I tried this weird vacuum cleaning hack to keep my home smelling fresh — but does it work?
Social media is full of useful, cleaning hacks, and the go-to place for the 'CleanTok' community to share their quick, "game changing" tips. And if you want to ensure a fresh-smelling home, this weird yet simple trick has been doing the rounds.
What's more, this involves a common, kitchen staple that is something you'd usually drink instead.
So what is this 'clever' vacuum hack?
This Shark model is a powerful cordless vacuum with HEPA filter. It also 30% lighter, with handy swivel steering to get into awkward spots. Its self-cleaning brush roll can quickly deep clean carpets and hardwood. And it comes with a handy self-emptying and charging base.
Yes, you did read that header right. It seems the humble tea bag can do so much more than just make a tasty morning brew.
According to cleaning experts, a teabag can keep your vacuum and home smelling fresh while you clean. This is because black tea contains natural tannins that can easily absorb odors and banish lingering smells.
"Tea bags work because their natural tannins neutralize odors," explains Ryan Fitzgerald, home expert and owner of Raleigh Realty. 'They absorb excess moisture that can lead to mold, and they're an eco-friendly, cost-effective way to freshen your home.
"A single tea bag, costing just 5 cents, can make a big difference, with black tea being most effective, while lavender or mint variants add a refreshing twist." What's more, this is cheaper than buying room freshener sprays or expensive scented candles.
So, I decided to get out my Dyson cordless vacuum, to find out if a teabag could actually freshen my home.
A post shared by Claire | SisterPledge (@sisterpledgecleans)
A photo posted by on
First, I placed a dry, unused black tea bag inside my vacuum dust canister, before vacuuming around the home.
At first, I didn't notice a difference in the air, and was beginning to think this was a waste of a good tea bag.
However, after five minutes, I could smell a subtle tea fragrance in the room, caused by the warm rush of air through the canister, which essentially helps the scent evaporate into the air while you clean.
Having said that, I wasn't overly impressed, and felt my scented candles did a much better job.
So I decided to put my own spin on it, and tried a fruit herbal tea bag instead. Soon enough, I could smell a pleasant, fruity aroma in the air. Result!
Cleaning experts recommend replacing the tea bag every 1–2 months for best results.
However, if you don't fancy using up your favorite tea bags for vacuuming, you could always invest in the best air purifiers. These are the ideal way to quickly improve the air quality in your home, and get rid of smelly odors.
Or you could try this other vacuum cleaner hack that involves drops of essential oils to cotton balls, and add to your dustbin. This will make your home smell amazing after vacuuming.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Great white shark spotted swimming near Maine beaches
A great white shark was spotted this week swimming in the area of Scarborough, Maine. (Credit: David Lancaster)
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I wasn't sure about 2-in-1 cleaners — until the Shark VacMop became my new go-to for quick and easy cleanups
When it comes to 2-in-1 cleaning, I've always been dubious. I worry that rather than mastering one objective, it becomes average at two (blame the experience I had with a washer/dryer). But, I'm relieved to say the Shark VacMop has proven me wrong. Armed with a cleaning solution, no-touch pads and effective suction for tackling debris, it's a slimline cleaning system that (almost) does it all. For anyone looking for a space-saving, multi-tasking vacuum cleaner for smaller spaces, it's an excellent choice. I've got two small kids, so having something to zip around, tackling the endless crumbs and spillages. has been a real timesaver. After two weeks of testing, it's become my go-to as opposed to hauling out my cord vacuum or spray mop in tandem to tackle all those messes. In the box, you get the Shark VacMop, 6 disposable VacMop pads and Shark's multi-surface cleaning solution (enough to fill your VacMop up once). So, after some rigorous testing the all-in-one starter kit, here's what you should know before you buy. The Shark VacMop is available through the Shark website for £99.99 in the UK and for $89.99 in the US. It's also available for $69.99 on Amazon, which is $20 cheaper. You can buy 30 replacement cleaning heads for $26 at Amazon, making the cost just under $1 per use. From the moment I pulled the Shark VacMop out of the box, it looked easy to assemble, and it was. There are three parts, which are already loosely attached after unboxing. All I had to do was click into place the handle, the body, and the head. If it seems like it's giving you resistance, flip it around the other way (or maybe that was just me). Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The VacMop is fairly slimline and compact, considering it's also a vacuum. That means I can easily prop it behind a door and out of the way. Plus, it only weighs 1.5kg, so it's easy to maneuver around my home, without too many strenuous lunges and pivots. But, while I found it a breeze to zip around with the VacMop, alternating between vacuum and mop, I would say that when it came to more stubborn stains, that's when the physical work increased. Once the cleaning solution is applied (with a quick squirt from the button on the handle), it's actually quite sticky, which adds more resistance to movement. But if you're only using it for a small-to-medium area, this is less of an issue. Durability-wise, I'm a bit of a bulldozer when it comes to cleaning. I like to lock in and get it done, and I'll admit, sometimes that leads to me hitting into the sides a little too aggressively or getting caught up on corners. I put the VacMop to the test with my rigorous cleaning regime and it actually held up really well. Judging by how slimline it is, I would've thought it might suffer a little from my cleaning sessions (which I'll admit are usually timed), but the head rotated with ease, and it slid around the corners with a grace that I wish I myself could have. But the best thing (and worst thing… we'll come to this later) about the VacMop is the no-touch disposable pads. It's hard to imagine that you can mop up and vacuum up crumbs, hair, and dirt with the same flat pad. But, it was incredibly easy to click into place and even easier to press the button to release it all into the bin afterwards. A design aspect I cannot fault. The Shark VacMop is made for hard floor cleaning. So, I tested it over two weeks in my kitchen, hallway, and bathroom, and I was pleasantly surprised. Having previously used a quick mop with removable and washable pads, I found it pushed crumbs around in front of it, or made me drag the vacuum around first. So, having the ability to effectively vacuum up the dirt and debris before running the mop over is a genius move by Shark. There are two buttons on the handle: one for releasing cleaning solution and one for vacuuming, and I'll admit I got a bit confused about which was which. Once I got going, though, I weaved between them with ease. I was a little hesitant about the fact that a disposable pad was somehow going to act as a container for all the crumbs, but I found that they didn't escape and were easily removed as part of the pad afterwards. I was also impressed at the VacMop's power. I tried it on a range of debris around my home, from dust to crumbs, and I was pleased with how it suctioned them up. I would say here, though, that if you have larger debris, you shouldn't expect the VacMop to do it all. It's not going to pick up the leaves your kid dragged in on the bottom of their shoe – I tried. For testing, I wanted to make sure I had some stubborn stains to pit the VacMop against. I tried out a stubborn yogurt stain and coffee stain to see how it fared. I'm happy to report, it did the job. It took me a couple of sprays of the cleaning solution and some fairly aggressive mopping to tackle the yogurt, but it was one of the hardier stains in my home, and now it's gone. For quicker stains and any spillages, though, it tackles them quickly. At times, I felt like I was putting in a lot of the work with the mopping, but I wouldn't say this experience is any different to other mops I've used. After all, even when I vacuum, my smartwatch thinks I'm doing a HIIT workout. What the VacMop promises to do is clean your hard floors, and it does exactly that (with a little oomph). Battery-wise, I charged up the VacMop before my first use and while it did last a few hours of testing, it did require a charge before I was done, and that took a while. If you're planning on tackling a larger home or space, this may not do the trick. And while the disposable pads are incredibly efficient and absorbent, they left enough cleaning solution on the floor to cover quite a wide area before I needed to spray anymore. Which, I'd love to add, also smells really nice. What I will say about the disposable pads though, is that whilst I love them for their ease-of-use and how it only took a press of a button to remove them, I do worry about how environmentally-friendly they are. I'll grumble about washing up my mop heads and removable pads, but ultimately, I'd rather run them through the washer than throw them away. Not just for the environment, but for the cost, which I'll get into below. When it comes to my hard floors, I've always opted to use my Shark corded vacuum to tackle crumbs, dust, hair, and more. But, it is a lot of faff to plug it in and run around with the cord lassoing my kids' feet. I've found since testing out the VacMop, this is now what I go-to for