Home cleaning experts have shared the easiest way to get your floors sparkling without buying expensive floor cleaners – and it’s all thanks to one natural drink
No one enjoys the chore of cleaning floors, but it can be seriously satisfying to see them sparkling afterwards. Now, cleaning gurus have found one specific natural drink that can make your floors instantly shiny without the need to scrub away.
According to home experts at Apartment Therapy, black tea is an all-natural cleaning method that will help clean wooden floors without any hassle. Best of all, you’re more than likely to already have a few tea bags in your cupboard. Not only will it make life easier, but it’s also budget-friendly.
Black tea contains tannic acid, which can help gently clean wood surfaces. The experts explained, “Tannins in the tea add a light, warm ‘stain’ and help to bring out the wood’s natural warm tones
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Besides its beautifying qualities, black tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant contains polyphenolic compounds that prevent microbial growth”, as reported by Nottingham Live.
In order to incorporate it into your cleaning routine, you first of all need to remove any dust and debris by sweeping or vacuuming your floors before mopping. To create the tea floor cleaner, you’ll need to bring half a gallon of water to a boil in a large pot.
Once the water reaches a rolling boil, remove it from the heat and place eight bags of black tea in the hot water for ten to 15 minutes. After brewing, squeeze any remaining liquid out of the tea bags before discarding them.
The best part is that while you’ve got your kettle on, you can make yourself a brew to enjoy after all your hard work. Allow your floor cleaning mixture to cool a little until it is lukewarm, then, once cooled, dunk a clean cloth into the mixture and wring it out thoroughly.
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It’s advised to test the solution on a small part of the floor to make sure it doesn’t cause your floor to discolour or damage. If it seems to be fine, start rubbing the soaked cloth in the natural direction of the wood grain, and it’s important not to use excessive amounts of liquid.
This is because wooden floors should never be drenched, as too much moisture can cause warping or damage over time.
Gently work the cloth into areas with light scratches or wear. Depending on the tone of your floor, you may want to adjust the number of tea bags used.
Four to six tea bags should suffice for lighter wood, while ten to 12 bags may be needed for darker floors to achieve a deeper, richer effect. The solution can be stored and used for up to 24 hours after brewing.
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