Teapots: Wash or Don't Wash

Larbre34

The current Mrs Larbre and I are constantly having this disagreement.

I would never wash a teapot. I rinse it out with cold water a couple of times after use and leave it upside down on the drainer. My thinking is, that it should be left to season and that tea is nicer from a well used pot.

She insists on hand washing it every so often with Fairy when she's doing dishes. She thinks the build-up inside it needs washing off. My counter to that is that you can never actually get all of the build up off and that what is left behind gets a tainted taste from the washing up liquid. (she also got this notion from a friend of hers who I find to be a particular pain in the hole, which doesn't help her case)

So, whats your story, wash or no wash?

Larbre34

Larbre34 wrote: »

The current Mrs Larbre and I are constantly having this disagreement.

I would never wash a teapot. I rinse it out with cold water a couple of times after use and leave it upside down on the drainer. My thinking is, that it should be left to season and that tea is nicer from a well used pot.

She insists on hand washing it every so often with Fairy when she's doing dishes. She thinks the build-up inside it needs washing off. My counter to that is that you can never actually get all of the build up off and that what is left behind gets a tainted taste from the washing up liquid. (she also got this notion from a friend of hers who I find to be a particular pain in the hole, which doesn't help her case)

So, whats your story, wash or no wash?

You should leave her, she's clearly wrong
This relationship has no future, living with a monster like that.

Oranage2

I'd probably wash it once a week, the tannins can have a bitter taste, my grandmother would soak hers in bleach and it would get rid of all the stains. These days I just use a glass teapot with a wide opening so it's easy to clean.

guitarhappy

If the inside of the pot is glazed, it should be washed regularly with soap or a scrubby.

If the inside of the pot is unglazed, as in not glazed, it should be rinsed out with cold water between uses but never with soap.

Bet the nit pickers didn't think of that one, did you.

Larbre34

Oranage2 wrote: »

I'd probably wash it once a week, the tannins can have a bitter taste, my grandmother would soak hers in bleach and it would get rid of all the stains. These days I just use a glass teapot with a wide opening so it's easy to clean.

Bleach? In the tea pot?

I like very strong tea so I'm very happy with any tannins. Good for your tonsils too.

Surreptitious

Mild bleach or half a lemon get rid of stains and build up.

Larbre34

guitarhappy wrote: »

If the inside of the pot is glazed, it should be washed regularly with soap or a scrubby.

Genuinely curious, for what reason? What does being glazed have to do with it particularly?

Oranage2

Larbre34 wrote: »

Bleach? In the tea pot?

I like very strong tea so I'm very happy with any tannins. Good for your tonsils too.

Yeah I was shocked too. Would never do it myself

Hellotonever

Oranage2 wrote: »

I'd probably wash it once a week, the tannins can have a bitter taste, my grandmother would soak hers in bleach and it would get rid of all the stains. These days I just use a glass teapot with a wide opening so it's easy to clean.

Is your grandmother still alive?

Mad_maxx

we never wash ours , herself said we didnt need to and i didnt question it

Cienciano

I have a glazed clay one. I just rinse it out after use. Throw it in the dishwasher once every couple of months.

Alun

I don't wash it, but when it gets a bit too manky I use this ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Astonish-Clean-Stain-Remover-Flasks/dp/B00NEMH9UU/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=BP3ZMDTMSRJ8YEARWXW6&th=1

It's advertised for cups mainly but works really well on flasks and teapots too.

faceman

Don’t wash

Sheesh. What idiots wash a teapot? You wouldn’t wash a tiger, why would you wash a teapot?

Larbre34

Exactly my thinking.

The Continental Op

If all you drink are "normal" strong teas then don't wash. On the other hand if you are also using the pot for more delicate flavoured teas then scrub it clean.

Better option one unwashed pot for "builders" tea and another well washed pot for fancy tea.

OP, To save replacing the wife get a second teapot so you have His and Hers teapots - then wash or don't wash your own

Larbre34

We kinda have that. One ceramic pot when its just two of us having tea, then a big stainless steel job I grabbed from an office which we use if there's loads of people over. The stainless one doesn't ever need cleaning anyway.

POBox19

We used to steep the pot with DAZ when it was well black on the inside. It came up spotless, but we had to dump the next two brews just to get rid of the taste of DAZ from the tea.
Now the pot goes into the dishwasher when there is room with no after taste. After all the cups and mugs go through the same wash.

ThewhiteJesus

just rinse but never wash

KungPao

I just insert the tea bag directly into the mug. Don’t really see the point of a teapot. To who uses teapots, do you use a tea cosy!?

Larbre34

KungPao wrote: »

I just insert the tea bag directly into the mug. Don’t really see the point of a teapot. To who uses teapots, do you use a tea cosy!?

Philistine.

Tea left to brew is miles better than a scabby teabag squeezed to death.

