should add the detergent to lukewarm water and then dab a lint-free cloth in the water then onto the matching stain.
The solution should be dabbed gently into the garment rather than a strong rub as you don’t want to push the stain further into the wool. You should dab from the outside in so the stain does not spread out further across the woolen garment.
Summary
Getting matcha on your clothing need not be a disaster as it is a stain that can usually be removed easily. In the first instance, you should flush the stain out with lots of water as this is the most effective stain removal method.
Once the stain has been rinsed you can use various solutions to remove the remaining stain, including vinegar, liquid soap, acetone, and ammonia. After using your chosen method of removing the matching stain you should launder as normal and air dry to check the stain has gone.
Take special care with delicate items and dark materials as you do not want to risk discoloration. If you are unsure of how to remove a stain at any point you can speak to a professional cleaner for advice.
Farah Zeb is a mother of five, including two children with special needs. She shares practical parenting tips and resources to help other families navigate daily challenges and create supportive, nurturing environments.
