A novel approach to the removal of coffee and tea stains from dishes is disclosed. Tea, coffee and other stains caused by tannins are particularly difficult to remove and traditional techniques include harsh treatments that use bleach, or other environmentally undesirable chemicals such as phosphates, EDTA, NTA or other aminocarboxylates. Applicants have found that an acid rinse prior to alkaline cleaning of stained dishware such as ceramics porcelain and the like can remove up to one hundred percent of even aged coffee and tea stains.
