Why A Little Black Tea Will Make Your Glass Shower Doors Like Diamonds

Over time, glass shower doors can become covered in smudges and fingerprints that can be difficult to remove. While other cleaners may leave streaks behind or fail to get the greasy spots off your shower doors, black tea is a surprisingly good glass cleaner that's supported by science. Because of the tannins black tea contains, it is able to cut through grease and protein, like the oils from your skin. The way that the chemicals in tannins respond to organic materials is why black tea is so effective for cleaning glass.

As you wipe the tea over your shower doors, those smudges should come right off without leaving streaks all over your glass. This will clean your glass shower doors, keeping them shiny and clear. Since tea is rather inexpensive, this cleaning hack is a great way to save some money while using an all-natural cleaning solution. While black tea is capable of cleaning glass, including mirrors and windows, other types of tea, such as green tea, may not have enough tannins or be strong enough to work properly as a cleaner.

All black teas contain tannins, such as thearubigins and theaflavins. These natural chemical compounds tend to attach themselves to other organic compounds, such as proteins. Because the smudges and grime on your shower doors are likely made up of natural oils, like from your hands grabbing the door, the tannins in black tea will stick to them, easily removing the spots from the glass. While some believe that tea contains tannic acid (and that's why it's such a good cleaner), tea only contains tannins, not tannic acid.

Tannins are also known to shine objects, making them perfect for cleaning any type of glass. While black tea will help get the marks off your shower doors and polish your mirrors, it might not be an effective cleaner for other surfaces. Since black tea is not a disinfectant or antimicrobial, it will not be able to kill germs.

To start making your cleaning solution, bring 1 cup of water to a strong, rolling boil. As you wait for the water to boil, place four bags of black tea, such as Early Grey or English Breakfast, into a mug. When the water is boiling, pour it over the teabags and allow them to steep for at least 10 minutes. The longer you let the tea steep, the stronger it will be and the more tannins the liquid will contain.

Once the tea has brewed, allow it to cool completely before pouring it into a spray bottle. Your solution can then be sprayed liberally onto your shower doors and wiped away with a clean and dry paper towel or cloth. If you don't have a spray bottle, simply wet a rag with the tea and wipe down your shower doors. For particularly dirty surfaces, you may have to repeat the process for your shower doors to really shine. With your leftover tea, you can clean your bathroom mirror or other glass surfaces, leaving your home sparkling.