There are plenty of cleaning hacks out there that are more common than others, such as the use of kitchen staples such as lemons, vinegar, and baking soda. However, this cleaning tip is fairly unusual. When it comes to vacuuming, while it is a necessary chore, the lingering smell for carrying it out can put people off, but of course where it is sucking up dirt and grime, it make sense that it will have a bad smell.
Though nobody wants their homes smelling off after taking out the time to vacuum – it defeats the purpose of having a clean home. Therefore, households are being urged to try out this trick, which will allow you to have a freshly vacuumed house without the musty smell, and everything you need is most likely in your kitchen already.
The key element – tea bags. Ideal Home shared that adding one bag of black tea can act as a deodoriser, neutralising all the bad smells, and making use of it is really simple.
All you have to do is pop a black tea bag into your vacuum dust bag or container and “let all the tea bag do the work” whilst carrying on with your usual cleaning routine.
Matthew Harrison, a cleaning expert at Price Your Job, said: “Black tea acts as a natural deodoriser, absorbing unpleasant smells such as pet odours and musty scents.”
What the team does, as explained by Matthew, is that it “will gradually release its deodorising properties, leaving your vacuum and your home smelling much fresher”.
For those who are especially not keen on vacuuming, one that smells better might just be the trick that stops you from putting off the task. However, it is important to note that while it will help improve the smell, it will not completely transform the scent of your home.
“Let’s be real – if your vacuum smells like a combination of old dog hair and something you’re pretty sure the cat dragged in, that tea bag will have its work cut. So yes, it helps, but it won’t turn your vacuum into a luxury spa diffuser,” says Forrest Webber, founder of Bear Brother’s Cleaning.
For the best results, make sure to swap out your tea bag every few months and as obvious as it might sound, it is important that the tea bag that goes into your vacuum is dry to save yourself from any disasters.
