How to clean your stainless steel strainerUpdated 2 months ago

Stainless steel it's durable and built to last. But chai leaves behind oils and tannins that can stain—just like coffee does to your favourite mug.

The good news? You can always get it back to looking completely clean. It just takes the right approach.

For everyday cleaning—soak right after use while the strainer is still warm.

This stops residue from setting in. Then scrub with regular dish detergent and the rough side of a sponge. This should keep things manageable between deeper cleans.

For stubborn residue and staining Bar Keeper's Friend is your best pal

It's a gentle abrasive cleaner that works brilliantly on stainless steel and will remove even the most stubborn staining. Without it, getting all the staining off can be really challenging. Think of it like trying to deep-clean coffee equipment—it's just one of those things that needs the right product.

Your dishwasher will work fine for regular maintenance

But hand washing tends to be more effective at tackling chai residue—especially if your dishwasher runs at a lower temperature or is less powerful.

How clean it needs to be is completely up to you

Some light staining won't affect performance at all, and it's a natural part of making chai. But if you want your strainer looking like new, Bar Keeper's Friend should do the trick.