It seems that going green can also include black and the occasional orange pekoe. If you’re looking for some organic alternatives to clean your home, consider some of these tricks for using tea as a green household cleaner.
Tea is surprisingly effective for cleaning and removing stubborn stains from hardwood floors, garden tools, windows and mirrors and deodorizing. Here are a few ways to clean and deodorize your home using tea:
Cleaning Hardwood Floors using Black Tea
To keep your wood floor looking new and shiny at all times, make a tannic liquid by steeping 5-6 black tea bags in a pot of water.
- Bring a full pot of water to a boil
- Remove from heat, and add 5-6 black tea bags
- Allow to steep for 10 minutes
- Pour the tea mixture into your mob bucket and damp mop the floors
Cleaning Rusted Garden Tools using Tea
Make two pots of really strong black tea. Soak the tools in the cooled mixture for a few hours and then remove and wipe with a cloth.
- Bring a full pot of water to a boil
- Remove from heat, and add 8 black tea bags
- Cool and pour into a large bucket
- Soak your tools, then wipe with a damp cloth
Voila, you can go back to decorating your patio or puttering in the garden almost immediately!
Deodorizing with Green Tea
Used green tea leaves, dried after steeping, have strong deodorizing properties. Sprinkle the dried tea leaves in with fresh or sprinkle on a carpet, let sit for 5-10 minutes, and then vacuum. Make sure they are thoroughly dried before using so that they don’t stain the carpet.
- Bring a full pot of water to a boil
- Add a cup of loose green tea leaves
- Allow to steep for 10 minutes
- Drain and place the leaves out to dry
- Sprinkle the dried tea leaves on upholstery or carpet, or place a bowl in the refrigerator
You can also place used tea bags (once they’ve thoroughly dried out, of course) inside old sneakers to help absorb and eliminate odors!
Removing Toilet Stains with Old Tea Bags
Drop used tea bags into the toilet bowl, allow them to sit for a few hours then, flush, brush the flush again. Caution is warned with this to not repeat too frequently, as tea can also leave stains of its own over time.
Cleaning Windows and Mirrors with Tea
Similar to methods using Vinegar or Lemon, cold-brewed tea can be placed in a spray bottle and used to make windows and mirrors shine. Or, you can even just use the used tea bags themselves. Even Bob Villa knows that tea bags can quickly and easily remove stubborn grease marks and fingerprints from mirrors, windows, and other glass surfaces. Simply take a damp tea bag and run it over the glass surface. When you’re done, wipe it clean with a paper towel. Without Windex, you’ll see your glass and mirrors sparkle!
Always Test Your Tea Before Cleaning
Although the Internet is a great source for unique ideas, including tips on how to clean using tea. But no idea is universally good. What may work in one home may end up being a disaster in another. Always test new cleaning methods on a small, hidden spot to check for discoloration or other negative side effects. It may not ever happen, but it’s always better safe than sorry.