Wooden floors are popular in homes as they are usually easier to clean than carpets, but in summer, they can get surprisingly dirty even if you are vacuuming them regularly. It might sound strange, but dust is lighter and more airborne in summer because the hot air has less humidity to weigh it down.
Dry air also causes wood to build up static electricity, which makes dust and other debris stick to the surface to create a gritty layer that acts like sandpaper to wears down the finish. However, the experts at Luxury Living Fort Lauderdale have shared a simple way to keep your wooden floors clean and restore their natural shine as all you need are some teabags.
They said: “Throughout history, black tea has been used to mop hardwood floors. The tanic acid in black tea helps clean and add shine otherwise dull, old flooring”
Black tea is an old-school method to clean wooden floors as they contain a substance called tannins, which is acidic so it can easily cut through dirt, dust and grease build up.
It naturally shines wood to make the floor look polished and also slightly darken minor scratches to help make them less noticeable.
Tea cannot fill in a deep scratch to make it disappear, but it helps make a surface level scratch blend it to the surrounding wood to improve the floor’s overall appearance.
How to clean a wooden floor with tea bags
You will need:
- A kettle (or pot)
- Five to six tea bags
- A mop bucket
Method:
All you need to do is fill up a kettle, (or a pot) and wait until the water has boiled. When the water is boiling hot, pour it into a heatproof bowl and add five to six teabags.
Leave the bowl alone for 10 to 15 minutes until the water is completely cool and safe to handle. If the water is still hot, you can add a few ice cubes to quickly make the water cold.
Then, remove the teabags and carefully pour the mixture into your mop bucket. Use the solution to mop the floor like you normally would.
Make sure to wring out the mop each time you use it on the floor, and then let the floor dry. Your floor should be completely clean and look better-maintained without having to spend money or use a harsh chemical cleaner.