After prolonged use, if you don’t regularly clean your Yixing purple clay teapot, thick layers of tea stains and grime will accumulate both inside and out. This not only ruins the teapot’s appearance but also poses potential health risks. What’s more, the longer the dirt lingers, the harder it is to remove. Many people ask how to restore their teapots to their original clean state. The truth is, no cleaning method can make a well-used teapot look brand new again—the key is to maintain its cleanliness regularly. Rinse the teapot thoroughly inside and out with clean water after each use, then let it air-dry naturally.

If the above routine cleaning doesn’t get rid of stubborn stains, you may resort to stain-removing products as a last resort (use with caution).

Step-by-Step Deep Cleaning Guide

1. Submerge the teapot in a large container filled with warm water, ensuring the water level covers most of the pot but doesn’t fully immerse it.
2. Many people use 84 disinfectant to tackle tough teapot stains, but since the teapot is used daily for drinking, it’s safer to opt for denture cleaning tablets instead. Place 1–2 tablets inside the teapot and 2–3 tablets in the surrounding water. Adjust the quantity based on the severity of the stains—foaming will occur during soaking.
3. After soaking for 24 hours, scrub the teapot thoroughly inside and out with a kitchen scouring pad or foam sponge to wipe away all grime, then rinse it well with clean water.
4. If you still think the teapot isn’t clean enough after step 3, squeeze a small amount of toothpaste onto a toothbrush, apply it to the teapot’s surface, let it sit for 10–15 minutes, then scrub and rinse again.
5. For sculpted teapots with intricate shapes and detailed carvings, use an interdental toothbrush or a sewing needle to clean hard-to-reach crevices.
6. Finally, rinse the teapot inside and out several times with boiling water, or boil it in clean water for a while to eliminate any residual cleaning product odor. Your well-loved Yixing teapot will then look fresh and revitalized.

Important Note: Dishwasher Compatibility

Yixing purple clay teapots should never be cleaned in a dishwasher. The high temperature, strong water pressure, and chemical detergents in dishwashers can damage the porous clay structure, strip away the natural patina developed from years of tea brewing, and even cause cracks in the teapot. Hand cleaning is the only safe way to preserve the teapot’s quality and longevity.