How do I clean stained coffee cups?

Chriss Grijak
by Chriss Grijak

I have Correlle coffee cups that are stained. I’ve use bleach, denture tablets and Mr. Clean scrubber sponges but can't seem to figure out how to get coffee stains out of mugs. Does anyone have any ideas on how these cups can be whitened? Thank you!


  14 answers
  • I always use Magic Eraser.

  • Scarlet Paolicchi Scarlet Paolicchi on Feb 11, 2020

    Pour some vinegar on them and let soak for 30 minutes and then it should come off.

  • Have you tried filling with white vinegar and setting outside in the sun? That's how I clean up stubborn stains.

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Feb 11, 2020

    Hi Chriss,

    I'd put a paste of baking soda on the stain, then put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the whole thing. Let that sit for a while then clean with warm water. I hope that helps. Wishing you the best.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Feb 11, 2020

    Hi Chriss,

    What I do is make a solution of baking soda and water, just let it soak about 8 hours and it should come clean with a sponge. If you want to make a concentrated version of this, just make a paste of the same ingredients and slather it on, let it set and clean off with a sponge and water.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Feb 11, 2020

    Make a baking soda & hydrogen peroxide paste for a scrub. Then scrub with a netted cloth or scrubber.

    Corelle is porous so be careful of anything with a "taste". Peroxide doesn't have one so it should be fine.

    Other items that would work but might leave an aftertaste are lemon juice and cleaning vinegar.

  • Peggy L Burnette Peggy L Burnette on Feb 11, 2020

    Hi Chriss, sorry your coffee cups are stained. i hope this will help you make them look like new. www.wikihow.com › ... › Kitchen Cleaning › Dishwashing

    How to Get Stains out of White Mugs: 8 Steps (with Pictures)


    Sep 4, 2019 - Are your white mugs discolored by coffee or tea stains? These stains can be particularly stubborn and difficult to remove, especially if they build ...

  • Craft Invaders Craft Invaders on Feb 11, 2020

    I knew someone who always used salt to get stains out of cups - might be worth a try :)

    • See 1 previous
    • Melissa Wright Melissa Wright on Feb 13, 2020

      Salt really does the trick.

      Get the mug a bit wet, then pour some salt (a teaspoon) in there and start scrubbing with your fingers. Think of it as like a body scrub but for mugs!


      As another option (if that's an extremely old stain) - add salt, then pour hot water (from the tap, or boiled) over it so the salt dissolves. Then just let it sit there for a while - I do this overnight. Then wash as usual.


  • JudyH JudyH on Feb 11, 2020

    Make a thick paste using cream of tartar and water, apply to cups with a soft DRY cloth and rub as you would if polishing silver. Rinse and dry cups. If you want to use a commercial product, try Barkeepers Friend.

  • Chriss Grijak Chriss Grijak on Feb 11, 2020

    If the salt method doesn’t work then cream of tartar/water is my last hope! I’ve even contacted Correlle and I can replace them but was told the cups are not pure white anymore! Off white won’t work with the pure white dishes! Thank you!

  • Simple Nature Decor Simple Nature Decor on Feb 15, 2020

    I have used baking soda

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Feb 17, 2020

    Use. Lorax cleanup and spray 3 sprays in each cup and put the rest water let sit 30 min

  • Janice Janice on Dec 10, 2020

    Place the cups in the sink with hot water and about a cup of bleach. Let them soak for 30 minutes, scrub and rinse. This should get rid of the coffee stains. OR you could take a moist cloth and add a bit of baking soda and scrub the stains away and rinse. The slight abrasiveness of the slightly moist baking soda will work beautifully, then rinse. Repeat in the future as more stains appear as the cups are used for tea or coffee.

  • Deb Deb on Jan 21, 2022

    Oxi-clean