Drink that will leave wooden floors shining instantly - and you may already own
Home cleaning experts have shared the easiest way to get your floors sparkling without buying expensive floor cleaners - and it's all thanks to one natural drink
No one enjoys the chore of cleaning floors, but it can be seriously satisfying to see them sparkling afterwards. Now, cleaning gurus have found one specific natural drink that can make your floors instantly shiny without the need to scrub away.
According to home experts at Apartment Therapy, black tea is an all-natural cleaning method that will help clean wooden floors without any hassle. Best of all, you're more than likely to already have a few tea bags in your cupboard. Not only will it make life easier, but it's also budget-friendly.
Black tea contains tannic acid, which can help gently clean wood surfaces. The experts explained, "Tannins in the tea add a light, warm 'stain' and help to bring out the wood's natural warm tones
Besides its beautifying qualities, black tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant contains polyphenolic compounds that prevent microbial growth", as reported by Nottingham Live.
In order to incorporate it into your cleaning routine, you first of all need to remove any dust and debris by sweeping or vacuuming your floors before mopping. To create the tea floor cleaner, you'll need to bring half a gallon of water to a boil in a large pot.
Once the water reaches a rolling boil, remove it from the heat and place eight bags of black tea in the hot water for ten to 15 minutes. After brewing, squeeze any remaining liquid out of the tea bags before discarding them.
The best part is that while you've got your kettle on, you can make yourself a brew to enjoy after all your hard work. Allow your floor cleaning mixture to cool a little until it is lukewarm, then, once cooled, dunk a clean cloth into the mixture and wring it out thoroughly.
It's advised to test the solution on a small part of the floor to make sure it doesn't cause your floor to discolour or damage. If it seems to be fine, start rubbing the soaked cloth in the natural direction of the wood grain, and it's important not to use excessive amounts of liquid.
This is because wooden floors should never be drenched, as too much moisture can cause warping or damage over time.
Gently work the cloth into areas with light scratches or wear. Depending on the tone of your floor, you may want to adjust the number of tea bags used.
Four to six tea bags should suffice for lighter wood, while ten to 12 bags may be needed for darker floors to achieve a deeper, richer effect. The solution can be stored and used for up to 24 hours after brewing.
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Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Drink that will leave wooden floors shining instantly - and you may already own
Home cleaning experts have shared the easiest way to get your floors sparkling without buying expensive floor cleaners - and it's all thanks to one natural drink No one enjoys the chore of cleaning floors, but it can be seriously satisfying to see them sparkling afterwards. Now, cleaning gurus have found one specific natural drink that can make your floors instantly shiny without the need to scrub away. According to home experts at Apartment Therapy, black tea is an all-natural cleaning method that will help clean wooden floors without any hassle. Best of all, you're more than likely to already have a few tea bags in your cupboard. Not only will it make life easier, but it's also budget-friendly. Black tea contains tannic acid, which can help gently clean wood surfaces. The experts explained, "Tannins in the tea add a light, warm 'stain' and help to bring out the wood's natural warm tones Besides its beautifying qualities, black tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant contains polyphenolic compounds that prevent microbial growth", as reported by Nottingham Live. In order to incorporate it into your cleaning routine, you first of all need to remove any dust and debris by sweeping or vacuuming your floors before mopping. To create the tea floor cleaner, you'll need to bring half a gallon of water to a boil in a large pot. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, remove it from the heat and place eight bags of black tea in the hot water for ten to 15 minutes. After brewing, squeeze any remaining liquid out of the tea bags before discarding them. The best part is that while you've got your kettle on, you can make yourself a brew to enjoy after all your hard work. Allow your floor cleaning mixture to cool a little until it is lukewarm, then, once cooled, dunk a clean cloth into the mixture and wring it out thoroughly. It's advised to test the solution on a small part of the floor to make sure it doesn't cause your floor to discolour or damage. If it seems to be fine, start rubbing the soaked cloth in the natural direction of the wood grain, and it's important not to use excessive amounts of liquid. This is because wooden floors should never be drenched, as too much moisture can cause warping or damage over time. Gently work the cloth into areas with light scratches or wear. Depending on the tone of your floor, you may want to adjust the number of tea bags used. Four to six tea bags should suffice for lighter wood, while ten to 12 bags may be needed for darker floors to achieve a deeper, richer effect. The solution can be stored and used for up to 24 hours after brewing.