quick and easy cleanups, but is it worth the price? The fact that it's a vacuum and mop is the biggest selling point, and it absolutely deserves praise for how well it accomplishes both for the price. The problem is, while I might be inclined to spend £99.99, I wouldn't want to pay out for the consumables. It's £14.99/$15.99 for 16 pads on the Shark website, which is $1 a clean. While that doesn't sound like a lot, I wouldn't leave the dirty pad on there after every spillage and stain because of the grime it holds onto. So, with every quick clean, I'm not overly happy with spending $1. The cleaning solution for a bottle is a similar price, but I haven't run out of a full container yet. In fact, over two weeks of quick use and a full kitchen rub down, I've only used around a quarter of the fluid container. The VacMop is a great solution for quick cleans when you want to tackle both vacuuming and mopping in one go – and it's a real timesaver. But, when it comes down to expense and sustainability, you'll need to weigh up whether it's worth the investment. While I don't love the additional cost of the VacMop pads and cleaning solution, I'm not using it to clean my whole house, so I'm hopeful a little expense will cover a lot of small cleans. And the investment is worth it considering those pads lock away debris, rather than push it around, and scrub the floor at the same time. I also like how lightweight it is, given there's a whole vacuum built-in, and the cordless cleaning power is incredibly convenient. I will say that pushing it around my home became a bit of a workout, especially when scrubbing in the cleaning solution, but ultimately it's not a robot vacuum, so I shouldn't expect it to do all the hard work for me. If you're looking for a dual-purpose cleaner that'll take on the work of both your vacuum and mop, it's a great piece of kit. I really enjoyed using it and I'd be surprised if you couldn't find a place for it in your home, too.
WIRED
7 days ago
- WIRED
These Steam Mops Will Leave Your Floors Sparkling
Skip to main content Get those floors squeaky-clean faster with the help of these steamy gadgets. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Learn more. The best steam mop for you depends on a lot of different factors. How big is your space? How often do you clean your floors? Do you want a machine that vacuums, that self-cleans, or that simply swipes things down? I've spent three months testing three different machines, like my top pick—the Shark 3-in-1 Steam Pickup for $130. More testing is ongoing, but you'll find my favorites (so far!) below. I'll never go back to my spin mop again. Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including the Best Robot Vacuums, the Best Cordless Vacuums, and the Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies. The Shark Steam Pickup 3-in-1 Hard Floor Cleaner (SD201) is a great, well-rounded steam mop. It has built-in suction and a brush roll that efficiently picks up lint, crumbs, and other debris from the floor. I like that I didn't need to pre-sweep or bust out my vacuum cleaner. The steam output is satisfactory—particularly heavy-duty stuck-on messes might need a few seconds' worth of steam, but the mop usually cleaned my tile floors with a simple pass or two—and the machine is quiet while it works. I also like the long cord and the built-in light on the mop head. The edge support could be better—it struggles around tight spaces and baseboards—but overall, it's a very handy machine to have around. It includes a stand with a space for the brush roll to dry, and the machine is easy to clean too. Just dump out the water, dump out the dry debris compartment, rinse out the pieces, squeeze out the brush roll, and let everything dry. This leaves floors a bit damper than the Tineco recommended below, but they still dry efficiently with few, if any, streaks. It can be a little tricky to find this in stock, but I think it's well worth it if you're in the market and you don't need a ton of extra-fancy features. Cord Length 25 feet Water Tank Capacity 0.42 liters Included Accessories Brush roll and stand Replacement Schedule Replace brush roll every 6 months Weight 7 pounds Warranty Length 1 year Honey Test Results 40 seconds, 6 or 7 passes Photograph: Louryn Strampe This all-in-one cleaner from Tineco has lots of bells and whistles. It's easy to set up and easy to use, though I had to read the instructions a few times to make sure I understood all the different modes and options. Press the power button and it'll start up in Auto mode, which detects how dirty the floor is and automatically adjusts steam output as needed. Use Steam Mode to deep clean, and Boost mode for stubborn spots and stains. Using the companion smartphone app, which requires 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, you can also put your mop into suction-only mode for dry vacuuming—which is handy