How do you remove the tea barnacles from tea basket infusers?
After I’ve been using a tea basket infuser for a while, it likes to collect tea particles over time, to the point where the tea while I’m steeping doesn’t drain out very quickly. The only thing I tried is scrubbing the basket with a toothbrush (a toothbrush just for my tea baskets!) But that doesn’t seem to work. Any suggestions?
Yes, let it dry out entirely and then scrub it dry. The particles will contract in volume when dry.
I use a product called PBW (powdered brewery wash). It’s used to clean beer making products, but works extremely well with teaware. I’ve used it on all of my mesh infusers as well as gaiwans. Its available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/PBW-Five-Star-2-oz/dp/B006O2E5X6/
Might I ask where you live? Because it sounds like you have more than tea barnacles going on, that sounds like hard water trapping the tea barnacles, you might need to soak it in vinegar for a bit and dissolves the minerals before the tea will come out.
I live in Vegas, and we have the hardest hard water… like die hard hard! So yeah this is a persistent problem. I dont brew with it, we have an RO system, but cleaning the teaware, I use regular water and this has cropped up time to time and dont ask what’s happened to my brother’s coffee maker…. you really dont want to know.
I don’t think it’s a water problem with me… I think this will just happen to an infuser when I’ve used it a billion times and only scrub it with water and a toothbrush. haha. I just figure I should do more.
Is this the infuser to a tea pot or just a mug tea infuser? If it was just a mug infuser I would probably just get a new one they can be found for really cheap online, only $3 or $4 in some cases. This cheap price if on Aliexpress or EBay also will probably come with free shipping.
It’s one of the mesh baskets for a mug, like the Finum type. I guess I should have explained better. I don’t mind replacing the infuser, but I try to be less wasteful when I can. I just thought there might be a way to clean the infusers I wasn’t aware of.
A product that Mandala Tea used to sell might work I think it is called smart soak. Problem is Mandala Tea is still offline and it would cost you more to buy the smart soak than to purchase a new infuser. I think the cheapest I have seen them is on Aliexpress. This one is less than $2.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/11-9-7-8cm-Stainless-Steel-Mesh-Tea-Infuser-Reusable-Tea-Strainer-Loose-Tea-Leaf-Spice/32675785830.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.102.axZMry&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10065_10068_10000032_119_10000025_10000029_430_10000028_10060_10062_10056_10055_10000062_10054_10059_10099_10000022_10000012_10103_10102_10000015_10096_10000018_10000019_10000056_10000059_10052_10053_10107_10050_10106_10051_10000053_10000007_10000050_10084_10083_10000047_10080_10082_10081_10110_10111_10112_10113_10114_10115_10000041_10000044_10078_10079_10000038_429_10073_10000035_10121-10102,searchweb201603_9,afswitch_1,single_sort_3_default&btsid=a3724cf4-100e-427e-b5ae-8b192132a613
If the infuser in question is metal, have you tried an abrasive cleaner like a brillo pad? If it is metal it shouldn’t hurt it.
Oh wow, that infuser IS cheap. As to my current infuser, I think it’s metal but is is such a fine mesh that a brillo pad might make it fall apart (especially from the plastic parts.)
My view is it is nice to conserve and reuse things but when a new one is that cheap it makes more sense to put one more tea infuser in a landfill. On the other hand it will probably be recyclable if it is metal you just have to find somewhere they accept metal recyclables.
I own that infuser, bought it last year on AliExpress. It is basically a thin smooth sheet of machine perforated metal – doesn’t look like it should get clogged over time and appears easy enough to clean, but I cannot be sure as I haven’t used used it yet since I normally strain after brewing rather than use one during (except when using infuser mugs and similar stuff that come with their own infusers).
I know tartar sauce works to soften tannins, the dark brown residue. No idea if it works on limescale as well. Spread it on like a paste, let it sit for ten minutes and then wipe it off with a cloth or sponge. You may have to apply a bit of pressure.
I think my problem is just a buildup of tannins. But TARTAR SAUCE? The stuff with the pickles in it, right? Won’t that get stuck in my infuser? haha.
I was skeptical myself at first. I mean, it is such a strange idea! but something about the combo of oils and whatnot seems to work at loosening things up. It doesn’t really get stuck… but I do need to soak it in hot water for a little bit after, and I try to avoid having a prized tea as my next cup from a freshly “tartared” one. It has a very slight scent to it for maybe one or two cups after. But not enough for me to be annoyed haha.
I used to scrub my previous infusers really hard, with sponges and such. Eventually I found that my teas started to taste like metal. Not sure why. Maybe I rubbed off some kind of coating? I don’t know. But that was why I switched to tartar sauce :P
Oh and I do give it a light wash with soap, and a thorough rinsing.
Wow, well if you’ve tried it. See, this is why I asked about this in the forums. :D
The forums are quite the resource, that’s for sure! who knew fish products would be useful in something tea related :D
Definitely! I actually have some slightly expired tartar sauce I ALMOST threw out a couple days ago.
I still say give vinegar a try, its a strong acid that wont damage metal and wont leave bad tastes. And everyone has some in their kitchen already. And thinking about tartar sauce is mostly mayo and pickles. Mayo is vinegar and oil, the vinegar disolves stuck on food, and then the oil makes it slide off. I cant figure out what the pickles could do… other than agitation.. but it could be that.
Haha, yes. I know ketchup removes buildup on cooking pans making them shiny new, probably because of the vinegar.
Double whammy, tomato is even more acidic than vinegar, thats why you never leave tomato sauces in a non stick pan, it will actually eat away the coating.
If all else fails, try isopropyl alcohol and a toothbrush, then acetone (nail polish remover) and a toothbrush. Both solvents will wash away easily, but make sure you rinse thoroughly. Good luck!
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