Cleaning a Teapot

There's nothing better than a properly-brewed cup of tea, especially when you're sick or during cold weather. My mom would make me tea out of fresh herbs for the health benefits. When microwaved, tea loses a lot of its nutrients, so the best way is to brew it in a teapot. Also, a beautiful teapot can make teatime a truly elegant experience.

Unfortunately, teapots can become stained over time, either by the tea or by mineral deposits from the water. These stains can be difficult to remove and are not only unsightly, but can affect the taste of the tea. You shouldn't put your teapot in the dishwasher or use harsh chemicals on it. Here are some ways to properly clean a teapot:

• Vinegar: Most people have vinegar already on hand, and this method is elbow-grease free. Just pour a cup of vinegar into the pot and fill it the rest of the way with boiling water. Leave it to sit overnight and by morning, Voila! The stains should be gone. Rinse well, dry the outside with a towel, and let dry upside-down. Vinegar can be used to remove mineral buildup from many other things, such as faucet aerators.
• Baking Soda: This is another common kitchen item that's easy to use. Just put 4 tablespoons into the pot, fill it the rest of the way with boiling water, and leave the solution overnight. In the morning, rinse it out well and leave it to dry upside-down.
• Denture tablet: If the above suggestions didn't work, your pot must be a corroded mess! No biggie, though. Obtain one of those tablets that grandpas use to clean their dentures. Then just fill the pot with hot water, throw in the tablet, and let it do its job. This can take anywhere from four hours to overnight, depending on how stained your pot is. After this treatment, your pot will be sparkling clean for sure.

To clean the spout, you can scrub it out with a fine bottle brush. Use a dry cloth to buff the outside of a metal teapot to keep it shiny.

Since preventing stains is preferable to removing them, you should soak your teapot regularly in the vinegar or baking soda solutions given above. Every other week should be sufficient.

You deserve to go enjoy a nice hot cup of tea. Just be sure to properly clean your teapot first!