Does Matcha Stain Clothes? (Removal Tips)

Although it’s been around for centuries, matcha powder, made from ground green tea leaves, took the internet by storm a few years back and has only increased in popularity over the years. From its vibrant coloring, many health benefits, and delicious flavor, it’s easy to see why people love it.

does matcha stain clothes

Though matcha is delicious, we all know how messy powdered substances can be. In this article, we’ll discuss whether matcha powder or tea form can leave stains and how to remove them if it does. We’ll also let you know if tea stains can ever be permanent.

Does Matcha Green Tea Stain Clothes?

Yes, matcha green tea stains just like any other type of tea due to the tannins found inside. These stains usually aren’t permanent as long as you treat them before they dry. If you’re drinking hot tea, you should move quickly because hot water will set stains faster than cold.

Luckily, green tea has fewer tannins than other teas, so any stains you create should be light and relatively easy to remove. The longer your tea steeps and the hotter your beverage will increase the intensity of the stain it will leave behind.

Are Tea Stains Permanent?

No, green tea stains are usually pretty easy to remove if you treat them before they dry. Removing dried stains may still be possible, but you might have to pull out the heavy-duty cleaners, like bleach or oxi-clean powder. Just make sure the fabric you’re treating can handle those strong chemicals, or you may ruin your clothing just trying to get the stain out.

How To Remove Matcha Stains From Clothes

Now that you know match stains usually aren’t permanent, let’s take a look at some of the best ways to remove them from your clothing.

removing matcha stains with white vinegar

1. Laundry Pods

If you’re near the washing machine, you can simply remove your soiled clothing and start a load of laundry using laundry pods. Be sure to wash in warm water and follow the instructions on the detergent container.

2. Liquid Detergent

If you have time to run a load of laundry, you can use liquid detergent in your washing machine, just like we’ve outlined above with the laundry pods.

Alternatively, you can wash your stained item by hand by following these simple steps:

  • Fill the sink with some warm water and add a little bit of detergent 
  • Swish your hand in the water to mix the detergent through
  • Put the stained clothes in the sink 
  • Scrub the material against itself to agitate the stain and work the detergent in
  • When you’ve removed the stain, empty the soapy water and refill your sink with more warm water
  • Rinse your clothes by repeatedly dunking them under the water until all the detergent is gone
  • Wring out your item to remove as much water as possible, then lay it flat or hang it to dry as per the washing label

3. White Vinegar

If you don’t have a load of laundry to do and don’t want to run out of laundry detergent to handwash your clothing, you can spot-treat the stain with vinegar. 

  • Pour about 1 tablespoon of vinegar directly onto the stain
  • Allow the vinegar to soak for about 30 minutes
  • Rinse the vinegar from the clothing
  • Hang your item to dry

Be sure to use distilled white vinegar, as apple cider vinegar can stain your clothes more.

4. Baking Soda

If you’re not in the mood to do laundry or wash your clothes by hand and don’t like the smell of vinegar, you can use baking soda to spot-treat your matcha stain.

Just pour a thick layer on the wet stain and leave it on overnight. The baking soda will absorb the stain, and you can brush it off the following day.

5. Dish Soap

You can use dish soap to handwash your clothing just like you would do with liquid laundry detergent. Be sure to use warm water and thoroughly rinse the garment to remove all the soap residue when the stain is gone.

6. Club Soda

Club soda works much the same as white distilled vinegar. The only difference in the cleaning method is that you should blot out as much liquid as possible before pouring a little bit of club soda onto the stain. Let it sit for about half an hour, then rinse the clothing, and the stain should be gone.

Regardless of your cleaning method, don’t let the item dry while the stain remains. Drying sets stains into the fabric and will make it much harder to get them out.

Does Matcha Powder Stain?

Matcha powder will only stain when you mix it with water. That said, even the smallest amount of water will activate the powder, and if it’s only a tiny amount, the powder will be more concentrated and leave a darker stain.

Be careful when making a drink or dessert with matcha powder to avoid dark and possibly permanent stains.

Does Matcha Stain Fabric And Carpets?

Yes, like any other tea, matcha green tea will stain fabrics like curtains, bed linens, and carpets. As long as you treat the stains immediately, they shouldn’t become permanent.

You can spot-treat your curtains and bed linens using any of the methods outlined above, and you can remove tea stains from your carpet by using this simple process:

  1. Blot It: Use a cleaning cloth or paper towel to blot as much liquid from the carpet as possible. Take care not to rub the stain, as this motion can spread the stain and push it further into the carpet fibers.
  2. Rinse It: Spray or pour a little bit of water onto the stain to dilute it, then blot it again. Repeat this process until most of the stain is gone and the carpet is nearly dry.
  3. Use Stain Remover: When you’ve got most of the liquid out of the carpet, spray a carpet stain remover onto the tea stain. Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle.
  4. Try Vinegar: If the stain remover doesn’t take all the stain out, you can try using white distilled vinegar on it. Make a solution of one part vinegar and one part water and dab it onto the stained area. Allow it to sit for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse it with cold water and dab up the liquid with a clean towel.
  5. Let It Dry: When you’ve got the stain out to the best of your ability, let it air dry. Avoid walking on that part of the carpet until it’s thoroughly dried.

Related: Does Semen stain clothes?

Conclusion

Matcha green tea is a healthy, energizing beverage that has been around for centuries and gained popularity worldwide thanks to the internet. Just like any other tea, it can leave a stain if you spill it on your clothing or carpet.

Luckily there are fewer tannins in green tea than in most other types of tea, so the stain won’t be very dark and should be easy to remove.

The easiest way to get matcha stains out of your clothes is to toss them into the laundry as soon as the stain occurs. If you’re not near the washer or don’t have a full load of laundry, you can spot-treat the stain with baking soda, white vinegar, or club soda to remove it quickly and easily.

Remember not to let the stain dry before treating it, as drying sets stains and makes them difficult, if not impossible, to remove.

Shauna Stone