Many of us are looking forward to the warm weather and sunnier days as we head into spring, but this also means our floors will need extra care to avoid becoming grimy. Wooden floors are usually easy to keep clean, but in spring, the air becomes more humid, which causes dust to clump and become more noticeable on these surfaces.

It also tends to be a time when pollen, plant matter, and mud are more likely to be tracked indoors, which can build up over time and keep bacteria embedded on the floor. Not only does dust and other spring stains make a floor look dirty, but the buildup can turn into grit and act like sandpaper that will dull a floor and cause scratches. However, Laura Ascher, an eco-friendly cleaning expert and founder of Our Oily House, has shared how to clean your floors properly using an item most people throw away every day.

Laura said: "It may seem odd to use steeped tea to clean your floors, but it's actually the perfect cleaner for wood!

"Black tea is slightly acidic, so it will cut through grease and grime without being too harsh on the floors. Tea also has antibacterial properties that will help to wash and disinfect the floors."

Teabags can deep-clean floors because they contain a substance called tannins, which is acidic and helps dissolve dirt stains without needing much moisture.

It leaves behind a very light residue that removes any sticky pollen that attracts dust, making a floor looks cleaner without having to mop it all the time.

They also contain astringent, which is known to tighten wood, helping a floor appear smoother so you cannot see minor scratches or wear.

Making your own floor cleaner can sound complicated, but it is actually really easy, as you just need a few leftover teabags and it leaves your floor sparkling clean without much effort.

You will need:

• Two litres of warm water


• Six black tea bags


• One teaspoon of olive oil (optional)

Method:

To begin, boil a kettle, pour the hot water into a basin and add the teabags. Leave the water alone to steep for roughly 10 minutes. Let the water cool to a safe temperature, then remove the tea bags and pour the solution into a mop bucket.

If you wish, you can also add olive oil to the floor cleaner, as it naturally helps a floor look richer by enhancing the wood colour and making it shine.

Next, it is time to mop the floor. Always mop in the direction of the wood grain and wring out the mop after each use. You want the floor to be slightly damp, but avoid soaking it; otherwise, you risk damaging the wood.

Your floor should now look immaculately clean and spotless without spending a penny.