"Black tea sounds intriguing though...I might actually give that a go next weekend."
Tried black tea last month and honestly, it's great—cheap, easy, and smells amazing. Just don't expect miracles on deeper scratches or stains...but for general shine, it's a winner in my book.
Black tea's decent for quick shine-ups, but a couple things to keep in mind:
- It's mildly acidic, which helps remove grime lightly and brighten the finish.
- Won't tackle deeper issues like scratches or stubborn stains (as mentioned earlier), so manage expectations.
- Avoid soaking the floor—just damp mop lightly and dry immediately afterward to protect the wood.
"cheap, easy, and smells amazing"
Agreed on this completely...definitely a bonus compared to chemical cleaners.
Black tea's a neat trick, but honestly, I've found it works best as a quick refresh rather than a regular go-to. A few years back, I had a client who swore by it—she loved the smell and the idea of avoiding harsh chemicals. But after a while, she noticed her floors looking a bit duller than usual. Turns out, she'd been using tea exclusively and skipping any deeper cleaning or conditioning.
"Won't tackle deeper issues like scratches or stubborn stains"
Exactly this. Tea's great for a quick spruce-up before guests arrive (and yeah, the scent is lovely), but every now and then you'll still need something more substantial to maintain the wood's health and shine. Personally, I alternate between tea for quick cleans and a gentle wood-specific cleaner every month or so. Keeps things balanced without too much fuss or buildup.
Interesting points about tea...I tried it myself for a few months, and while the scent was definitely nice, I wasn't totally sold on the shine factor. Maybe it's just my floors (they're pretty old), but I found that tea left behind a kind of subtle residue after repeated use. Nothing terrible, but noticeable enough to bug me.
What ended up working better for me was actually diluted vinegar mixed with water—sounds harsh, I know, but hear me out. I only use a tiny amount of vinegar, like maybe a tablespoon in a bucket of warm water. It cuts through grime nicely without stripping the finish or leaving buildup. Been doing it every couple weeks for almost two years now, and my floors look pretty good considering their age.
I do agree though—tea's great if you're in a pinch and need something quick before company comes over. But for regular maintenance, I've personally found vinegar-water to be more effective (and cheaper!) than most commercial cleaners I've tried.
I've tried the vinegar-water thing too, and honestly, it does work pretty well. But man, that smell...my place ends up smelling like a salad bar for hours afterward, haha. I've been experimenting lately with a few drops of essential oil (like lemon or lavender) mixed into the vinegar solution to mask it a bit. Anyone else find a good trick to tone down the vinegar scent without losing its cleaning power?