when you accidentally spill half a bag full of coffee grounds on the floor. The companion app can also let you know the status of your mop's charge, and help walk you through any errors. It'll also track how often you clean, if you want that feature for some reason. The mop has two water tanks—one for dirty water, one for clean—and you can fill it up with water or Tineco's cleaning solution. (I haven't tried this solution, but the manufacturer recommends that you use its product and not one from a different company.) It left my floors drier than any other mop I've tried thus far. When you're done cleaning, you can return it to the included charging dock to top off the battery and enter self-cleaning mode. This mode is loud and it takes a few minutes, but it washes and dries the brush roll and moves everything to the dirty water tank. Rinse out the dry filter, rinse out the dirty water tank, and your mop will be sparkling clean. There's even storage for the dry filter and brush roll on the charging dock. In addition to the various modes, this steam mop has a neat ring light around its display that moves from red (dirty) through purple and finally blue (when the section of the floor you're on is clean). That, combined with the built-in lights on the mop head, helps ensure you never miss a spot. This mop is also self-propelled, which is a blessing and a curse since the machine is on the heavier side—I found it was easiest to turn it off by pressing the button, rather than trying to stand it fully upright. If you're taller or stronger, this may not be an issue. I also wish the battery charged up faster—it takes four or five hours, and the battery can die quickly depending on what mode you're using the most and how big the cleaning area is. I also wish the battery was replaceable. And similarly to the Shark model recommended above, this Tineco doesn't have fantastic edge support—you might have to do some manual cleaning around corners and baseboards. Finally, this mop has a voice that will proudly announce the cleaning mode you're in, when the tank needs to be cleaned, and more. You can turn this voice feature off if it annoys you. I liked having it on, but sometimes it would tell me something during the middle of the cleaning process, and I couldn't understand it over the noise of the machine itself. That's not a detriment, just a quirk. If you're looking for a steam mop that will bust through even the grossest of messes, this is the one you want. Cord Length N/A Water Tank Capacity Clean water: 0.85 liters. Dirty water: 0.72 liters. Included Accessories Two brush rollers, two dry filters, one cleaning brush Replacement Schedule Replace brush roll and filter every 3-6 months Weight 12.7 pounds Warranty Length 2 years Honey Test Results 30 seconds; 4 or 5 passes Photograph: Louryn Strampe $100 $80 (20% off) Amazon The Turonic ST3 is basically a handheld steamer with a mop head and extended handle. It's a floor steamer that can be used all over the house, including on your countertops or upholstery. After assembly, which involves piecing the mop head, steamer, and handles together, you'll fill up the tank with water. Turn it on and let it heat up, and 15 seconds later it'll start emitting steam. It can produce steam for 25 minutes or so before needing to be refilled and warmed up again. It comes with a huge array of accessories (listed below)—when you want to swap to a different cleaning mode, you'll pull off the mop head and remove the handle, and attach your chosen accessory to the adapter (which is also the steamer jet attachment). The included microfiber mop pads attach via Velcro and stay put securely. They're also machine washable. This mop works well on its own, though it does take more elbow grease than the others recommended in this guide, especially for tough stains. During the Honey Test, this mop pushed the honey across the floor before effectively cleaning it. It could have better edge support (though it's a bit better in this regard than the brush roll models I like). I do appreciate that, while the water tank is specifically for water, I can put down my beloved Fabuloso on the ground without worrying about contaminating the insides of the machine. This gadget feels lightweight and a little cheap, and I wish the cord were retractable. But it's handy to have around, not only for your floors, but for nearly every surface of your house. I wouldn't pay more than $100 for it. It goes on sale pretty frequently, and I think it's worth getting if you want a steam cleaner without spending much money. Cord Length 23 feet Water Tank Capacity 385 milliliters Included Accessories Two microfiber mop pads, a refill cup, a steamer jet (which is also the attachment adapter), a scraping tool, a grout brush, a curved nozzle, two sizes of scrub brushes, a window squeegee, a garment steamer cloth, and a carpet glider Replacement Schedule N/A—just wash