People are cleaning their hardwood floors with black tea — I asked experts if it’s a good idea

I’ve recently replaced my original wooden floorboards with a sleek new hardwood floor. I love that there’s no longer any gaps for cold air to seep through — it makes a big difference at this time of year. That said, I do worry about keeping it pristine and figuring out the best way to clean my hardwood floor without causing any damage.

I currently use a wet and dry vacuum to clean up the dust and mop my floor in one go, but it turns out there’s another solution hiding in my pantry. Besides making a fresh brew each morning, black tea can also be used to clean hardwood floors.

Why black tea?

I was curious to learn why black tea makes an effective and natural hardwood floor cleaner.

“Black tea contains tannins, organic compounds that act as gentle astringents," explains Sara Aparacio, cle