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Telegraph
The eight health benefits of your daily cup of tea
It's true that us Britons are – and always have been – a nation of tea drinkers. In fact, a third of us imbibe between four to five cups a day. Tea comes from the Camellia sinensis plant and is often blended with other plants for different flavours, such as Earl Grey or chai. Whatever blend you choose, these are some of the surprising health benefits found in your humble cup of tea: Health benefits of tea 1. Antioxidant properties 'Tea is rich in polyphenols – natural bioactive plant compounds – that have antioxidant effects in the body,' says Dr Carrie Ruxton, a dietician from the Tea Advisory Panel. 'Getting enough antioxidants in the diet from fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and drinks is important for fighting the effects of ageing and modern lifestyles which cause damage to cells (via oxidation of cell membranes).' Green or black tea – containing antioxidants and compounds that may help reduce inflammation in the body – is commonly seen as superior for our health, but don't worry if you can't bear it without a drop of the white stuff. 'It is a health myth that adding milk to tea reduces the health effects of a cup of tea,' says Dr Ruxton. 'Research studies have found inconsistent results for aspects like antioxidant effects or polyphenol levels in the blood. This is because polyphenols in tea are not absorbed in the small intestine but are acted on by gut bacteria in the colon. As a result, there is no evidence that adding milk has a negative impact on the health benefits of tea. In fact, for women, adding milk to your tea provides other health benefits as it will add to calcium intakes which protect bone density'. 2. Supports heart health 'Tea is good for the heart on a couple of levels,' says Ruxton. 'The polyphenols, specifically flavan-3-ols – part of the flavonoid family – have positive effects on vascular function, which helps blood flow more easily through blood vessels, making them more elastic and reducing blood pressure. A lower blood pressure helps to reduce our risk of stroke and heart attack (myocardial infarction).' Gunter Kuhnle is a professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Reading. He says that the flavanols, found in tea, have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease so much that there is even a recommendation by the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to consume 400-600 mg per day. 'We tried to convert this into normal foods – and that's roughly three cups of green or eight cups of black tea a day,' says Prof Kuhnle. Drinking three cups of black tea a day for six months significantly lowered blood pressure by 2-3 mmHg, it was found in a clinical trial. This is the equivalent effect on blood pressure of losing 2-3 kilos of weight. Ruxton says the polyphenols may also aid heart health by helping to lower 'bad' LDL cholesterol, and when Harvard University carried out a large survey on tea drinkers, it found that people who have at least 3-4 cups a day are less likely to have a heart attack. 3. May improve gut health We've all become increasingly aware of the importance of gut health – but not all of us fancy drinking kefir or kombucha. Happily, a tea bag is much cheaper and will also bring some benefits to our bellies. Several natural foods are prebiotic, meaning they promote healthier species of bacteria in the gut, says Ruxton, and tea – both green and black – is one of these special foods. 'Having a healthy gut microbiota has been linked with a lower risk of constipation, inflammatory bowel disease and respiratory infections, as well as a more balanced immune system.' She explains this is because the polyphenols in tea are mostly not digested in the upper intestine, they instead pass through to the colon (large intestine) where they are broken down by the gut bacteria for food. 'The 'friendly' bacteria in the gut tend to be the ones that prefer to use polyphenols, and so regular tea drinking promotes these species.' 