as needed Weight 5 pounds Warranty Length 1 year Honey Test Results 1 minute, 10 passes Photograph: Simon Hill Shark S5003D Genius Steam Mop for $109: This steam mop has three heat levels and detachable mop pads. It also has a blast button for an extra burst of steam as needed. The coolest part is that you can flip the mop head over when one side of the pad is soiled, so you can mop even longer (or simply have a longer break between machine-washing them). There's even a mop head detach button, so you can pop it right in the washing machine without touching it. Kärcher Steam Cleaner for $208: This is similar to the Turonic steamer, but it has a much longer hose so you can clean hard-to-reach areas like ceilings or tall mirrors. It also has a wider mopping path. It only comes with one microfiber cover, and some accessories are separate purchases. But we like that it has built-in storage for its accessories as well as an included descaling cartridge. Dreame H14 Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum for $480: This combination vacuum and steam mop automatically detects dirt levels and adjusts the flow of cleaning solution and suction to help you out on tough spots. It's self-propelled both forward and backward, and it even has a lie-flat mode so you can clean under couches or along baseboards more easily. It also has self-cleaning for when you're done mopping. There's a companion app, too, which requires 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. This is a very close alternative to the Tineco S7. FAQs What Should You Look for in a Steam Mop? AccordionItemContainerButton Steam mops should primarily be used on hard, sealed surfaces such as linoleum, wood, tile, marble, and stone. You can perform a patch test to ensure compatibility, which is particularly important for laminate floors, LVP, and engineered hardwood since the steam and moisture can warp the boards. (Your flooring manufacturer likely has guidance around this as well.) Photograph: Louryn Strampe If you don't want to pre-sweep your floors, look for a model that has suction built in. If you want easier storage, look for a model that includes a stand. Make sure you pay careful attention to the manufacturer's recommended replacement schedule. Usually, you can go six months between brush roll replacements, but if you're cleaning very dirty areas very often, you might need to replace parts sooner. Also take careful note on whether or not you're meant to use distilled water—the models I've tried have said that tap water is OK. AccordionItemContainerButton In a nutshell, steam mops make mopping easier. The steam helps bust through grime so you don't need to use as much elbow grease to achieve the same result, and your mopping routine will also likely take less time than it does with a manual mop. I especially noticed a difference while cleaning high-traffic areas or really dirty messes (like muddy footprints). I also like that there's no film on my floors after using one. Some people with scent sensitivities or allergies like steam mops because you can achieve clean floors without the use of chemicals or additional ingredients—steam mops only require water. Finally, steam can sanitize as it cleans. At its base form, like with boiling water, steam is around 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Most bacteria and viruses die at around 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, so steam can kill them off. The key word here is 'can.' If your floor is cold, the surface might not reach hot enough temperatures; different viruses require different lengths of steam exposure in order to be eradicated. The most surefire way to sanitize your floor is to use a disinfectant. You shouldn't buy a steam mop solely for this potential benefit, but it is one that some people find appealing. AccordionItemContainerButton Photograph: Louryn Strampe I conducted a Honey Test, wherein I put two tablespoons of honey down on my kitchen tile and let it harden for about 15 minutes. I then tested to see how long it took to mop it up with each candidate, and how many passes back and forth it took. Additionally, I only used these mops to clean my 250-square foot porcelain tile kitchen floors during my three-month testing period. I also used them on other hard flooring in my home, like the ceramic tile in my entryway and the polyurethane-finished oak hardwood floors in my living room. I looked for ease of use, features that worked as advertised, maneuverability, and most importantly, cleaning power. I waited until my floors were noticeably dirty before using the mops so I could accurately assess their power on high-traffic areas, such as near my kitchen sink and garbage cans. Next up I'll be testing steam mops from Bissell, Black + Decker, PurSteam, and Swiffer. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED . Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.
