Cleaning floors is a meticulous and labor-intensive chore. Wood floors are particularly challenging, as they can become scratched, faded, and lose their shine over time.

Cleaning expert Kristina Rak (USA) says she regularly uses brewed black tea to clean natural wood floors. "Tea disinfects, removes dust, and adds shine. I haven’t seen dust return for at least a month," she shared.

Cleaning floors with black tea leaves them shiny, clean, and dust-free for several weeks. Photo: The Sun

Cleaning floors with black tea leaves them shiny, clean, and dust-free for several weeks. Photo: The Sun

The recipe is simple: Boil 8 black tea bags (for example, Lipton) with about 4 liters of water. Steep for 10-15 minutes, let it cool, and then use it to clean the floor as usual.

Kristina notes that for medium brown wood floors, 8 tea bags are sufficient to enhance the wood's color. For lighter floors, she recommends 5-6 tea bags, while darker floors may benefit from 10-12.

How does black tea work for cleaning wood floors?

Black tea's effectiveness lies in its polyphenols, especially tannins, which inhibit bacteria and act as a natural disinfectant. The mild acidity of tannins also helps break down grease on the floor's surface, acting as an organic, non-harmful cleaning agent.

Besides cleaning, tannins leave a characteristic light brown layer (similar to tea stains on a cup) that enhances the natural color of the wood and adds a warm shine without causing slipperiness or leaving a cloudy residue like many industrial cleaners.

This is also a trick used by the British Royal Family. A former royal palace cleaner revealed that black tea is used to clean the wood and tile floors in the palace.

This method is especially suitable for natural wood floors or high-end tile surfaces. For engineered wood floors, the expert advises against using tea, as it can cause mold and damage the surface.

Bao Nhien (The Sun/Daily Express)