Stains are the bane of many households, and for those who are partial to a cup of tea or coffee, mugs can quickly become coated with persistent marks. Tea and coffee lovers are all too familiar with finding a stubborn dark ring stain at the bottom of a mug after finishing a brew. Such discolouration in cups is almost part of the charm of a well-used mug, yet it’s not something that has to be permanent.

The culprit behind these stains inside ceramic cups or mugs are tannins - a type of plant compound naturally present in various foodstuffs and drinks, including tea, coffee, chocolate, and wine. Jade Hampton shared a cleaning tip on the Mrs Hinch Army Cleaning Tips Facebook group to remove stains from cups.

Accompanying her post with a before-and-after snapshot of the mug, alongside the cleaning agent she employed, Jade wrote: “My Partner’s work cup before and after.”

Recounting the mug’s history, she added: “Had 20 years worth of tea stains (we live in a hard water area) and had tried bleach, soda crystals, baking soda and white vinegar to no avail.”

She then triumphantly revealed her solution: “Just one tablespoon of Astonish Clean and Revive powder works in 30 seconds and far better than bleach.”

Seeing the virtually unrecognisable results was astonishing, particularly considering the longevity of the stains, two decades of tea drinking encapsulated in one cup.

Howard Moss, Chief Executive at Astonish, has previously informed Express.co.uk about the prowess of the Clean and Revive powder, which impresses with its effortless application.

He claimed: “The specially tailored formula is made to banish ingrained stains with minimal effort.

“No scrubbing is required for an easy clean. Leaves no residue and no smell. Simply add a tablespoon and hot water and leave until cool.”

Astonish Specialist Clean and Revive is specifically designed for “tea and coffee cups, teapots, flasks plus much more”.

It's formulated to “banish ingrained stains that dishwashers leave behind, restoring items to like new”.

Alternatively, you could try using baking soda to remove tea stains from cups. Simply add some baking soda to the mug, pour in some boiling water and allow it to sit for five minutes before emptying.

Use a damp sponge and a small amount of washing-up liquid to wipe inside the cup to remove the stains. The baking soda should have softened the stains enough that you don't need to scrub.