4. Lowers blood sugar Daily consumption of tea has been linked with a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. A study in Nutrition Research reported that people drinking more than four cups daily had a 17 per cent reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The effects of tea may be due to the polyphenols which promote the uptake of glucose by cells and have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects.' 5. May reduce the risk of cancer There are more than 100 different types of cancer, and of course some are not preventable. But even so, the polyphenols found in black tea may help slow the development of certain types of cancer and promote cancer cell death. 'Large observational studies suggest that people who regularly consume green or black tea have a lower risk of cancer, particularly bowel cancer,' says Ruxton. There are no clinical trials in humans to prove a causal effect, she admits, so we can't tell whether tea drinkers have healthier lifestyles (for instance they drink less alcohol and more fruit and vegetables) or 'whether tea is having anti-cancer effects which have been suggested in animal and cell studies'. But tea drinking has also been linked in studies with a lower risk of oral cancer, and cancers of the breast, ovaries, lungs, and thyroid. Interestingly, a study found that those drinking the highest amounts of green tea specifically had a 22 per cent reduced risk of endometrial cancer. 6. Helps us concentrate When we need to focus and feel more alert, coffee is normally our go-to beverage. But don't overlook the boost tea offers – and it is less likely to give you the jitters. 'Tea contains around 40-50mg of caffeine, which is half the amount found in coffee,' says Ruxton. 'Caffeine is well known for promoting memory, alertness and concentration. However, tea is uniquely high in an amino acid called 'L-theanine' which works in combination with caffeine to produce a feeling of 'calm concentration'. 'This has been proven by studies which have found that L-theanine lowers stress and improves mental focus under challenging working conditions'. 7. Can improve sleep Herbal tea infusions containing camomile have long been linked to a good night's sleep, but interestingly, studies by the Tea Advisory Panel (TAP) found that two cups of even regular tea can aid sleep quality – perhaps because the ritual of drinking it relieves stress. The active compounds in tea that could help send us to the Land of Nod include polyphenols, L-theanine, theaflavins, thearubigins and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Both L-theanine, an amino acid, and GABA have direct effects on the brain, helping to activate pathways that lower stress and create calm and relaxation. 8. Promotes mental wellbeing 'Flavanols have been shown to improve cognitive function, and there is some data from a larger study that support this,' says Prof Kuhnle. But in terms of improving mental health, he suspects that the social aspect of making tea and sitting together to drink is probably the biggest thing at play here – which is certainly important for our emotional wellbeing and mood. It's been proven many times, after all, that happier people live longer. Black tea vs green tea Black and green tea are processed in slightly different ways – with the former being rolled and then oxidised (exposed to air), and the latter not being oxidised. This means black tea leaves tend to turn dark brown whilst green tea leaves remain green. They are subtly different in their caffeine and antioxidant content, however one isn't significantly healthier than the other. Green tea contains slightly less caffeine than black tea (about 29mg per cup compared to 47mg) and slightly more L-theanine which means it may be better for relaxation. It also contains more antioxidants, including the potent epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which is responsible for many of its health benefits. A 2022 study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences found its presence in green tea drives its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Meanwhile, black tea contains a group of polyphenols called theaflavins which offer many health benefits related to their antioxidant ability. They can protect fat cells from damage, whilst one 2022 review found they can also lower blood sugar and are beneficial for gut bacteria. Black tea's higher caffeine content means it may be more beneficial for those needing an energy boost.