Larbre34

POBox19 wrote: »

We used to steep the pot with DAZ when it was well black on the inside. It came up spotless, but we had to dump the next two brews just to get rid of the taste of DAZ from the tea.
Now the pot goes into the dishwasher when there is room with no after taste. After all the cups and mugs go through the same wash.

You're a monster.

KungPao

Larbre34 wrote: »

Philistine.

Tea left to brew is miles better than a scabby teabag squeezed to death.

I know, I’m a disgrace. I do leave the bag in for a good couple of minutes though.

The Continental Op

KungPao wrote: »

I know, I’m a disgrace. I do leave the bag in for a good couple of minutes though.

You're only a disgrace if you leave the used teabag in the sink :mad:

awec

I just pour a bit of boiling water into it and swirl it around a bit before I fill it with tea.

ThewhiteJesus

KungPao wrote: »

I just insert the tea bag directly into the mug. Don’t really see the point of a teapot. To who uses teapots, do you use a tea cosy!?

you are missing out on one of the joys of life not using a tea pot, my beanie does the job for a cosy

Larbre34

awec wrote: »

I just pour a bit of boiling water into it and swirl it around a bit before I fill it with tea.

Cos you were brought up, not dragged up.

Warming the pot is a courtesy not just to others but to yourself.

stoneill

Never!

The Continental Op

Larbre34 wrote: »

Cos you were brought up, not dragged up.

Warming the pot is a courtesy not just to others but to yourself.

Because as much as anything you don't want to start off with a cold cup of tea!

If I make tea in a mug with a teabag I warm the mug with a splash of hot water first.

igCorcaigh

I just rinse with cold water. My thinking is that the frequent adding of boiling water during the tea making process will kill any nasties.

Although, on occasion I have forgotten to remove tea bags (I know, I don't always have leaves), the water turns to an extremely sticky slime.

When this happens, I do give the pot a good scrub.

screamer

Ceramic one goes in the dishwasher regularly, they get filthy. Metal one gets cleaned with boiling water and polished on the outside to remove finger marks and tea stains. I’d refuse to drink tea from a manky teapot

awec

screamer wrote: »

Ceramic one goes in the dishwasher regularly, they get filthy. Metal one gets cleaned with boiling water and polished on the outside to remove finger marks and tea stains. I’d refuse to drink tea from a manky teapot

You polish your teapot?

ThewhiteJesus

deffo use a clean cup though, some of the real oldtimers in the job have cups that used to be white, and now are stained like ronseal on the inside.
I doubt they are ever washed

igCorcaigh

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

deffo use a clean cup though, some of the real oldtimers in the job have cups that used to be white, and now are stained like ronseal on the inside.
I doubt they are ever washed

Oh I get a right turn off with stained cups. Those metal pads do a great job.

r93kaey5p2izun

I fill with just boiling water every couple of weeks and leave to steam. It gets rinsed with boiling water after every use. I would never wash the inside with soap. I have never heard of anyone washing inside a teapot. :eek:

We use a ceramic teapot that belonged to my Granny; this thing could be 50 years old. I doubt it has ever been scrubbed clean inside. It's a dark brown colour inside, but there's no big build up of residue or anything. Give it a good scald with boiling water before making tea, and then leave it to drain afterwards. Would get daily usage since we moved back to using tea leaves over bags. Tea brewed from bags now taste weak at best, and plasticy at worst.

The Continental Op

Deleted User wrote: »

We use a ceramic teapot that belonged to my Granny; this thing could be 50 years old. I doubt it has ever been scrubbed clean inside. It's a dark brown colour inside, but there's no big build up of residue or anything. Give it a good scald with boiling water before making tea, and then leave it to drain afterwards. Would get daily usage since we moved back to using tea leaves over bags. Tea brewed from bags now taste weak at best, and plasticy at worst.

If you ever run out of tea then just add hot water

Rubberchikken

Never:)
Love my tea. I use a stainless steel pot. Years old. Makes great tea. Qi wipe the outside of it. That's as far as I go:)

Archeron

Ran out of tea bags in work so had a cup of dandelion and elderflower herbal tea. It looked and tasted like a small see through bag of sick floating in a cup of warm p*ss.

If I had a steel teapot I would wash it with a scrubber. The teapot I do own though is a family handmedown and looks way too delicate and ornate to make tea in. I remember my granny used to have it in pride of place in her good room, so can't really picture scalding it with boiling water. The outside is painted pink with those weird old fashioned dressed people painted on, like you used to get on crockery in the olden days.

Dial Hard

The teapot in my home house (where I'm currently lockdown-ing) is genuinely older than me (I'm 39) and has never been washed that I've seen. It's a stainless steel warhorse that'll probably get left to someone in the will.

It's used every single day. Rinsed after and scalded before every use, but never washed.