BBC News
03-05-2025
- BBC News
Health benefits and hype of dis green tea dey explained by expert
If you neva see picture of pesin wey hold cup of dis green coloured tea on social media – you probably need to refresh your feed. Di drink in question? Na matcha. From TikTok to Instagram, influencers don help to boost di drink popularity, leaving Gen Z consumers to dey queue for cafes to get a taste. But matcha dey far from new. E dey widely produced in Japan, di green tea powder na centuries-old staple, wey dey deeply rooted inside Japanese tradition and dem dey typically serve am for tea ceremonies country. In recent years, e don see a modern twist, e dey often appear in hot and iced lattes, desserts and even skincare products. Matcha na a type of green tea made from specially grown leaves of di Camellia sinensis plant. Unlike regular green tea, wey dem dey make from loose leaves or tea bags, dem dey whisk finely ground matcha powder inside hot water or milk. "Green tea dey well-studied for im health benefits, and matcha na just a more concentrated version, but more studies need to be done on potential benefits," Miranda Galati, one Canadian registered dietitian tok. But matcha dey as good for us as social media make am be like? Di health benefits of matcha Matcha dey rich in antioxidants – substances wey dey help protect your body from cell damage and lower di risk of chronic diseases. One study published by scientists from Konkuk University for Seoul find say matcha contain up to 10 times more antioxidants dan regular green tea. Green tea and matcha dey closely related, green tea dey help wit weight loss due to im high level of antioxidants. Studies show say green tea dey help increase your metabolism and fat burning, e dey helped by im high levels of caffeine. A typical serving of matcha latte (one teaspoon of matcha powder) contain around 38-176mg of caffeine. Dis na less caffeine dan a typical cup of coffee. However, Galati say matcha fit get a more slightly 'calming effect' dan coffee due to im L-theanine content according to sabi pipo. "Di amino acid inside matcha fit get benefits for di nervous system, helping with stress relief, anxiety ease and reduce insomnia," she tok. Some studies don link some of di compounds for matcha – including antioxidants and oda components like chlorophyll, caffeine and L-theanine – wit improved brain function. Caffeine dey known to act on di central nervous system, increasing metabolism throughout di brain, as well as heightening alertness and your memory. Research wey University of Shizuoka conduct for Japan suggest say matcha fit offer cognitive benefits. Di study, wey dem publish for di National Library of Medicine, involve 12 elderly participants—two men and ten women—wey consume two grams of green tea powder daily over a two-month period. Di findings indicate signs of improved brain function. But e no dey all good Like wit all sources of caffeine, E dey best to consume matcha in moderation. Matcha contain more caffeine dan green tea and excessive caffeine intake fit get negative effect such as anxiety, insomnia and increased heart rate. Caffeine increase your alertness, wey fit dey seen as beneficial. However, consuming too much fit trigger di release of adrenaline ("fight-or-flight" hormone), wey dey temporarily increase energy but fit also lead to feelings of anxiety or stress. Di recommended maximum daily caffeine intake for adults na 400mg, wey mean say e dey advised to only drink no more dan one or two cups of matcha latte per day. For those wey dey sensitive to caffeine, matcha fit be beta option as e contain less caffeine dan coffee, and im L-theanine content dey help reduce caffeine absorption. Wetin be 'dirty matcha'? Dirty matcha na shot of espresso added on top of di milk and matcha blend. But other dan di change in taste, shey dis na too much caffeine inside one cup? While di dirty matcha combine di alertness from caffeine wit di calming properties of matcha, nutritionists say di mixture fit still spike your adrenaline. However, dem argue say e dey do so in a "cleaner" way, as di caffeine dey gradually released due to di L-theanine. Like drinking one matcha latte, nutritionists advise limiting intake to one cup of dis a day. A note on quality Wit matcha gaining increased popularity in recent years, more dan half of Japan matcha now, dem dey export am internationally. Some reports don even predict say increased demand it leafd to a shortage of matcha both for Japan and globally. In response to di rising demand, Japanese tea companies Ippodo Tea and Marukyu Koyamaen don announce purchasing limits on matcha for di first time. According to Japan Ministry of Agriculture, di country produce 4,176 tons of matcha for 2023 – almost three times di amount for010. But as matcha become more mainstream, so also di difference in quality. "Di quality of matcha powder fit different," Galati wey dey run di online nutrition platform Real Life Nutritionist warn. "If you dey drink am for potential health benefits, make sure say na from a trusted source." Some cafe versions fit contain ingredients such as added sugars, flavourings or sweeteners, wey fit undermine im health benefits.
